Corporate VCs

Corporate VCs are venture capital divisions within large corporations that invest in innovative startups aligned with the parent company's business goals. Corporate VCs are an increasingly important source of startup funding, with over 1,300 currently globally. They invest to gain access to emerging technologies and talent relevant to their industry. For example, Google Ventures and Salesforce Ventures focus on AI, cloud, and software startups. Corporate VCs invest via the parent's balance sheet rather than traditional VC fundraising. They can provide strategic advantages to portfolio companies beyond just capital, like access to the parent's resources, partners, and customers. Startups view corporate VCs as a stamp of validation while corporations get valuable visibility into disruptive innovations and acquisition targets. Corporate VCs pursue financial returns like traditional VCs, but strategic alignment with the parent company's interests is a higher priority in their investment decisions.

Blog

Other news you might be also interested in

Inside MidEuropa’s Strategy to Build and Scale Digital Champions in Emerging Europe

Marek Rodak, Partner at MidEuropa, shares how the firm identifies and scales technology companies across Central and Eastern Europe by backing “digital champions”—tech-driven businesses with regional roots and global ambitions. In this exclusive interview, he explains why CEE is primed for digital innovation, how MidEuropa leverages consolidation strategies to create market leaders, and what emerging trends are shaping the future of tech investing in the region.

Inside the EU-11 with Abris Capital: Europe’s Untapped Engine for the Next Mid-Market Private Equity Boom

As global capital looks for resilient growth and undervalued opportunity, Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is increasingly standing out. Edgar Kolesnik, Partner at Abris Capital Partners, shares why the region offers far more than macro tailwinds. From underpenetrated markets and exceptional management talent to Abris’ hands-on value creation and ESG integration strategy, Kolesnik outlines how disciplined investors can unlock returns—and resilience—across Emerging Europe’s fragmented but fast-growing mid-market landscape.

The 5 Opportunities and Challenges of Investing in Emerging Europe

As global VC and growth-stage investors look beyond saturated markets, Emerging Europe is increasingly in the spotlight. In this interview, Peter Tanczos, Managing Partner at Euroventures, outlines five compelling opportunities—and five real challenges—that define this high-potential but complex region. From world-class technical talent and capital efficiency to regulatory hurdles and fragmented markets, this is a must-read guide for investors navigating one of Europe’s most dynamic frontiers.