Total Energies, a French energy conglomerate, is an example of using corporate venturing to achieve social or environmental impact. Their $400 million Total Carbon Neutrality Ventures funds startups that work towards lowering emissions. NatWest Group offers entrepreneurs mentor- ing, coaching and workspace access through a fully-funded accelerator program. This connects the UK-based financial institution to the next wave of innovators and ensures their place in the fabric of the British entrepreneurial ecosystem. Nvidia is one of a number of companies building its own ecosystems: its Inception for Startups program has a network of almost twenty thousand startups. This is a departure from the VC model of betting on a small port- folio of startups in the hopes of hitting it big. BBVA, a digital banking company, uses corporate venturing to expand into new markets. They have built physical collaboration hubs called “Open Spaces” across Mexico, allowing them to collaborate with local entrepreneurs, thus gaining the upper hand in this emerging market. Johnson & Johnson strategically invested in a Dutch biotech company working on advanced antibody development. Partnering with start- ups allows the healthcare behemoth to access cutting-edge biopharmaceutical technologies. Case Snapshots: Startup–Corporate Symbiosis
When Goliath Needs David: Redefining Corporate Venturing Page 5 Page 7