Dominique Mégret, head of Swisscom Ventures, the corporate venturing unit of the telecoms company: “SMS and voice are now old-fashioned and are being increasingly replaced by social network-based messaging platforms – WhatsApp and FB. Mobile advertising and cloud were also important.”
Geert van de Wouw, head of Shell Technology Ventures, the corporate venturing unit of the anglo-dutch oil and gas company:
“The return of corporate venturing in clean energy and clean-tech.”
Eileen Tanghal, head of Applied Ventures, the corporate venturing unit of semiconductor company Applied Materials:
“The return of corporate venturing in clean energy and clean-tech.”
Eileen Tanghal, head of Applied Ventures, the corporate venturing unit of semiconductor company Applied Materials:
“Gene synthesis and gene sequencing.”
Darren Young, an investment professional at Micron Ventures, the corporate venturing unit of semiconductor company Micron Technology: “Health and fitness devices becoming more pervasive, for example Fitbit.”
Bo Ilsoe, managing partner at Nokia Growth Partners, the corporate venturing unit of the Finland-based technology company:
Darren Young, an investment professional at Micron Ventures, the corporate venturing unit of semiconductor company Micron Technology: “Health and fitness devices becoming more pervasive, for example Fitbit.”
Bo Ilsoe, managing partner at Nokia Growth Partners, the corporate venturing unit of the Finland-based technology company:
“The rise of the connected car.”
Roger Lacey, chief executive of Nasdaq-listed broadband company CSI:
Roger Lacey, chief executive of Nasdaq-listed broadband company CSI:
“Increasing speed in innovation.”
Keith Muhart, director of marketing at Qualcomm Ventures, the corporate venturing unit of the US-based technology company:
Keith Muhart, director of marketing at Qualcomm Ventures, the corporate venturing unit of the US-based technology company:
“Wearables and internet of things.”
Paul Jacquin, managing partner at Randstad innovation Fund, the corporate venturing unit of the Netherlands-based human resources company: “Workforce engagement.”
Paul Jacquin, managing partner at Randstad innovation Fund, the corporate venturing unit of the Netherlands-based human resources company: “Workforce engagement.”
George Coyle, head of ConocoPhillips technology Ventures, the corporate venturing unit of the US-based oil and gas company:
“The focus on alignment with core business technology gaps and priorities.”
“The focus on alignment with core business technology gaps and priorities.”
Georg Schwegler, head of Transamerica Ventures, the corporate venturing unit of Netherlands-based financial services company Aegon: “Digital currency is getting more mature in its ability to meet regulatory requirements.”
Thierry Piret, head of Solvay Ventures, the corporate venturing unit of the chemicals company: “Corporates playing a growing role.”
Diego Díaz Pilas, head of new ventures at Iberdrola, a Spain-based energy utility: “In energy, distributed energy resources (DERs).”
Minette Navarrete president of Kickstart Ventures, a subsidiary of telecoms company Globe Telecom: “Innovation and investments are shifting from high-growth direct-to-consumer businesses to underlying platforms, which could be B2B or consumer marketplaces.”
Ignaas Caryn, head of corporate venturing at Netherlands-based airline KLM and an executive at its related venture firm Mainport Innovation Fund: “Increasing venture capital and corporate venturing collaboration.”
Kai Engelhardt, head of Mahle Corporate Venture Capital, the corporate venturing unit of the Germany-based automotive parts company: “The trend towards digital topics, combined with hardware, for example Industry 4.0.”
Anna Westerberg, head of Volvo group Venture Capital, the corporate venturing unit of the vehicle group: “Internet of things, software-as-a-service, big data and analytics, e-commerce.”
Detlef Pohl, investment partner at Siemens Venture Capital, the corporate venturing unit of the Germany-based industrial conglomerate: “Increasing demand for security software.”
Dion Lisle, vice-president of ventures at First Data Ventures, the corporate venturing unit of the US-based transaction processing company: “Apple Pay’s effect on the payment ecosystem.”
Ewa Grzechnik, investment manager at 3M New Ventures, the corporate venturing unit of the conglomerate: “Digital healhcare, embedded systems. In general, very inflated valuations especially in the Silicon Valley area and the recovering initial public offering market.
Maria Peterson, a corporate venturing and innovation executive at materials innovation company JSR Micro: “3D printing.”
Margot Bethell, executive director at New Zealand-based venture firm BioPacific Partners: “Size and scale of corporate venture funds. In our area – life sciences – there seems to be more mergers and restructuring than ever.”
Luca Binda, general manager of IMI Fondi Chiusi, a venturing unit of Italy-based bank Intesa San Paolo: “Wearable devices.”
Paul Morris, director of corporate venture capital at UKTI: “Continuing growth of corporate venturing as a percentage of total venture investment, most notably in life sciences.”
Brad McManus, of Capbridge Ventures, a corporate-focused venture firm: “Good venture exits and returns attracting corporations to venturing – more deals, more capital, more new corporate venturing units – like moths to a bright light.”
Amir Pinchas, principal of Microsoft Ventures, the corporate venturing unit of the US-based technology company: “Cyber and cyber-security have emerged as one of the most important trends, the cyber-attacks on strategic assets of states and public companies are causing a lot of pain in storing and securing data across the organisation.”
Rob van Leen, chief innovation officer at Netherlands-based materials company DSM: “The increasing role of corporate venturing versus venture capital.”
Peter Cowley, head of Martlet, the corporate venturing unit of UK-based industrial company Marshall: “Negatively, the rise of unsophisticated investors in crowd equity platforms pushing up early-stage valuations. Positively, the economy in many countries.”
Peter Cowley, head of Martlet, the corporate venturing unit of UK-based industrial company Marshall: “Negatively, the rise of unsophisticated investors in crowd equity platforms pushing up early-stage valuations. Positively, the economy in many countries.”
