Anirvan Coomer, managing director at GM Ventures, is one of the 100 leading corporate venturing professionals in our 2025 Powerlist.

Anirvan Coomer is somewhat of a newcomer to venture capital, but he is certainly no stranger to General Motors (GM). A company man of nearly 20 years, Coomer brings a deep knowledge of how the business works, what it needs and how startups can best be integrated into the larger corporate context.

Where a CVC can really differentiate itself, he says, is in the post-investment process, and that is where he wants to dedicate much of his efforts.

“That is the part where I would weigh in more and spend more time – really guiding the team and bringing those external and the internal relationships into GM Ventures,” he says.

“The intent is to really drive that strong engagement and almost work as an extension of the business development role of the startup within GM. To connect to all the functions, to speak the GM language, to be the translation between a GM culture and a startup culture.”

The intent is to really drive that strong engagement and almost work as an extension of the business development role of the startup within GM.

Coomer’s favourite part of the role is also what he sees as the most challenging – learning how to adapt his approach towards relationship building and relationship management, in order to be effective with the various stakeholders in the startup ecosystem.

Dealing with startups is different from the larger organisations he has dealt with throughout his career. You have to focus much more on the team, as young companies will not have as much business track record.

GM Ventures’ portfolio includes companies such as vehicle inspection startup UVEye, robotics technology company Vecna Robotics, nano-coating technology developer Forge Nano, and radar operating systems developer Neural Propulsion Systems.

Before becoming head of the unit in May 2023, Coomer had a number of roles within GM, including executive director, related to electrification and fuel-cell systems, purchasing for software and infotainment systems, and global purchasing and supply chain strategy, as well as vice president for supply chain in India and China.

Prior to joining GM, he spent three years as a consultant at Deloitte and two years as an engineer at Tata Motors.


The Global Corporate Venturing Powerlist represents the 100 individuals spearheading the future of the corporate venturing industry. 

These individuals excel in terms of their venturing approach and structure, number and quality of portfolio companies and in their contributions to the corporate venturing profession. 

See the full 2025 Powerlist here.