Sebastian Borek, managing director of German seed investor HTGF, reflects on what he has learned from connecting more than 370 portfolio startups with nearly 70 industrial businesses.
How do you connect hundreds of promising startups with dozens of the world’s largest industrial companies—and turn those introductions into real commercial partnerships?
In this interview, Sebastian Borek, managing director of German seed investor HTGF, explains how the firm’s unique model brings together more than 370 portfolio companies and a network of nearly 70 corporate limited partners, ranging from global industrial leaders to Mittelstand businesses.
Borek says trust, rather than technology alone, remains the foundation of successful corporate-startup collaboration, and discusses how HTGF helps its corporate partners discover innovations that can boost productivity, reduce costs or open up entirely new markets.
Artificial intelligence is starting to transform this matchmaking process. HTGF has established a dedicated AI team to develop tools that identify promising connections across its extensive portfolio and corporate network, reflecting a growing recognition that venture investors need smarter ways to surface strategic opportunities.
But, he says, despite advances in technology, successful innovation partnerships still come down to people, relationships and a willingness to understand both sides of the equation.
Sebastian Borek was one of the speakers at the GCV Symposium in 2026. Explore the rest of the content from the conference here.
The GCV Symposium in London packs in two days of main stage and breakout sessions amid, interspersed with intense one-on-one networking and technology showcases.
Here is a recap of the key learnings and a chance to watch any panel sessions you missed.
Maija Palmer
Maija Palmer is editor of Global Venturing and puts together the weekly email newsletter (sign up here for free).
