With innovation in technology fast outpacing traditional business processes, corporations are increasingly turning to investments as a way of adapting to change and staying ahead of the competition.

In the first quarter of 2019, GCV Analytics tracked a record 789 funding rounds involving corporate venturers, a 23% increase over the 644 recorded in the first quarter of 2018.

Despite veteran corporate investors, such as internet and technology conglomerate Alphabet, telecommunications firm SoftBank, enterprise software provider Salesforce and internet company Tencent, continuing to remain active in the space, the uptake in investment is being fuelled by an increase in first-time CVC investors.

In Q1 2017, first-time investors accounted for…

James Mawson

James Mawson is founder and chief executive of Global Venturing.