Stefan Gabriel, managing director and CEO at Hitachi Ventures, is one of the 100 leading corporate venturing professionals in our 2026 Powerlist.
Stefan Gabriel launched Hitachi Ventures in 2019 and has since built it into one of the largest dedicated corporate VC platforms in the industrial sector. The unit now manages approximately $1bn in assets, including a $400m fund launched last year with Hitachi as the sole limited partner.
Gabriel brought a distinctive background to the role, having previously established and led 3M’s venture capital unit before completing a PhD focused on corporate venture capital. That combination of academic research and operational experience has shaped Hitachi Ventures’ approach to balancing financial returns with strategic value creation.
Hitachi Ventures invests in early-stage companies across digital technologies, industrial innovation, energy and mobility. Operating from offices in Munich, Palo Alto, Boston and Bengaluru, the firm has built a portfolio of approximately 60 companies. Investments completed during fiscal year 2025 included Tem, Terramount, Infravision and Edgescale.
The firm takes an active approach to investing, leading or coleading most funding rounds and frequently taking board or board observer positions. Combined with access to Hitachi’s global industrial network, this approach has helped establish the unit as a sought-after investor, reviewing more than 2,000 startup opportunities annually.
A central focus for Gabriel has been ensuring that venture activity generates tangible value for the parent company. Across sectors ranging from physical AI, robotics and cybersecurity to quantum computing, biotechnology and other deep tech fields, the objective is to help startups bridge the gap between technological breakthroughs and commercial deployment. Portfolio companies gain access to Hitachi’s customers, industrial operating environments and commercial infrastructure, while Hitachi gains exposure to emerging technologies and business models.
Under Gabriel’s leadership, Hitachi Ventures has adopted a dual mandate: supporting high-growth startups while advancing Hitachi’s long-term growth strategy. In partnership with Hitachi’s strategic social innovation business division, the venture unit has facilitated more than 200 collaboration projects between portfolio companies and business units over the past six years. These initiatives have generated new business opportunities while helping the company explore future markets and technologies.
Gabriel identifies four key areas of strategic value creation: advising on future business strategy, driving commercial collaboration, fostering entrepreneurship and supporting cultural transformation. He sees CVC as an important adviser to senior leadership, helping corporations understand emerging technologies and identify opportunities that may not become material for five to 10 years or more.
As portfolio companies begin to reach maturity, Hitachi Ventures is entering a new phase. The unit has already recorded strategic exits, including Regrello, and is exploring additional paths to liquidity. Six years after its formation, the firm has established itself as both an active venture investor and a strategic tool for long-term corporate innovation.
The GCV 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.
Here’s a snapshot of their recent deals:
