Justin Young, assistant vice president at Unum, is one of our top 50 Rising Stars in corporate venturing for 2026.
Justin Young did not set out to work in venture capital. His path into the role was shaped by a background in corporate strategy and an interest in how large organisations adapt to change. Earlier in his career at employee benefits provider Unum, he worked in the corporate strategy office, helping business leaders experiment with new ideas through a small internal innovation fund.
Building proofs of concept and piloting emerging capabilities gave him early exposure to startups and showed him how new technologies could move from experimentation to commercial impact.
As those early initiatives gained traction, Young became increasingly involved in shaping how the company engaged with the broader venture ecosystem, until Unum Ventures was formally launched in 2021.
“Working with founders, understanding their stories and passions, and the tenacity they bring every day, is incredibly inspiring.”
What Young enjoys most about the role is the combination of internal and external engagement. He works closely with senior business leaders to understand how Unum can differentiate itself and how emerging trends may reshape the market.
“Working with founders, understanding their stories and passions, and the tenacity they bring every day, is incredibly inspiring,” says Young.
That dual focus also defines some of the role’s biggest challenges. Building a venture function inside a risk-averse industry such as insurance requires thesis-driven alignment, education and conviction-led execution to succeed. Young points to the need to change mindsets on risk, establish clear internal processes and find champions who see venture activity as an enabler and accelerator.
Young sees the venture team as a way to give the business strategic options for the future. But his advice to others starting out in corporate venturing is grounded less in technology than in relationships.
“It is just as important to build the internal business development ecosystem as it is to build the external one and to have the discipline to balance the two.”
The Rising Stars are early-career corporate venture professionals who are making an outstanding contribution to their teams and the industry.
See the full list of Rising Stars 2026 here.
