Telecoms

Innovation seems threatening to legacy thinking in the region, preventing corporates from going into high-performance mode.

Cisco Investments helped internet browser developer Island boost its series B round to $125m while Nufarm led crop protection technology producer Enko's $70m series C.

360 Security and CATL helped Hozon Auto close a $1.5bn series D while Origin Energy and Tokyo Gas backed a $550m round for Octopus Energy.

Amid a general downturn, spinouts have been faring much better than the startup world at large.

The dollar valuation of corporate-backed deals in the energy sector dropped sharply in Q2. Cleantech deals are the only exception.

There has never been a better time for corporates to invest in this sector, says Meghan Sharp, Global head of Decarbonization Partners.

But there are other benefits for both sides, researchers find.

Paul Jacquin, co-founder of Randstad Innovation Fund explains how to navigate — and invest in — the future of work.

"It's not the job of a corporation to emulate the investment strategy of a Silicon Valley VC," says change management consultant Greg Larkin.

An economic downturn is a great time to back startups on better terms. But investors should be careful of the tricky politics of down rounds.