Corporate Strategics Off to the Races in 2015
It’s off to the races in 2015 for corporate-strategic backers of innovation that drives sustainability across key resource-heavy industries. In just the first three weeks of the year, we’ve already seen more than ten venture deals exhibiting corporate participation. These include Saint-Gobain’s investment in Qivivo’s Series A for smart buildings; Swire Pacific’s investment in Green Biologics for renewable chemicals and biofuels; and internet giant Alibaba’s participation in Kuaidi Dache’s massive $600 million round for smart phone-driven transportation services.
Using the i3 Platform, run detailed queries to uncover deals involving corporate-strategic investors:
Additionally, we’ve seen key strategic partnerships and M&A activity tying start-up innovation to stronger corporate industry incumbents. German home energy management and automation company Kiwigrid, for example, recently disclosed two new partnerships. The company is working with BMW to help develop the latter’s home electric vehicle-charging platform, and with Gemalto for support in the fulfilment of German information security requirements for smart metering. Meanwhile, exemplary acquisitions, including Schneider Electric’s purchase of InStep Software and Bosch’s buy-out of EnVerv, show strategic players making whole-hog bets on innovative new technology.
Don’t let the trend toward open innovation pass you by. If you’re an executive, a corporate scout, or a business unit head with a need to strengthen your external innovation-sourcing toolbox, consider the i3 Platform. Driven by both in-house research and crowd-sourced data going back over a decade, you can use i3 to browse and query information on the innovators in your industry — including things like who’s seeking funding, revenue data, and existing strategic and investor relationships. Additionally, direct messaging tools and premium services allow you to cultivate a strong pipeline of qualified prospective partners. Get in touch to learn more today!
