This blog post highlights five key insights, revealing how today’s most successful corporates engaged in venture building are shifting from chasing disruption to building scalable ventures aligned with corporate strategy.

As uncertainty looms, we’re seeing a clear pivot: bold moonshots are giving way to targeted plays, ad-hoc decisions are being replaced by clear governance models, and disruption is no longer the sole priority—strategic fit and adjacent growth are taking center stage.  

The 2025 study The state of corporate venture building, is based on data from over 50 senior leaders from diverse industries. In the sample we focused on companies with over 500 employees and €1 billion in revenue—all actively investing in venture building.

The study creates understanding about what is driving success in corporate venture building today, what challenges persist, and how leading organizations are adapting their strategies in a shifting economic landscape.  

‍

Five key insights to shape the future of corporate venture building

‍

1. Defining success beyond revenue

Success in corporate venture building goes far beyond top-line growth. Even though 85% of companies use revenue to measure success, most ventures—77%—contribute less than 1% to overall revenue. And here’s the surprising part: 80% of the most successful venture builders fall into this group. This shows that real success comes from long-term strategic value, not just short-term profits.  

The true measure of success lies in strategic intent—whether it’s unlocking new revenue streams, staying ahead of disruption, entering future markets, or fueling an innovation-driven culture.  

Bottom line: overemphasizing short-term ROI can create unrealistic expectations and hinder long-term value creation.

2. Boosting venture success through strong governance & management buy-in

Top management commitment is the #1 driver of venture success, according to 97% of participants. Yet many venture teams lack active board-level backing—not due to disinterest, but weak governance. Unrealistic ROI targets, vague metrics, and poor alignment often erode support. Strong governance frameworks clarify decisions, foster alignment, and build trust.  

When the structure is right, venture teams gain visibility, engage leadership more effectively, and turn executives into true champions—significantly increasing their impact.

‍

3. Ensuring sustainable growth with the right resource allocation & VC funding model

While economic uncertainty raises tough questions, our data points to optimism. Though 54% cite “access to funding” as critical, 67% of venture leaders reported steady or rising budgets last year—and 79% expect the same or more in the year ahead. Notably, none of the most successful CVBs faced funding cuts; reductions occurred primarily among less mature teams.  

To ensure resilience, top CVBs are adopting VC-style, stage-gated funding, focusing on strategic adjacencies, and adjusting operating models—transforming market volatility into a growth advantage.

‍

4. Leveraging external expertise to fill skill gaps & speed up development

41% of corporate venture builders collaborate with external partners to close skill gaps, speed up development, and extend capacity. High-performing teams—especially those with dedicated units—are more likely to outsource areas like venture architecture, IT, and marketing.  

Early-stage progress depends on experienced venture architects, while scaling requires seasoned leadership. Internal teams can’t do it all—external expertise enables companies to apply the right talent at the right time to move faster and smarter.

‍

5. Scaling smartly through the right leadership, momentum and frameworks  

According to our study, scaling is the most challenging phase of venture building, cited by 33% of leaders. But success isn’t about pushing harder—it’s about scaling smarter, based on these three steps.  

Step one: appoint experienced, aligned leadership with a clear mandate.  

Step two: create a “flywheel”—repeatable, focused actions that build sustainable momentum.  

Step three: implement a management framework to drive consistency and alignment. Experience shows that ventures scale best when growth is intentional, leadership is strong, and structures are in place to keep teams focused and resilient.

‍

Corporate venture building is evolving

As economic uncertainty challenges traditional approaches, leading organizations are redefining what success looks like—focusing less on short-term revenue and more on long-term strategic value. The most effective venture builders are embracing governance, flexibility, and external expertise to stay resilient and scale with intent. For companies willing to adapt, this moment presents a unique opportunity to build ventures that don’t just survive—but shape the future.

‍

Want to dive deeper? 
Download the full study here

‍