Picture this: You're sitting in yet another strategy meeting, wrangling about the same persistent question that keeps surfacing in boardrooms: Should we double down on venture building, or is it time to retreat to safer ground?
If this scenario feels familiar, you're not alone. We have just wrapped up our most comprehensive study on corporate venture building to date, and the findings reveal a fascinating paradox that every strategy leader needs to understand.
When uncertainty becomes the ultimate strategy test
Here's what caught our attention: While economic headwinds are battering businesses across Europe, something unexpected is happening in the venture building space. Instead of scaling back, 67% of corporate venture builders report stable or increased budgets over the past year. Even more telling? 79% expect their resources to remain steady or grow in the coming months.
Frank Mattes, a leading voice in corporate innovation, captured the tension perfectly:
"One of the greatest challenges for venture building today is the growing uncertainty in the world. This in turn reduces the risk appetite of corporates. Why should they invest precious resources so badly needed to fortify the core business into ventures with uncertain outcomes?"
Our data gives a clear answer. Companies aren't just surviving this uncertainty. They're using it as fuel for strategic transformation.
Our study shows the beginning of a new phase
For our 2025 study, we gathered data from 52 senior leaders across mid-sized to large enterprises. Organizations with 500+ employees and revenues exceeding €1 billion, all actively building new ventures from within.
What emerged was a clear picture of an industry in transition. Corporate venture building is moving past the hype cycle's inflated expectations and entering what we call the "plateau of productivity." The wild west days of blue-sky thinking are giving way to something more sophisticated: strategic, focused initiatives built on clear competitive advantages.
The numbers speak volumes. While only 13% of venture builders report being "highly successful" today, those who are succeeding share remarkably similar approaches. They've cracked a code that others are still trying to decipher.
Five strategic drivers that define success in 2025
1. Governance That Actually Works
Top management commitment isn't just about visibility anymore. It's about creating robust decision-making frameworks. The most successful teams report that governance acts as a bridge between bold ideas and boardroom accountability.
2. VC-Style Funding Logic
Traditional corporate funding models are breaking down. Leading companies are adopting stage-gated investments that mirror venture capital approaches. Making informed decisions at each phase rather than betting everything upfront.
3. Strategic Talent Deployment
It's not about building the perfect team from day one. Success comes from mobilizing the right capabilities at the right time, often through strategic partnerships that bridge skill gaps without long-term overhead.
4. Adjacent Innovation Focus
The days of chasing blue-sky disruption are fading. Smart venture builders are homing in on adjacent opportunities where their corporate assets provide genuine strategic advantages.
5. Balanced Time Horizons
Despite pressure for quick wins, successful builders balance early victories with long-term commitment. They iterate fast, track meaningful KPIs beyond revenue, and treat each venture as part of a broader innovation portfolio.
Read more about these shifts, in this article.
The uncomfortable truth about scaling
Perhaps the most sobering finding? 33% of participants cite scaling as their greatest challenge. It's one thing to validate an idea and quite another to build a sustainable business. The gap between proof-of-concept and meaningful impact remains the industry's biggest hurdle.
But here's what's encouraging: companies that navigate this challenge successfully aren't just creating new revenue streams. They're fundamentally reshaping how they compete. They're building what we call "strategic resilience." The ability to thrive regardless of what uncertainty throws their way.
Your strategic crossroads
If you're responsible for your organization's strategic direction, you're facing a choice that will define the next decade. The data shows that 59% of DACH-based participants believe venture building will be crucial to their company's growth and resilience over the next five years.
The question isn't whether uncertainty will continue. It will. The question is whether you'll use it as an excuse to play it safe or as a catalyst to build the capabilities your organization needs for long-term relevance.
The path forward
Corporate venture building in 2025 isn't about rolling the dice on moonshot ideas. It's about systematic capability development. It's about building with intention: investing in governance, applying entrepreneurial mindsets, and adapting continuously as you scale.
The companies leading this new era understand something fundamental: the next wave of corporate venture building won't wait for perfect conditions. It's already here, shaped by those bold enough to build while others hesitate.
The insights are clear. The path is mapped. The only question left is whether you're ready to lead it.
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Want to dive deeper into the complete findings? Our full study reveals detailed benchmarks, case studies, and actionable frameworks that successful venture builders are using right now. Because in a world of uncertainty, data-driven decisions aren't just smart. They're essential.
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