Knowledge

**Experience for new business:
‍Articles, whitepapers, toolkits and studies**

Dive deeper into various corporate innovation and venturing topics. Explore the knowledge we share about venture building, intrapreneurship and new business models.

Studies, guides & frameworks

Read our resources below to learn more and take your corporate venturing know-how to the next level.

The state of corporate venture building 2025

We are at a pivotal moment. A new phase of new business building begins — shaped by uncertainty, driven by strategy and defined by results. Gain practical insights on how to become confident in building new business — even in times of economic uncertainty.

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From B2B to D2C: Why, when and how manufacturers should sell underperforming products direct-to-consumer

B2B manufacturers can unlock new revenue streams by building direct-to-consumer channels for underperforming product lines. Discover when and why D2C is an effective approach, and how to efficiently build this new channel.

Your venture building self-assessment canvas

Use our self-assessment canvas to evaluate your organization's current capabilities and identify areas for improvement to achieve successful outcomes with venture building.

Why venture building is key to successful intrapreneurship

Discover why venture building is vital to the success of your intrapreneurship program, plus how to be future-ready by combining the two approaches to bring radical ideas to life.

Your 6-step guide to corporate venture building

Use the Business Idea Journey framework to guide yourself through the venture building process and make decisions with confidence.

How to choose the right approach to venture building

The only guide you need to learn more about your corporate venture building options and how to identify which approach works best for building your next venture.

Your complete guide for successful corporate startup collaboration

We are sharing our structured approach and key learnings from over a decade of guiding corporate startup collaborations to success.

The bumpy road from a prototype to a profitable company

This paper provides you with an overview of the road from a prototype to a profitable company, the minimum viable company phase, and the key success factors.

Cheat sheet for scouting startups like a pro

Optimize your startup screening process and find the best startups to collaborate with our scouting cheat sheet.

The ultimate guide to intrapreneurship

Gain insights into Europe's most successful intrapreneurship programs with our comprehensive guide. Discover the framework, unique features, and success factors that empower intrapreneurs to drive innovation within organizations.

5 steps to successfully collaborate with startups

An easy-to-use guide for finding the right format for your next startup collaboration.

29 business model strategies to inspire you

Uncertain situations require more strategic thinking and choosing the right business model can be a game-changer. To get you inspired, we put together a list of 29 business models, with examples of successful companies from all industries using them.

3 methods for building sustainable corporate ventures

Read this guide and learn how you can unlock the power of your organization to drive meaningful action against climate change. You’ll explore three methods for building sustainable ventures with real-world examples.

The state of corporate venture building 2024

76% of corporates we interviewed are using venture building to generate new revenue streams: it’s no longer just about culture, fun, or simply spinning ideas but about staying relevant on the market. Download our report ‘The state of corporate venture building 2024’ and gain practical insights on how to build successful corporate ventures.

The next growth opportunity for manufacturing companies - Already in your portfolio, but invisible in sales reports.

Manufacturing companies invest millions in developing new product lines that often fail to reach their full potential. Sometimes just because they are marketed in the wrong channels. Read what it takes to launch a D2C channel in months.

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Philippe Thiltges

From AI as a Buzzword to a Strategic Lever for Corporate Venturing

AI is no longer just a buzzword—it’s a strategic tool that can redefine corporate venturing. This article provides a practical four-step approach to help businesses harness AI’s potential, identify high-impact opportunities, and build scalable ventures with a competitive edge.

Understanding AI as a Megatrend: Decomposing Its Subfields and Sub-Trends

Discover the driving forces behind AI as a megatrend by exploring its core fields and sub-trends, from machine learning to societal impact. This article offers valuable insights into the building blocks of AI, enabling you to understand its transformative power better and uncover opportunities for innovation and corporate venturing.

How AI can lead to venture opportunities

At WhatAVenture, we are driven by the question of what the paths to future growth look like. Therefore, we explore how to leverage AI-based business models for business growth. This article will give you three key insights on how AI can lead to venture opportunities.

The difference between Venture Capital and Corporate Venture Capital

In this post, we explain the basics of Corporate Venture Capital and the main differences between Venture Capital and Corporate Venture Capital.

Three pillars for successful corporate venture governance

When it comes to corporate venture building, the key to success is having a proper system in place. That system is corporate venture governance. In this blog post, Karyna walks you through the three pillars you need to set up a governance structure.

Entrepreneurship is a mindset

Discover how the entrepreneurial mindset drives real innovation at whataventure — where Venture Architects don’t just generate ideas, they turn them into impactful businesses. This article reveals how curiosity, proactivity, and hands-on problem-solving shape a unique culture that empowers every team member to lead.