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.

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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.

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Studies, guides, whitepaper & frameworks

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

Company creation funds reshape how ventures are built

As a proven model, company creation funds have already delivered strong results in North America, outperforming existing innovation approaches. With the whataventure fund, we’re now bringing this model to Central Europe - launched with an initial volume of €15 million and currently in fundraising. It offers corporates and strategic investors a structured way to build ventures, combining access to emerging business models with the opportunity to shape industry shifts and generate returns. For us, it’s the next natural step in our journey.

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Matthias Hille

D2C can feel like a leap to B2B manufacturers – here’s how to turn it into a strategy

Not every product thrives in B2B – and that’s where direct-to-consumer can become a strategic alternative. But setting up a D2C channel as a manufacturing company often raises more questions than answers. Is the product right for it? What will it cost? Will it harm existing partners? These doubts are real - but with a clear assessment and the right setup, they stop being blockers and become decisions.

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.

Build what only you can build: How to spot and scale ventures with unfair advantage

Why chasing disruption isn’t always the smartest play - about the role of an unfair advantage in venture building

The Trust Factor: How Governance Can Make or Break Your Next Venture

In this interview, Stefan Peintner and Karyna Hornostai share findings from their latest study with 52 innovation leaders across the DACH region. Learn why structured decision-making, clear roles, and strategic alignment are now critical to turning ideas into lasting businesses.

From traction to transformation: How ventures scale successfully

Scaling a venture takes more than momentum. Learn what it really takes to grow beyond the MVP stage.

The new reality of corporate venture building: Why we are at a pivotal point

A data-driven look at how uncertainty is reshaping the innovation landscape and what it means for your strategy.