Partnering services - startups as drivers of innovation

With our partnering services, you can bring innovations into your company in a structured way through targeted partnerships with startups.

Current challenges

Entrepreneurial and proactive into the future

In view of the challenges facing companies, startups play a crucial role as drivers of innovation.

Their ability to adapt quickly to market changes is essential for companies to remain competitive and ensure long-term success. Through our partnering services, especially in the area of venture partnering, we create a bridge between established companies and startups for successful collaborations with real business impact.

You can see a conference at the International Entrepreneurship Education Summit
Areas of application

Venture partnering for innovative collaboration

Venture Partnering forms the centre of our Partnering Services and focuses on targeted collaboration with startups. In this approach, startups act as valuable development partners or innovative suppliers, depending on the project.

Co-optimise processes

The Utilisation of innovative startup solutions enables the optimisation of operational processes in the core business, such as efficiency increases in commercial or production processes.

Co-create new products

The Bundling of competences The combination of corporate and startup in product development can strategically expand the product portfolio and thus utilise market potential.

Co-innovate new business models

The Cooperation with startups for the development and realisation of new business models offers new market opportunities and increases competitiveness in the long term.

Co-develop new technologies

The Development partnership with startups accelerates early-stage technological validation and thus creates the basis for innovative solutions for current or future market requirements.

Startups master challenges in a wide variety of areas and develop innovative solutions in the process. Through venture partnering, these can also be made accessible to established companies.

Venture partnering phases

From strategy development to successful collaboration

0. Calibration

Definition of the venture partnering objective and strategy as well as identification of the relevant issues.

1. Discovery

Relevant search fields are defined in a deep dive workshop, which serves as the starting point for subsequent startup scouting.

2. Evaluation

Multi-stage scouting and evaluation process to identify suitable startups.

3. Matching

Moderated familiarisation between the company and the qualified startups to ensure an optimal collaboration fit.

4. Collaboration

Accompaniment of a Proof of concepts to assess feasibility as a starting point for a long-term business relationship.

5. Implementation

Definition of the set-up for the continuation of the business relationship.

Partnering services at a glance

Customised offers for individual needs

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Venture Partnering Journey

Accompanying the process from search field definition to collaboration initiation

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Continuous startup monitoring

Proactive monitoring of startup activities in a defined topic area

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Technology and market research

Holistic analysis of a subject area as the basis for early-phase exploration processes

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Customised
Counselling

Customised support from experts independent of the venture partnering phase

Our references

Success stories of our corporate members

Our unique selling points

Venture Partnering Power by NXTGN

With NXTGN, you have the right partner at your side for venture partnering activities.

Versatile expertise

Our team consists of experienced venture partnering and technology experts, some of whom are founders themselves and have a deep understanding of the startup world. This enables us to act as an effective intermediary between startups and companies.

Scouting Excellence

Our scouting enables us to identify international startups that meet individual maturity requirements. In addition, our close links with universities enable us to access particularly early-stage startups that remain under the radar of conventional databases.

Focus on SMEs

We offer customised solutions that take into account the specific requirements of SMEs: We speak the language of SMEs, are pragmatic and act in a spirit of partnership. In this way, we help you to achieve your innovation goals effectively.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Partnering Services

What is venture partnering?

Venture partnering is a core element of the corporate venturing toolset and focuses on the Targeted collaboration with startups. In this approach, startups act as valuable development partners or innovative suppliers, depending on the project. Startups have already successfully mastered numerous entrepreneurial challenges that can also be made applicable to established companies through venture partnering in an open innovation approach.

What is the difference between venture clienting and venture partnering?

Venture clienting is a proven approach that allows companies to benefit from working with startups. In our further developed concept, Venture Partnering, we offer a flexible model that is customised to the needs of companies and at the same time offers a broader range of applications.

We understand venture clienting to be a sub-area of venture partnering. The focus here is on collaboration with late-stage startups that have already developed a finished product. In this model, the company specifically becomes a customer of the startup from the very beginning and the collaboration resembles a "classic" customer-supplier relationship.

Venture partnering, on the other hand, expands the range of forms of cooperation with startups. It goes beyond the traditional customer-supplier relationship and also enables models such as co-creation and development partnerships. Collaboration with both late-stage and early-stage startups can lead to the joint development of new products, business models or even technologies.

What added value does venture partnering offer?

  • Lower risk: Venture partnering enables established companies to test new technologies and business models without taking on significant financial risk. Compared to direct investments or founding your own startups, a partnership is generally more capital-efficient and conserves resources.
  • Faster return on investment: By working directly with startups, the established company can actively influence the development of products or services and thus achieve a faster return on investment. In contrast to venture capital or own venture-building activities, where it can take years before a positive return is realised.
  • Less bureaucracy: Venture partnering is much simpler and less binding than conventional investments or the founding of corporate startups. In the event of an unsuccessful partnership, the process is straightforward.

Do I need previous experience in working with startups?

Specific previous experience in working with startups is not necessary. Our team imparts the relevant knowledge for a successful venture partnering project and provides intensive support throughout the process.

Who in the company is responsible for implementing a venture partnering project?

Venture partnering projects can be initiated from classic innovation/digitalisation areas, product areas or functional areas such as purchasing.

What are the success factors for venture partnering?

A successful venture partnering project requires:

  • A suitable problem in the innovation/digitalisation area, product area or functional area
  • A trusting relationship in which the startup and company meet as equals
  • Clear commitment from all persons involved and strong involvement of the relevant specialist departments

Our team supports as a reliable partner both in identifying problems and in putting together and briefing the project team. We can provide the necessary translation work between the corporate and startup worlds.

CONTACT

Start your startup collaboration

Would you like to find out more about Partnering Services or the basic Corporate Membership? Then get in touch with Lucia now.

You can see Piet Kleeßen, Product Owner of the International Entrepreneurship Education Summit (IEES).

Lucia Tovenrath

Venture Partner Manager

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