Investing in startups has gone from being a “luxury” for companies to a critical strategic necessity as AI brings in an era of rapid transformation. Corporate venture investment is at a record level, both in the number of companies making investments and the dollar sums being committed. It has proven itself a steady pillar in the startup ecosystem at a time when venture capital has been in decline.

This makes corporate investment a more valued partner to venture capital. Nicolas Sauvage, president of TDK Ventures, spoke of a “yin and yang” system in which traditional venture capital provides speed and discipline while corporate investors offer the practical assistance — factories, supply chains, customer relationships — for scaling deep tech and AI startups. READ MORE