This episode of Founders Talk explores corporate venture building for hidden champions—specialized SMEs that lead their niche but remain largely unknown. Host Nils Wagner and guest Kilian Karas discuss how corporate venturing helps companies stay competitive, citing examples like Kodak’s failure to innovate. They cover key challenges such as balancing risk-averse corporate culture with entrepreneurial agility, aligning incentives, and the importance of long-term investment. The conversation highlights that building in-house venture expertise is crucial for sustained innovation and strategic growth.
Chapter:
00:00 : Introduction
00:20 : Guest Introduction: Kilian Karasch
00:45 : Kilian's Background and Journey
01:59 : Current Role and Activities
02:51 : Understanding Hidden Champions
04:27 : Importance of Corporate Venturing
08:26 : Different Tools in Corporate Venturing
08:40 : Process of Corporate Venturing
13:45 : Practical Implementation of Corporate Venturing
15:42 : Aligning Corporate Venturing with Company Strategy
17:08 : Challenges of Corporate Venturing in the Startup World
18:38 : Managing Expectations and Preparing for Challenges
21:45 : The Importance of Knowing When to Quit
23:44 : Incorporating Statistical Facts into Venture Building
26:20 : Corporate Entrepreneurs in Venture Building
27:10 : Building In-House Skills for Corporate Venturing
28:34 : The Risk-Reward Profile of Venturing
30:00 : The Venture Board in Corporate Venturing
31:13 : Dealing with Potential Conflicts and Misalignment in Corporate Venturing
32:27 : Communication and Inspiring People in Corporate Venturing
36:04 : Aligning Interests and Incentives in Corporate Venturing
36:53 : Examples of Successful Corporate Startups
39:48 : Closing Remarks
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