Alberto Barbari’s Post

92 out of 1,500. That’s how many corporate–startup engagements in Europe led to real business deals since 2017, according to the EIC. Less than 7%. If this were agriculture, we’d call it crop failure. If it were drug development, we’d call it unacceptable attrition. But in innovation? We still call it “open innovation.” Startups are not failing corporates. Corporates are failing startups. Not because of lack of ambition, but because of lack of structure. Pilots without scale-up plans. KPIs that don’t align across business units. Budgets that stop at “proof of concept.” The EIC points to four pillars for fixing this: strategy, commitment, skills, experimentation. I’d add a fifth: ecosystem accountability. If corporates claim sustainability or climate leadership, they must treat startup partnerships as long-term value creation, not short-term optics. In AgriFoodTech and ClimateTech, where scaling takes time and science doesn’t bend to quarterly targets, this is non-negotiable. CVC is not a lottery ticket, it’s a responsibility. The full report is worth a read: https://lnkd.in/ecqmm7eA #CVC #ClimateTech #AgroFoodTech #Sustainability #InnovationStrategy

Corporates and #startups are different worlds. Startups need to fail fast and often to get where they need to be as generally there is a limited runway. Corporates generally are about risk aversion, e.g. prevention of failures. Bridging these diametrically different attitudes is quite a challenge, often overlooked and experienced through practice once any partnership is already on the way. Startups don’t have much runway to adapt. They need to survive. This leaves the corporates to adapt and accept the daily realities of startups. Those who find a way to do so have the best chance of success working with startups.

How can cities become engines of innovation and sustainability? Incubators are more than startup enablers — as Paris shows, they can transform cities into sustainable, smart, and global innovation hubs. A true driver of inclusive, knowledge-based economic development. Cities can become living labs, where technology, community participation, and innovation converge to shape the future. 👏

Ecosystem Connect: How international innovation is integrated into the local network On October 7, the Ecosystem Connect brought together 31 representatives from international start-ups, local partners, and the regional innovation scene — marking the conclusion of the joint project phase between ekipa and the Essen Wirtschaft (EWG - Essener Wirtschaftsförderung) within the ongoing Market Entry Program.  Over the past months, six GreenTech and HealthTech teams explored their path into the German market. Some are already preparing to set up operations in Essen — supported by EWG, which accompanies them in establishing a local presence and connecting with regional partners. One inspiring example: Zoho, a global tech company that has successfully established its German base in Essen, shared its own market entry journey. Their story shows how structured regional support can turn international innovation into local business growth.  In addition, BRYCK Startup Alliance, a local think tank and startup enabler, presented its approach to supporting young companies through structured programs. The event demonstrated how regional partners can systematically integrate international innovation – not just attracting new ventures, but creating long-term business value for the local economy. More about the EWG x ekipa Programm in the comments. 

🇺🇸 New Jersey & Abu Dhabi Forge a Global Innovation Bridge A groundbreaking partnership is taking shape between New Jersey and Abu Dhabi to accelerate technology collaboration and strengthen startup ecosystems. Through a new MoU, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) and Hub71 (Abu Dhabi’s global innovation hub) will: 🏢 Support soft-landing programs for startups entering new markets. 🤝 Enable cross-border collaboration in AI, fintech, life sciences, and climate tech. 🌍 Expand investment and talent flows between the U.S. and MENA region. 📈 Position both regions as gateways for global innovation ecosystems. 🔎 Innovative EcoSystems POV: 🔎 This is ecosystem diplomacy in action, linking regions through innovation rather than just trade. 🔎 Cross-border startup pipelines reduce barriers for founders, providing global capital, markets, and mentorship under one framework. 🔎 Such alliances redefine FDI, where knowledge, IP, and entrepreneurial energy are as important as physical capital. 🔎 It’s also a model of how sub-national governments (like U.S. states) can play a front-line role in global innovation policy. 💡 Actionable Recommendations: 💡 For Governments & Policymakers: Formalize more global city-to-hub partnerships, turning trade agreements into startup & innovation corridors. 💡 For Ecosystem Builders: Prioritize cross-border soft-landing programs that help startups scale internationally with less friction. 💡 For Investors & Corporates: Leverage these hubs as deal pipelines — tapping into curated, de-risked startups with global scaling potential. 💡 For Startups: Engage these partnerships early to gain access to new markets, capital, and customers in ways traditional expansion strategies can’t match. 🤙 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/epuz2VCB 💬 Question for the Community: As states, regions, and hubs take the lead in global partnerships, how can we ensure these cross-border innovation corridors remain inclusive and accessible to startups from diverse backgrounds and geographies? #InnovativeEcoSystems #FDI #GlobalInnovation #StartupEcosystems

Corporate Innovation: How Slow Giants Can Stay Ahead of the Disruption Curve While most corporations are still holding workshops about “embracing innovation,” smaller, hungrier players are already capturing their market share. The irony? Big companies have everything startups don’t, capital, data, infrastructure, and yet they lose to speed. In the GCC, this gap is even more visible. Family businesses and legacy institutions are sitting on decades of advantage, but many still move at a pace the market no longer tolerates. The issue isn’t funding. It’s structure, decision-making, and the absence of an ecosystem that rewards experimentation. According to Fast Company, over 90% of innovation hubs fail to deliver measurable results. Why? Because they operate as isolated experiments instead of embedded engines. Innovation doesn’t work when it’s locked in a department with beanbags and a slogan. At Venture Factore, we work with corporates to redesign that DNA, embedding innovation across business units, aligning it with growth metrics, and connecting it to real partnerships that move the market. The goal isn’t to “think like a startup.” It’s to scale like one, with the precision of an institution. If you’re leading a large organization in a fast-changing region, now is the time to evolve, and set the pace others will have to follow. Let’s talk about making your innovation strategy profitable, not performative. #VentureFactore #CorporateInnovation #VentureCapital #Strategy #MENAInvestments #PrivateEquity #GCCBusiness #ScaleUps #Transformation #Leadership

🚀 Innovation isn’t a solo sport – and the data proves it. Corporate Venturing Squads (CV Squads) are transforming the landscape: alliances where corporates and startups co-invest, share intelligence, and scale solutions together. IESE & WEF research shows results worth noting: - 37% better access to startups - 29% stronger innovation networks - 26% smarter knowledge sharing What strikes us is this: the same principles that make CV Squads successful (clear governance, peer learning, and cross-industry collaboration) are exactly what many SMBs miss when driving change. When teams align around a shared mission and structured process, innovation becomes scalable and sustainable. 👉 Whether you’re a startup or an established business, building collaborative structures isn’t optional – it’s the key to resilient growth. #InnovationLeadership #CorporateVenturing #OperationsExcellence #Collaboration #ScalingInnovation https://lnkd.in/dR8t-jDg

What’s the best advice for startups looking to scale? 📈 We asked Xavier Ribas and soner haci, two CEOs growing with the support of the Enterprise Europe Network and EIT - European Institute of Innovation and Technology, and their answers say it all: focus and collaboration go hand in hand when scaling a business. 🔎 Want to discover more lessons on how to help your SME grow? Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/eRQGeGQa #EENCanHelp EU Business EIT Urban Mobility EIT Health EVARM PONS

What if your next innovation partner wasn’t one startup, but a squad of corporates + startups working together? WEF recently highlighted Corporate Venturing Squads - multi-entity alliances that pool risk, knowledge, and capital to tackle complex challenges. Key takeaways: It dilutes burden and amplifies reach - no single company carries the entire risk or cost. It enables cross-industry insight, especially for grand challenges (climate, mobility, smart cities). It demands new coordination skills: shared governance, neutral leadership, aligned incentives. If your corporate venturing playbook still assumes “1 corporate → 1 startup” you might be missing the next wave of scalable collaboration. https://lnkd.in/ePv4Sthb

A mere 3% of corporate #startups go on to create $50 million #businesses. Founder and CEO of Lean Scaleup, Frank Mattes, answers key questions: ➡️ How can we achieve a higher success rate? ➡️ How can we recognize winning ideas? Curious? Read more: https://ow.ly/tC8m30sQASw