Our world depends on innovators for solutions now more than ever. These solutions must address the challenges that impact our daily lives. Yet, it's challenging to start a new business or product to address these challenges.
Building a company is full of pitfalls. This is especially true for first-time founders. The assumption that most startups fail already borders on a stereotype. In today's fast-paced world, organisations are pushing for new ways to improve digital interactions like payments and privacy.
Today, corporate innovation isn't about creating new value. It's a needed investment to address changing trends and threats. Businesses are moving faster in response to the global pandemic.
Entrepreneurs have shifted their attention to another strategy in the innovation playbook. Industry stakeholders refer to this strategy as corporate venture building.
In this blog, we'll explore the latest trends and innovations in venture building. This will include emerging technologies, funding strategies, and business models to scale new ventures.
Venture building is the process of creating startups based on new business models. Unlike startup incubators, venture builders utilise their resources. They offer support to startups with proven growth potential.
Venture building is a popular approach to launching new companies. The venture builder becomes the majority owner of those companies. They're more agile, and they explore cheaper ways to find new businesses.
A venture builder cultivates startup company ideas outside, in-house, or both. They work with a team to build a new business using diverse skills.
Venture building provides the required capital and leads the team through the phases. They offer shared administration and employ a unique framework. Finally, they can bring in talents after the initial building stage.
According to the Economic Times, India witnessed the announcement of 288 venture funds[1] in Q1 of 2024. In value, the disclosed funding is worth $2.3bn. India witnessed the rise of two unicorns, Krutrim and Perfios, during Q1.
Regardless of how simple it all sounds, getting a venture builder to invest in takes time and effort. GrowthJockey is here to bring out the latest trends in starting new businesses.
As venture builders continue to explore new horizons, new innovations and trends emerge. AI, blockchain, and climate tech emerge as fields ripe for innovation.
Experts believe venture builders can explore these domains as fertile grounds for novel solutions. This is because new startup trends and innovations make it simple for venture builders to move from idea to exit. Some of these trends include:
According to Forbes, several technologies have reshaped venture building and provided solutions to the challenges faced by venture builders.
The US and China lead the world in deep tech funding share. They have over 60% and 12%, respectively. Europe holds a 14% share. Experts' study of deep tech funding as a share of GDP shows that many countries are trying to support deep tech. These countries include Israel, Sweden, Singapore, and the UK.
Since technologies target large and complex global issues. The need for emerging technologies will only increase. Some of the technologies that have emerged in the last decade include:
Analysing Big Data can reveal hidden stories and trends. It gives a strong base for setting goals and judging performance.
Future startups can navigate vast datasets. By leveraging big data, new startups can sharpen their strategy. It ensures that innovation units combine and contribute to broader goals.
Also, analytics can help us to face hurdles like fraud detection, cost reduction, and risk management. It allows proactive measures and boosts innovation's success.
With AI and ML, startups can automate their processes. These emerging technologies free humans to focus on strategy and creativity in innovation.
They are self-learning, thus creating a culture of constant improvement. It is vital to hone strategies and align them with corporate visions.
Also, AI enables predictive analytics. It reveals market dynamics and risks. It gives a panoramic view of making good decisions. In India, 70% of the startups[2] are investing in AI. They want to improve their efficiency and product capabilities.
Cloud platforms are the bedrock of collaborative innovation. They allow real-time communication and resource sharing. Be it among diverse units and even outside allies.
Cloud computing is scalable and open. It lets new ventures adapt to changing needs. And it does so without big infrastructure costs.
Also, the security bastions in cloud platforms protect sensitive data and ideas. They create a safe place for future startups to flourish.
Venture builders differentiate themselves from traditional incubators due to their business model. Venture building is active in various stages, from ideation to growth.
Here's how the venture building business model functions:
Venture builders generate ideas internally for promising business concepts. Sometimes, they collaborate with external founders to identify these concepts.
Venture builders select startup company ideas based on market potential and the venture’s expertise.
The venture-building team works closely with the founders to refine the concept. They conduct market research, build prototypes, and validate the business model. This process helps identify challenges and improve the product before launch.
Funding is the lifeblood to start a new business. It fuels their growth and day-to-day operations. One cannot overstate its significance. It lets startups drive innovation, make products, and support marketing.
Venture building is a focused unit of multidisciplinary practitioners. Their mission is to start a new business concept. They can also start new businesses or products and help them succeed.
Here are some of the funding strategies venture builders employ:
Equity financing requires selling off a percentage of the company's ownership. New startups do this in exchange for capital. Here, investors become co-owners and share in the company's success through capital growth.
However, startups give up part ownership. They also often give equity investors a say in decisions. Common sources of equity financing include venture building, crowdfunding platforms, and incubators/accelerators.
In debt financing, startups borrow money. The startup must repay the money with interest. This option provides quick capital without diluting ownership. But it comes with the duty of following repayment timelines.
In this business model, lenders do not play any role in the running of the business. They require collateral to reduce risks.
Startups get grants to help with specific goals. Grants also reward good performance. Grants do not need repayment. This makes them attractive for startups lacking resources. This sets them apart from other financing strategies.
Startups have numerous funding options to fuel their growth journey. It offers unique advantages and considerations.
By understanding each type of funding, entrepreneurs can learn the associated risks. Then, they can make informed decisions. These decisions will fit their business goals. They usually pave the way for growth.
Venture building models don't launch startups. Transformative frameworks redefine how businesses advance toward success.
These models offer many vital benefits. They are crucial for startups, especially in their early and vulnerable stages.
Venture-building models have a crucial benefit. They encourage the adoption of shared resources.
Startups that use such models can access shared services like HR, legal, and IT support. This slashes the costs of these functions.
This merger lets entrepreneurs focus on making products and entering markets. They can avoid building and managing an entire team from the start.
Venture building models often give startups unmatched access to industry experts and mentors. It helps young businesses avoid common pitfalls and speed up their development.
Also, being in a venture building means startups have access to networking. These can lead to faster market entry and growth.
Venture building models distribute resources and capital across a portfolio of companies. They do this to reduce financial risk. This varied approach lets the venture builder absorb the failure of single enterprises. It does so without risking the stability of the whole portfolio.
Also, the network has shared knowledge and experience. They can help predict and manage risks better.
Venture building models speed up making products and market entry. They can move fast from ideas to market. This model lets them beat rivals who must build from scratch.
The team environment also fosters innovation. Teams on different projects can share insights, tech, and strategies.
Venture building is a hands-on approach to startup support. It stands out from other support structures. These include incubators and accelerators. It does so with its structured and distinct approach. Venture buildings also offer resources and mentoring. But they have no day-to-day role.
A unique aspect of venture building is its models—internal and external. Each model has unique benefits and challenges. The availability of resources also influences their direction. Future startups can leverage this impressive model to secure funding for their business.
Are you still unsure how to proceed with getting your startup off the ground? GrowthJockey offers helpful resources that can help you unlock your growth potential.
Venture builders are more hands-on than other support models in the venture ecosystem. Accelerators provide resources to already launched startups. Venture Builders decide which companies to build themselves. Only then do they commit resources to a startup.
Startup studios are rising. So, more agencies and accelerators are trying this approach. They are falling in love with the greater efficiency of building very early ventures.
It doesn't matter if you are a first-time founder or a fourth-time founder. Most venture builders love to back founders who are mission-driven. As a founder, your strength lies in your ability to build capital-efficient solutions. As well as solving significant problems as the business scales.