Why Big Companies Are Rethinking How They Work With Startups
- Jul 10, 2026
- 11:00
- Full Episode
ABOUT THE EPISODE Big companies need new ideas. Startups need customers to prove their ideas work.
Wharton Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions and Senior Vice Dean of Innovation Serguei Netessine explains how corporate venturing is evolving beyond traditional investment models. He explores the rise of venture building and venture clienting, why becoming a startup’s customer can be more valuable than simply investing in it, and how these partnerships can help established companies innovate faster while giving startups a path to scale.
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Brief Summary
Serguei Netessine discusses corporate venturing's evolution and its benefits for startups and corporations in innovation.
Key points
- The Evolution of Corporate Venturing. Corporations and startups are increasingly uniting to foster innovation, especially in AI.
- New Practices in Corporate Venturing. Emerging practices like venture clienting and venture building are reshaping corporate-startup relationships.
Episode highlights
- The Evolution of Corporate VenturingCorporations and startups are increasingly uniting to foster innovation, especially in AI.“It's hard to imagine any big corporation moving forward without a startup's help.”0:48Jul 10, 2026
- New Practices in Corporate VenturingEmerging practices like venture clienting and venture building are reshaping corporate-startup relationships.“These practices allow big companies to innovate from day one.”4:48Jul 10, 2026





