For the first time ever, StartupBlink has released the Corporate Startup Activity Index, ranking over 370 major corporations based on their engagement with startups. The Index evaluates multiple factors such as corporate venture capital activity, partnerships, accelerators, and acquisitions. A well-run corporate venture program helps companies tap into disruptive innovation, strengthen their ecosystem presence, and ignite future M&A pipelines. This article highlights the top corporate venture capital firms.
To view all 370+ ranked corporations and explore our methodology, download the full report.
What Is a Corporate Venture Capital Firm?
A corporate venture capital firm is a dedicated investment vehicle—often structured like a VC fund—embedded within large companies. It serves dual purposes:
- Access to disruptive innovation: gives the parent company early visibility into emerging tech and potential acquisition candidates.
- Ecosystem embedding: builds partnerships, supports co-development, and boosts brand perception among startups.
For corporations, it’s more than capital—it’s strategic collaboration and ecosystem cultivation.
Top Corporate Venture Capital Firms
The following are the top 20 ranked corporations in StartupBlink’s Corporate Startup Activity Index 2025 that operate known corporate venture capital firms. Among the global top 20, Ansys, Naspers and SAP.iO do not currently operate formal, publicly active corporate venture capital arms. As a result, we extended the list to include the next ranked corporations with active programs, such as BMW, Bertelsmann, Singtel.
You can contact us to learn more about how and why your corporation is represented in the 2025 Corporate Startup Activity Index.
Salesforce Ventures
Parent company: Salesforce (#1 in Index)
Headquarters: USA
Active in: Enterprise SaaS, Cloud, AI, Fintech
Notable Startup Alumni: Slack, Zoom, Stripe
One of the most active corporate venture capital firm globally, Salesforce Ventures backs 600+ startups that align with its ecosystem. Recent initiatives include a $1B AI fund. Portfolio companies gain integration, brand leverage, and distribution via Salesforce.
Intel Capital
Parent company: Intel (#2 in Index)
Headquarters: USA
Active in: Semiconductors, AI, IoT, Cloud
Notable Startup Alumni: VMware, Red Hat, MongoDB
With a global footprint, Intel Capital focuses on deep tech investments that support its innovation pipeline. It offers portfolio companies strategic guidance and access to Fortune 500 clients. Intel Capital is among the longest-standing CVCs in the industry.
GV (Google Ventures)
Parent company: Google (#3 in Index)
Headquarters: USA
Active in: AI, Life Sciences, Consumer Tech
Notable Startup Alumni: Slack, Uber, Nest
GV operates independently but is backed by Alphabet. It invests broadly across disruptive industries, often at early stage. GV portfolio companies gain access to Google’s talent and technical expertise.
Qualcomm Ventures
Parent company: Qualcomm (#4 in Index)
Headquarters: USA
Active in: 5G, Mobile, IoT, Automotive
Notable Startup Alumni: Waze, Xiaomi, Ring
Qualcomm Ventures funds startups building the connected future, including mobility, devices, and infrastructure. It provides strong hardware support and market access. The fund supports both financial and strategic outcomes.
Comcast Ventures
Parent company: Comcast (#5 in Index)
Headquarters: USA
Active in: Media, Connectivity, Consumer Tech
Notable Startup Alumni: Lyft, Houzz, Flipboard
Comcast Ventures invests in content, advertising, and digital experience startups. It brings media reach and operational support to founders. Its portfolio includes several high-profile exits in the media sector.
Microsoft M12
Parent company: Microsoft (#6 in Index)
Headquarters: USA
Active in: Cloud, AI, Cybersecurity
Notable Startup Alumni: HashiCorp, Lyft, Marketo.
M12 supports B2B startups with a strong alignment to Azure and enterprise IT. Founders benefit from Microsoft’s customer base and technical support. M12 often co-invests with top VC firms globally.
IBM Ventures
Parent company: IBM (#7 in Index)
Headquarters: USA
Active in: AI, Hybrid Cloud, Enterprise Software
Notable Startup Alumni: Hugging Face, QunaSys (quantum), Seek AI
IBM Ventures focuses on startups that advance enterprise transformation. Investments align with IBM’s focus on cloud and AI ecosystems. Strategic co-development and tech integrations are core benefits.
Samsung Ventures
Parent company: Samsung Electronics (#8 in Index)
Headquarters: South Korea
Active in: Hardware, AI, Semiconductors
Notable Startup Alumni: SmartThings, SiFive, SentinelOne
Samsung Ventures is the corporate venture program of Samsung Electronics, supporting startups aligned with its hardware and device roadmap. Portfolio companies gain early-stage manufacturing, R&D, and supply chain advantages. It focuses globally across emerging tech.
Cisco Investments
Parent company: Cisco (#10 in Index)
Headquarters: USA
Active in: Networking, Cybersecurity, Cloud
Notable Startup Alumni: Cohere, Mistral AI, Scale AI
Cisco Investments backs enterprise infrastructure and security startups. Its scale and reseller network give portfolio companies valuable distribution. Cisco has invested in hundreds of companies globally.
Wayra (Telefónica Ventures)
Parent company: Telefónica (#11 in Index)
Headquarters: Spain
Active in: SaaS, Fintech, IoT, Connectivity
Notable Startup Alumni: Alias Robotics, Perplexity AI, Ciudadela
Wayra accelerates startups across Europe and Latin America, offering access to Telefónica’s infrastructure. It has backed over 1,100 startups. Investment is combined with mentoring and corporate distribution.
Coinbase Ventures
Parent company: Coinbase (#12 in Index)
Headquarters: USA
Active in: Web3, DeFi, Fintech
Notable Startup Alumni: OpenSea, Uniswap, Compound.
Coinbase Ventures supports early-stage crypto startups expanding the blockchain ecosystem. It’s one of the most active Web3 CVCs. The fund helps founders navigate token economics, infrastructure, and regulation.
Airbus Ventures
Parent company: Airbus (#13 in Index)
Headquarters: France
Active in: Aerospace, Robotics, Mobility
Notable Startup Alumni: Isar Aerospace, ZeroAvia, LeoLabs, Aira
Airbus Ventures focuses on disruptive innovations in aerospace, including advanced materials and space tech. It supports global startups that align with long-term aviation trends. The fund bridges commercial aerospace and deep tech.
Dell Technologies Capital
Parent company: Dell (#15 in Index)
Headquarters: USA
Active in: Infrastructure, Cloud, Security
Notable Startup Alumni: Zscaler, Netskope, Redis, DataRobot
Dell Technologies Capital supports startups reshaping enterprise IT. It provides commercialization opportunities across Dell’s business units. The fund has been an early backer of several unicorns.
Macquarie Capital Venture Studio
Parent company: Macquarie Group (#16)
Headquarters: Australia
Active in: Energy, Infrastructure, Fintech
Notable Startup Alumni: BlocPower, Blueprint Power, Envio Systems
Macquarie collaborates with startups through accelerator and investment partnerships. It emphasizes sustainability and digital infrastructure. Venture activity is led through partnerships like R/GA and Urban-X.
PayPal Ventures
Parent company: PayPal (#17 in Index)
Headquarters: USA
Active in: Fintech, Payments, Commerce
Notable Startup Alumni: Paxos, Toss, Neon.
PayPal Ventures invests in startups that expand the digital commerce ecosystem. It offers market access, branding, and financial expertise. The fund supports both B2B and consumer-facing innovations.
Sony Innovation Fund
Parent company: Sony (#19 in Index)
Headquarters: Japan
Active in: Entertainment, Robotics, Deep Tech
Notable Startup Alumni: Synergy Quantum, Everspin, Epic Games
Sony Innovation Fund invests in entertainment tech, AI, robotics, and sustainability. It supports startups with funding and partnership opportunities across Sony’s global business lines. The fund also includes a Climate Tech initiative.
Amazon Alexa Fund
Parent company: Amazon (#20 in Index)
Headquarters: USA
Active in: Voice AI, Smart Home, Consumer IoT
Notable Startup Alumni: Ecobee, Ring, Mojio.
The Alexa Fund supports companies creating voice-first experiences. It offers funding, co-marketing, and platform access. The fund enhances Amazon’s smart home ecosystem.
BMW i Ventures
Parent company: BMW (#22 in Index)
Headquarters: Germany / USA
Active in: Mobility, Sustainability, Automotive Tech
Notable Startup Alumni: ChargePoint, Solid Power, HelloFresh,
BMW i Ventures backs early to growth-stage startups in autonomous driving, electric mobility, and digital car experiences. It operates independently with a strong focus on disruptive mobility technologies.
Bertelsmann Investments
Parent company: Bertelsmann (#23 in Index)
Headquarters: Germany
Active in: Media, Edtech, Digital Health
Notable Startup Alumni: Lemonada, Flip, Doccla.
Bertelsmann Investments includes funds like BAI and BDMI, supporting media-tech startups across Europe, Asia, and the US. The group has over 400 active investments worldwide.
Singtel Innov8
Parent company: Singtel (#26 in Index)
Headquarters: Singapore
Active in: Telecommunications, AI, Cloud
Notable Startup Alumni: Wiz.ai, Carro, BitSight.
Singtel Innov8 operates as an independent CVC, investing globally in early to growth-stage startups. It focuses on digital transformation in telco and adjacent verticals.
Conclusion
This analysis reveals that while corporate venture capital is a powerful way for corporations to engage with startups, they are not the only path. Several of the world’s most startup-engaged companies—ranked in the top 20 of our Index—do not operate a formal corporate venture capital arm, yet still build deep startup relationships through accelerators, partnerships, acquisitions, and open innovation programs. This highlights corporate-startup engagement is broader than corporate venture programs alone.
Download the full StartupBlink Corporate Startup Activity Index 2025
For the first time ever, StartupBlink has mapped and ranked over 370 corporations based on their real-world engagement with startups—using data on venture activity, accelerators, acquisitions, and ecosystem influence.
