Corporate Venture Launchpad 3.0

Empowering corporate innovation through venture creation and startup partnerships

Corporate Venture Launchpad 3.0

EDB is the catalyst for the vibrant corporate venturing community in Singapore. Since the launch of the Corporate Venture Launchpad (CVL) in 2021, we have been the trusted partner for companies to grow beyond their core businesses by building new, exciting ventures.

Now in its third edition, CVL 3.0 features support for two critical modes of corporate venturing – venture creation and startup partnerships. Support is complemented by our appointed Venture Studio and Open Innovation (OI) Partners.

CVL 3.0 is for companies looking to unlock greater corporate innovation from Singapore

The programme supports multinational companies, large local enterprises, regional family businesses and high growth companies in Singapore to drive venture creation and startup partnerships.

Venture Creation
To incubate and launch globally leading businesses from Singapore

Startup Partnerships
To deliver impactful business outcomes through startup collaboration

Applications for CVL 3.0 are now open

Interested companies may reach out to our CVL 3.0 Partners to learn more, or register their interest with EDB below.

How It Works

For companies looking to build new ventures
For companies exploring corporate-startup partnerships

Venture Creation Programme

Participating companies will work with Venture Studio Partners to:

Validate new venture concepts and develop an investible business plan
Establish processes and capabilities for sustained venture creation efforts, with the goal to build new ventures quickly and effectively

Programme Highlights

CVL 3.0 offers support tailored to companies' venture building experience, with sprint and post-sprint assistance from Venture Studio Partners.

Concept Validation Sprints

Concept Validation Sprints are a focused, time-limited process that guide companies through the early venture stages to define goals and develop high conviction ideas
Sprints apply robust methodologies to create investible business plans, backed by data and market validation
Support from EDB includes up to 50% co-funding for manpower and professional services’ costs, as well as the involvement of EDB venture builders as supplementary sprint support or advisory members

Venture Build and Launch (Post-Sprint)*

Select ventures will have potential access to ecosystem connections and investment opportunities by SG Growth Capital, and a network of relevant VCs and family offices

*Only high-potential projects that have successfully completed the Concept Validation Sprint as part of CVL 3.0 may be eligible to apply for post-sprint support

Download diagram (104KB JPG)
corporate venture creation journey

Exploring corporate-startup partnerships image

Startup Partnerships Programme

Participating companies will work with OI Partners to:

Develop best practices and connect with high-quality startups to achieve meaningful outcomes
Set up corporate-startup partnership initiatives with the goal to sign pilot agreements with startups

Programme Highlights

CVL 3.0 offers support for companies to enhance readiness for effective startup partnerships. OI Partners provide support up till the pre-pilot stage.

Startup Partnerships Initiative (Pre-Pilot)

Companies work with OI Partners to establish capabilities for startup partnerships, identify and refine problem statements and scout for suitable startups
Companies develop pilot plans with the goal of signing agreements with startups
Support from EDB includes up to 50% co-funding for manpower and professional services' costs, as well as the involvement of EDB advisory members

Pilot Execution

Additional grant support available for select companies to launch and scale startup pilot projects, co-developed with their startup partners
Select startups in the programme will have potential access to ecosystem connections and investment opportunities by EDBI, and a network of relevant VCs and family offices

Download diagram (88KB JPG)
corporate startup partnership journey

Hear from companies who have been through the Corporate Venture Launchpad programme

Ventures Made Possible is a video series spotlighting the corporate venturing journeys of companies from our community.

Watch the first 3 episodes below.

For more on corporate venturing and why it should be companies’ new growth priority, visit here.

Appointed Venture Studio and Open Innovation (OI) Partners

Our CVL 3.0 partners specialise in supporting companies in their venture creation and corporate-startup partnership journeys. Each partner brings its unique version of capability building offerings, methodologies, people and resources.

Nine partners have been appointed by EDB New Ventures to be part of CVL 3.0. Companies can now choose from this diverse and proven pool of partners, depending on the mode of corporate venturing you wish to undertake.

Venture Studio Partners

Our Venture Studio Partners were assessed based on the following criteria. Click on each tile to learn how to get in touch and kickstart your venture creation journey.

Strong Singapore presence and global networks
Comprehensive suite of capability development offerings
Robust methodology to validate and launch new ventures
Competitive pricing models
High calibre people and resources dedicated to CVL projects
Strong engagement of external networks to assist corporates in concept validation sprints
Ability to hire external talent (e.g. founder level) for the new corporate ventures
Ability to support post-sprint venture launch and scale up (e.g. MVP build, product development)

High success rate for launching corporate ventures via sprints
Strong customer testimonials and pipeline

Strong commitment to contributing thought leadership around corporate venture creation in Singapore
Ability to deliver educational or industry content, research development or run trainings and workshops
Experience in organising networking events or other initiatives to facilitate knowledge-sharing and relationship-building for the corporate venturing community

Download Venture Studio Partner Info Packs

Open Innovation (OI) Partners

Our OI Partners were assessed based on the following criteria. Click on each tile to learn how to get in touch and kickstart your startup partnership journey.

Strong Singapore presence and global networks
Comprehensive suite of capability development offerings
Robust methodology to drive effective collaboration between corporates and startups
Competitive pricing models
High calibre people and resources dedicated to CVL projects
Ability to help corporates develop streamlined processes, organisation frameworks and best practices for startup partnerships
Ability to drive commercial outcomes from corporate-startup partnerships

High success rate for fostering corporate-startup partnerships
Strong customer testimonials and pipeline

Strong commitment to contributing thought leadership around corporate-startup innovation in Singapore
Ability to deliver educational or industry content, research development or run trainings and workshops
Experience in organising networking events or other initiatives to facilitate knowledge-sharing and relationship-building among corporates and startups

Download OI Partner Info Packs

Application Criteria

Eligibility

Company Profile

Established corporates, regional businesses and high-growth companies with significant revenues or market capitalisation.
Companies that have Singapore operations, with clear mandates for new venture creation or startup collaboration, and demonstrate commitment to corporate venturing.

Venture Creation

Venture concept addressing a large opportunity space in any sector, with the aim of creating new revenues outside of the parent company’s existing core business. Venture needs to have strong breakthrough potential and ability to leverage the company’s assets and resources.
Venture concept must be sufficiently differentiated from any previously supported ventures / projects by the EDB.

Startup Partnerships

Corporate commitment to address meaningful problem statements via startup partnerships, as well as willingness to establish processes and capabilities to facilitate effective startup partnerships.
Startup partnership scope must unlock advantages for both corporate and startup, where corporates could serve as an end customer, Go-To-Market partner, or manufacturing partner to startups.

Key Programme Conditions and Deliverables

Venture Creation

Participating companies will be required to dedicate full-time employees to be the venture lead (and other members as relevant) of the sprint team, provide adequate C-level attention towards supporting the sprint team and commitment for resourcing the setup of the venture upon successful concept validation.
Any venture launched from the Corporate Venture Launchpad shall be headquartered in Singapore.

Startup Partnerships

Participating companies will be required to have dedicated resources to drive startup partnerships.
In collaboration with the OI Partner, participating companies must provide adequate C-level attention towards supporting the enhancement of processes and capabilities for driving effective startup partnerships, and to commit to signing pilot agreements with startups.

Other Requirements

Full details of eligibility criteria, programme conditions and deliverables are available through any of the appointed Venture Studio and OI Partners.
Each appointed Venture Studio or OI Partner may have additional requirements depending on their methodologies for ensuring successful concept validation sprints or startup partnerships.
Interested companies should discuss this with an appointed Venture Studio or OI Partner to find out more and assess best fit.

Application Process

Find your preferred Venture Studio or OI Partner

Contact any appointed venture studio or OI Partner to:

Find out more about each Partner’s venture building or startup partnership offerings and identify a preferred Partner
Discuss with your preferred Partner any pre- and post-project support that you might need

Scope your validation sprint or startup partnership initiative

Develop a draft scope for the validation sprint or startup partnership initiative, and identify the pre- and post-project support you need in collaboration with your preferred Partner
Your preferred Partner will work with you to refine your initial scope and application materials for success

Programme application confirmation and kick-off

Submit your programme application to EDB New Ventures at new_ventures@edb.gov.sg
EDB New Ventures will assess your programme eligibility and work with you to refine your initial scope for success.
Finalise application materials with EDB New Ventures and kick off with the validation sprint or startup partnership initiative.

Frequently Asked Questions

EDB’s Corporate Venture Launchpad supports established companies with Singapore-based operations to innovate and grow by leveraging the advantages of startups to enter new markets, experiment with new technologies, try out new business models and create new revenue streams. Now in its third edition, CVL 3.0 features support for two modes of corporate venturing – venture creation and startup partnerships.

Under venture creation, participating companies will work with Venture Studio Partners to incubate and launch globally leading businesses from Singapore. Under startup partnerships, companies will work with Open Innovation Partners to collaborate effectively with startups and deliver impactful business outcomes.

Corporate venture creation or venture building refers to the incubation of a new business targeting a new revenue opportunity beyond the company’s existing business. It is often launched as a separate legal entity, or in some instances, created as a new business unit within a company.

To operate with autonomy and agility, the new business is best led by a dedicated, ‘founding’ team that drives the growth of the venture. Companies actively lean in to provide assets and resources as unique advantages that allow the venture or new business unit to scale quickly.

A Corporate-Startup Partnership is a collaborative relationship between a large, established company (the corporate) and a smaller, innovative company (the startup). These partnerships are formed to leverage the strengths of both entities: the corporate typically brings resources, industry expertise, and market access, while the startup offers agility, innovation, and fresh ideas.

The goal of such partnerships is to drive mutual growth and innovation. These partnerships can take various forms, such as the co-development of products to unlock new revenue streams, or adoption of innovative solutions that boost productivity and reduce costs.

Through the CVL programme, EDB provides support for companies to establish best practices and capabilities, as well as access high quality startups to enable effective corporate-startup partnerships that deliver tangible business outcomes.

View all FAQs

Contact EDB New Ventures for queries about Corporate Venture Launchpad

Email us at new_ventures@edb.gov.sg