3M Ventures

3M Ventures is the corporate venturing team of 3M, the St. Paul, Minnesota materials science company. 3M describes the unit as driving innovation and growth through investment and partnership, and it has two jobs. The first is minority growth financing in early-stage, growing companies with strong alignment to 3M's strategic priorities. The second is business building: the team incubates new businesses in areas aligned with those priorities and works with outside organizations to pilot, de-risk and validate opportunities, with 3M contributing technology, manufacturing scale, brand or channel.

The current focus list on 3M's site covers aerospace, AR/VR, automotive, data centers, electronics, energy, home cleaning, home improvement, industrial applications, safety and semiconductors. In a March 2026 interview with Global Corporate Venturing, unit head Ben Wright said the team was concentrating on data centers and aerospace that year. He cited portfolio company Cell Link, which makes flexible circuits that simplify server rack connections, JetZero, which is developing blended wing-body aircraft aimed at large fuel efficiency gains, and Dispelix, which makes waveguides for augmented reality displays with both civilian and defense uses. Investment databases also list participations in Ayar Labs, GrayMatter Robotics, TactoTek and a seed lead in Voltiris.

The distinctive feature is the materials science link. 3M points startups to its 49 technology platforms, more than 30 laboratories, manufacturing capabilities and global customer networks. Wright has argued that the strategic value of a corporate venture unit, not only its financial returns, is what keeps it funded through leadership changes and downturns, and that his team targets quarterly wins recognized inside 3M as moving innovation and growth forward. The selection criteria favor companies with a strong IP position, demonstrated commercial traction with lead customers and a management team positioned to win.