BMW i Ventures
UnclaimedAt a Glance
- Check Size
- $1M – $25M
- Stage
- Series A, Series B+
- AUM
- $1.1B+
- Sectors
- Deeptech, Climate, AI +1
- Founded
- 2011
- HQ
- Mountain View, CA
About BMW i Ventures
BMW i Ventures serves as the strategic venture capital arm of BMW Group, established in 2011 with headquarters in Mountain View, California. The firm was created to help BMW stay at the forefront of automotive innovation by investing in and partnering with startups developing transformative technologies for the future of mobility, manufacturing, and sustainability.
With $500 million in assets under management, BMW i Ventures focuses on Series A and later-stage investments in companies working on autonomous driving, electric vehicle technologies, advanced manufacturing, and sustainable mobility solutions. The firm's investment thesis centers on identifying disruptive technologies that can reshape the automotive industry and complement BMW's strategic objectives.
The portfolio includes notable companies like ChargePoint, a leader in electric vehicle charging infrastructure; Solid Power, developing solid-state battery technology; Desktop Metal and Carbon, both pioneering advanced manufacturing techniques; and Proterra, focused on electric commercial vehicles. These investments reflect the firm's commitment to supporting innovations in electrification, autonomous driving, digitalization, and sustainable manufacturing processes.
Investment Thesis
“Investing in disruptive technologies that will shape the future of mobility, manufacturing, and sustainability.”
Leadership Team
Managing Partner Marcus Behrendt has led the firm since 2018 after a BMW career that included vice president of user experience and senior roles in HMI concepts, plus seven years running European operations at JD Power and project work at Mercedes-Benz; he studied management and engineering at Technische Universitat Berlin. Fellow Managing Partner Kasper Sage joined in 2016 from 7Innovate, the venture arm of ProSiebenSat.1 Media, with earlier stints in business development at Deutsche Telekom and consulting at Detecon. Partner Baris Guzel arrived in 2017 from Presidio Partners and The Halo Funds, having advised technology companies on M&A and IPOs at Deutsche Bank and BofA Merrill Lynch.
CFO Michael Hammer built the fund's structure and operations after five years as a BMW investment manager overseeing roughly $20 billion in pension assets. Principals include Samantha Huang, previously at Robert Bosch Venture Capital and SK Telecom, and Scott Walbrun, a former Jefferies technology banker who sits on seven company boards.
Sector Focus
Investment Stage
Notable Portfolio Companies
View full portfolio →
Fund History
BMW i Ventures has invested on behalf of BMW Group since 2011 and now runs three funds holding more than $1.1 billion in assets under management. Fund I concentrated on autonomous driving and digital automotive technology and, by the firm's account, returned in the top quartile. Fund II made 35 investments and widened the mandate to sustainability, supply chain and artificial intelligence. Fund III closed at $300 million on April 29, 2026, targeting physical and agentic AI, robotics and production workflows, manufacturing and supply chain optimization, and circularity and advanced materials.
Across the three vehicles the firm counts more than 90 investments, written from seed through Series B, and over 30 exits, 11 of them public companies. Realized outcomes include the IPOs of ChargePoint, Desktop Metal, Solid Power and Xometry, Infineon's $830 million purchase of GaN Systems in 2023, and BP's acquisition of Chargemaster. Capital comes from BMW Group rather than outside limited partners, and no Form D filings for the funds appear in SEC records. The firm invests from Mountain View, San Francisco and Munich.
Frequently Asked Questions
What stage does BMW i Ventures invest at?
BMW i Ventures primarily invests at the Series A, Series B+ stages. This means they focus on companies that are scaling their go-to-market after proving product-market fit.
Where is BMW i Ventures located?
BMW i Ventures is headquartered in Mountain View, CA. Many of their portfolio companies are also based in this region, though they invest across geographies.
What sectors does BMW i Ventures focus on?
BMW i Ventures focuses on investments in Deeptech, Climate, AI, Robotics. Their portfolio reflects deep expertise and networks within these sectors.
What is BMW i Ventures's typical check size?
BMW i Ventures's typical investment check size ranges from $1M to $25M. Actual amounts may vary based on the stage, sector, and specific opportunity.
How much does BMW i Ventures have under management?
BMW i Ventures manages approximately $1.1B+ in assets under management (AUM) across their funds.
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