Corporate VC (CVC)

Corporate venture capital (CVC) refers to investment arms of large corporations that invest in early-stage companies. Unlike independent VC funds, CVCs have both financial return objectives and strategic objectives — investing in companies that align with, support, or potentially threaten the parent corporation's business. Major CVCs include Google Ventures (GV), Salesforce Ventures, Intel Capital, Qualcomm Ventures, and Comcast Ventures. CVCs can offer startups strategic value beyond capital: customer introductions, partnership opportunities, technical resources, and potential acquisition paths. The tension: CVCs may create conflicts of interest (investing in a startup they might compete with or acquire), and their strategic agenda may not always align with maximizing financial returns.