Welcome back to the EUCVC Summit Talks, where we bring you conversations with Europe’s leading founders, corporate leaders, and investors shaping the future of venture collaboration.
In this session, Jeppe Høier sits down with Mike Smeed, Managing Director of InMotion Ventures (the venture arm of Jaguar Land Rover), and Ida Christine Brun, Partner at Maersk Growth. Together, they dive into how two global giants—one in mobility and one in logistics—approach corporate venturing, what they’ve learned about balancing financial returns with strategic purpose, and how they decide where to play in a fast-changing landscape.
From decarbonization and electrification to supply chain innovation and customer-centric business models, Mike and Ida share firsthand lessons on what works, what doesn’t, and how corporates can create real value in venture.
🎧 Here’s what’s covered
01:00 Balancing financial return with strategic alignment — why both guests insist on “financial first.”
03:00 The big themes: decarbonization, electrification, and digital supply chains.
05:00 What corporates can offer startups that VCs can’t — customer access, distribution, and industrial know-how .
06:00 Avoiding “tourist investing” — the discipline corporates need to compete with top-tier VCs .
07:00 Building trust with founders — transparency, aligned incentives, and patient capital .
08:00 Lessons learned: when corporate bureaucracy kills speed, and how to prevent it .
09:00 Looking forward: why corporate venturing will be central to Europe’s green and digital transitions .
You can listen to the full conversation from the EUCVC Summit 2025 on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
✍️ Show Notes
Mandates & Missions
InMotion Ventures invest in climate, industrial and enterprise technologies
Maersk Growth backs startups shaping global trade, logistics, and supply chains.
Both emphasize going beyond the core to find disruptive opportunities.
Financial First, Strategic Second
Both Mike and Ida stressed that financial returns come first—without successful startups, strategic value never materializes.
Carry and incentive alignment are key to professionalizing CVC teams.
Big Themes in Focus
Decarbonization across transport and logistics.
Electrification and EV ecosystem innovation.
Digitalization of supply chains, from visibility to automation.
The Corporate Advantage
Startups get what VCs can’t offer:
Global customers and distribution.
Industrial expertise and operational partnerships.
But corporates must resist slowing startups down with bureaucracy.
Avoiding Pitfalls
No “tourist investing” — corporates must act with the same discipline as top financial VCs.
Clear strategy, dedicated teams, and strong governance are essential.
Looking Forward
Corporate venture will be a critical enabler of Europe’s green transition and supply chain resilience.
Partnerships must be built on trust, patience, and aligned outcomes.
💡 One-liner takeaway: Corporate venture succeeds when it invests like a VC, partners like a corporate, and keeps financial discipline at its core.
