#20 Kilian Karrasch | Corporate Venture Building for Hidden Champions

This episode of Founders Talk explores corporate venture building for hidden champions—specialized SMEs that lead their niche but remain largely unknown. Host Nils Wagner and guest Kilian Karas discuss how corporate venturing helps companies stay competitive, citing examples like Kodak’s failure to innovate. They cover key challenges such as balancing risk-averse corporate culture with entrepreneurial agility, aligning incentives, and the importance of long-term investment. The conversation highlights that building in-house venture expertise is crucial for sustained innovation and strategic growth.Chapter:00:00 : Introduction00:20 : Guest Introduction: Kilian Karasch00:45 : Kilian's Background and Journey01:59 : Current Role and Activities02:51 : Understanding Hidden Champions04:27 : Importance of Corporate Venturing08:26 : Different Tools in Corporate Venturing08:40 : Process of Corporate Venturing13:45 : Practical Implementation of Corporate Venturing15:42 : Aligning Corporate Venturing with Company Strategy17:08 : Challenges of Corporate Venturing in the Startup World18:38 : Managing Expectations and Preparing for Challenges21:45 : The Importance of Knowing When to Quit23:44 : Incorporating Statistical Facts into Venture Building26:20 : Corporate Entrepreneurs in Venture Building27:10 : Building In-House Skills for Corporate Venturing28:34 : The Risk-Reward Profile of Venturing30:00 : The Venture Board in Corporate Venturing31:13 : Dealing with Potential Conflicts and Misalignment in Corporate Venturing32:27 : Communication and Inspiring People in Corporate Venturing36:04 : Aligning Interests and Incentives in Corporate Venturing36:53 : Examples of Successful Corporate Startups39:48 : Closing Remarks 🔗 Useful Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiliankarrasch/