E473 | Marcus Behrendt, BMW iVentures: Hedging the Future of Mobility, One Strategic Bet at a Time

, Managing Partner at , joins and to explore how corporate venture capital can drive transformation in Europe’s most iconic industries. From autonomy to AI and natural-fiber composites, the episode dives deep into how BMW’s venture arm scans, invests, and hedges across global markets while staying rooted in strategy and sustainability.🎧 Here’s what’s covered:04:11 Investment Focus: From Smart Supply Chains to Sustainability09:56 The Auto Industry in Flux: Disruption, Legacy & Tesla’s Vertical Model14:31 Integration vs. Modularity: What Will Define the Next Automotive Leaders17:01 Avoiding the Kodak Trap: Why Culture Eats Strategy in Corporate Innovation25:56 Leveraging the Core: Staying Close to BMW’s Strategic Heartbeat28:04 Natural Fibers & Rare Earths: Investing for CO2 Impact and Supply Chain Resilience34:42 Scaling Autonomy in the Real World: From Car Plants to Ports37:33 Europe's Structural Weakness: Legal Complexity and Inconsistent ESOPs44:11 Pensions, Politics & the Case for Venture Policy Engagement47:04 Why BMW iVentures Remains a Single-LP Fund—and Proud of It