article thumbnail

What BMW’s Corporate VC Offers That Regular Investors Can’t

Harvard Business Review

Apart from the website, the BMW Startup Garage team also stays in regular touch with leading venture capitalists and regularly appears at international conferences, as well as hosting their own startup events. Even so, less than 5% of all potential startups will make it past a screening process.

article thumbnail

Innovative Companies Get Their Best Ideas from Academic Research — Here’s How They Do It

Harvard Business Review

To account for its success, many point to America’s entrepreneurial culture, its tolerance for failure and its unique ecosystem of venture funding. Those factors do play important roles, but the most important thing driving America’s success has been its unparalleled scientific leadership. ” Partner.

article thumbnail

The 5 Requirements of a Truly Innovative Company

Harvard Business Review

Executives read the same trade magazines, go to the same conferences, and talk to the same consultants. Leadership: the percentage of executive time that gets devoted to mentor­ing innovation projects, and 360-degree survey results that reveal the extent to which execu­tives are exhibiting pro-innovation behaviors.