Fueling Growth Through Corporate Ventures: "We create an environment where founders can thrive"

This is the second part of our two-part podcast series, featuring insights from our collaboration with DB Schenker on building a successful venture studio. If you haven’t read the first post, you can check it out here.

In this episode of the MVPF InnoSanity Podcast, hosted by Baby Jessi Parker, we dive even deeper with Moritz von Raczeck, Principal at MVP Factory, into the DB Schenker venture studio, discussing the unique challenges, benefits, and critical success factors of leveraging corporate resources to drive disruptive growth.

[00:00:00] Introduction to InnoSanity Podcast

Baby Jessi: Welcome to InnoSanity, the podcast where we dive deep into the exhilarating world of corporate innovation and venture building.

[00:00:30] Recap of Part One

Baby Jessi: This episode is part two of a two-part series discussing the collaboration between MVP Factory and DB Schenker. In our first episode, we explored how MVP Factory and DB Schenker teamed up to create a venture studio. We dove into the partnership, from defining the relationship to discussing the challenges of setting up and running a corporate-backed studio. We discussed some of the critical roles involved and what it takes to attract the right founders and investors.

[00:01:00] Leveraging DB Schenker's Brand

Baby Jessi: In this second episode, we’re going a step further by looking at how DB Schenker's brand and resources are leveraged to support new ventures. We’ll discuss the right founder profile, the importance of internal networks and buy-in, and how the fit between founders and investors can be a key to success. We’ll also address additional challenges corporates face when building ventures and the essential factors for a successful partnership between corporates and venture builders. So let’s jump back in—I’m your host, Baby Jessi, and this is InnoSanity.

[00:02:00] Challenges and Solutions in Corporate Venture Building

Baby Jessi: Moritz, when dealing with the challenges of unfamiliarity or lack of brand recognition for these startups, how does leveraging the DB Schenker name help overcome this?

Moritz: In many cases, having DB Schenker’s name is indeed a catalyst. When building a new venture or startup, there are so many assumptions that need to be validated—knowing that DB Schenker’s name and resources are behind the venture helps immensely in accessing expert input, conducting pilot tests, and securing early references. We can get insights from DB Schenker employees, validate our assumptions, and even test prototypes or MVPs within Schenker’s own warehouses. This way, when we approach external clients, we have DB Schenker’s brand to back us, which is invaluable for credibility.

Baby Jessi: What about startups without access to that level of brand recognition? How do they manage without that ace card?

Moritz: They typically rely on founder networks, accelerators, or build credibility over time by starting with smaller clients. Without a corporate backer, it’s a much longer road to get to those enterprise clients. That’s why we consider the corporate studio model, backed by a name like DB Schenker, a real advantage.

Moritz: But it’s not as simple as it sounds. The studio setup doesn’t automatically mean everyone in the organization is on board just because the CEO supports it. We still need to secure buy-in from various departments, managers, and stakeholders at multiple levels, each with their own goals and concerns. It’s still a sales process, just internal, and requires learning how to effectively engage these people.

Baby Jessi: That’s a huge takeaway—having the brand is just one part; building internal networks and relationships is key. But what if a corporate doesn’t have a venture studio? How would they get started?

Moritz: Corporates often have great assets on paper—brand, knowledge, technology, customers. But they need internal alignment and motivation to leverage these assets for venture building. It’s essential to get the internal stakeholders excited and invested in the venture studio. Celebrate successes and highlight the internal teams who supported those efforts to build momentum and buy-in over time. That’s how we’ve found champions within DB Schenker who are enthusiastic about helping new ventures succeed.

[00:08:00] Importance of Founder Profiles

Moritz: When selecting founders for a venture, you want people who are attractive to investors. Investors look for founders who have a unique blend of industry and startup experience. Initially, we focused on “unicorn” profiles—founders with deep logistics knowledge who also understand startups. But we discovered there’s also value in serial founders, those who’ve built ventures before. Experienced founders appreciate having a corporate backer like DB Schenker to support them, especially when it comes to B2B enterprise deals.

Baby Jessi: So, can you describe what you mean by the “classic founder profile” for a venture studio?

Moritz: One example is Andreas from Northbound, a founder who worked in logistics at Amazon and also spent time in startups. That’s ideal because he has operational expertise and startup insights, but he hadn’t built a venture of his own before. For people like him, the studio’s support is invaluable.

Moritz: And then there’s the “serial founder” profile—someone who has founded a company before and brings a different set of skills. These founders know how to navigate challenges and recognize the value of having DB Schenker’s backing for entering B2B enterprise spaces. Both profiles are highly appealing to venture capital investors.

[00:11:00] Key Success Factors and Learnings

Baby Jessi: Looking back over the past two and a half years with DB Schenker, what do you see as the main success factors?

Moritz: I’d say there are three key success factors. First, you need to understand the venture capital market and what makes a venture attractive to founders and investors. This isn’t always easy, but corporates need to avoid taking excessive ownership, which turns off potential investors.

Moritz: Second, internal buy-in is crucial. You need the support of your organization’s employees and managers to make the venture studio work. That requires internal marketing to create excitement and demonstrate that the studio’s successes are something everyone can take pride in.

Moritz: Third, having a partner with venture-building expertise is essential. I’ve rarely seen a corporate venture studio succeed without external partners who understand venture creation and validation. And finally, staying agile is important. Market conditions, founder profiles, and funding needs evolve—having a flexible structure is key to navigating these changes.

Moritz: Together with DB Schenker, we’ve built six ventures to date, two of which have already secured external capital and are scaling. It’s proof that the model can work if done right. The U.S. has embraced this model more readily than Germany, but I’m hopeful that with examples like these, more corporates in Europe will explore venture studios as a way to drive real innovation.

[00:16:00] Conclusion and White Paper Discussion

Moritz: If someone’s interested in learning more, they can download the white paper from our website or contact me directly on LinkedIn. This podcast and the white paper only scratch the surface of what it takes to build and run a corporate venture studio, but they’re a good starting point.

Moritz: The white paper offers a foundational guide to understanding different studio setups and goals. Designing the right structure takes time, so we’re always available to discuss how to align a venture studio with specific corporate strategies.

Moritz: I’m also working on a second white paper now, which will dive deeper into venture studios focused on building VC-fundable ventures. This one will focus more on the kinds of disruptive projects we’re discussing here, while the first paper offers a broader look at the various types of venture studios.

Baby Jessi: Fantastic! Thank you, Moritz, for sharing your expertise. For anyone listening, we’ll link the white paper and additional resources below. Feel free to reach out with any questions, and thank you for joining us for this two-part series on corporate venture studios. Stay tuned for upcoming episodes as we continue exploring innovation!