Agenda
June 16 | Oxford CVC Delegation
12:00 - 19:00
CVC Delegation to Oxford
If you are an international corporate investor, CVC or VC, and wish to explore how Oxford Science Enterprises and Oxford University are working to build a leading innovation ecosystem, then joining this unique delegation to Oxford will give you access to see these opportunities first-hand as they actively seek co-investors to support this growth.
To register your interest in joining on June 16 prior to the 2025 GCV Symposium, please complete the form. Please note that to join this delegation (which is complimentary), you do need to already be a GCV Symposium ticket holder.
June 17 | Pre-Conference
14:00
Networking Activities (Pre-Registration)
Connect with Symposium delegates ahead of the main event by participating in one of three unique networking opportunities taking place on the afternoon of 17 June. These activities are subject to availability and can be selected during registration. The three activities include:
14:00 - 16:30
Walking Food Tour - Borough Market
Official Private Borough Market Food Tour conducted by the only tour company licensed to guide at Borough Market so this private experience provides behind-the-scenes insight like no other. The walking food tour will include:
Meet your friendly private tour guides outside Borough Market
Learn about the incredible beginnings of the 1000-year-old Borough Market
Be introduced to the people behind the produce and delve behind-the-scenes as you taste directly from the traders
Taste delicious tea, cheese, charcuterie, oysters, hot food, and a dessert
Explore the Dickensian backstreets with your knowledgeable guide and learn the significance of the market to the wider local area
Toast the end of the tour with a glass of wine or alternative and leave with a deep understanding of the people, history, and stories that make Borough market and its surroundings such a special place
14:45 - 15:45
Speed Boat Sightseeing Tour
Feel like James Bond for the day as you experience an extreme sightseeing RIB ride on-board the fastest London speedboats on the River Thames. Departing from Embankment in London, join one of our two rib boats that will take you on a guided tour up until Tower Bridge. Once through the bridge where there are no speed restrictions so you can have the sheer speed and adrenaline experience up until Canary Wharf and turn around to roar back to the Embankment Pier.
14:45 - 16:30
Afternoon Tea Sightseeing Tour
An exclusive vintage Routemaster bus wind its way through the heart of Central London, offering a unique blend of delightful sightseeing and delectable afternoon teas on a classic double-decker bus! As you sip your tea, you'll soak in the vibrant culture, iconic landmarks, and rich history of London. It will depart from near Trafalgar Square.
The London Routemaster bus will treat you to breathtaking views of renowned attractions like Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, St James's Park, Hyde Park, The Royal Albert Hall, Marble Arch, Nelson's Column, Downing Street, and many more. It's not just a tea; it's a journey through London's heritage. Savour the sweet and savoury flavours of France with a selection of scrumptious finger sandwiches, including classics like smoked salmon and cream cheese, and mouthwatering cakes and pastries, all expertly crafted by our executive pastry chef to enhance your tea experience. And of course, no afternoon tea would be complete without scones with jam and clotted cream.
June 18 | Day One
08:00
Women in Venture (Invite-Only)
An exciting, by-invitation programme to meet women creating waves in the venture ecosystem.
Bernardita Araya Kleinsteuber, Manager, CMPC Ventures
Annie Goman, Head, Btomorrow Ventures
Gabriela Toribio, Managing Director, Rabo Investments
Sumiyo Tsuchikawa, Japan Country Manager, HearstLab International
Moderator: Janice Mawson, Managing Director, GCV Leadership Society
08:15
Registration, welcome & information desk
Welcome reception where badges can be collected from the registration desk.
08:15
Portfolio exhibition & welcome networking
Grab a welcome hot drink and kick off your GCV Symposium by connecting with peers as you network and explore the opening portfolio exhibition area – where selected, corporate-backed startups are ready to show you their latest innovations.
09:40
Official welcome and opening of the GCV Symposium agenda
Charlie Hayward, Deputy Managing Director, Global Corporate Venturing
09:45
Keynote: Setting the scene – why CVC matters
Corporate venture capital (CVC) has become a vital force in the innovation ecosystem through resilience, professionalisation and constant innovation. In 2024, corporates participated in 15% of startup funding rounds, reflecting their growing influence.
James Mawson, CEO & Founder, Global Corporate Venturing
09:55
Fireside chat: What’s the secret to a long-term, multi-fund CVC?
With 60% of CVCs surviving beyond three years and 25% reaching the “resiliency” phase, the discussion will explore how corporate venturers can design actionable strategies to build enduring and impactful programmes.
George Kellerman, Founding Managing Director, Woven Capital
Moderator: Maija Palmer, Editor, Global Corporate Venturing
10:15
Panel: Where is corporate venturing innovation headed – investing, building, partnering, clienting, or all the above
Corporate venturing is no longer just about investing. This session will explore how CVCs are blending these multi-faceted approaches to create long-term value and shape the future of corporate innovation, from mobility to fintech and beyond.
Gurdeep Singh Kohli, MD Group Strategy, Global Head of Enterprise Innovation, Standard Chartered
Moran Levinovitz, Managing Director and Head, HSBC Ventures
Jasdeep Sawhney, Managing Director, InMotion Ventures Studio
Moderator: Luca Gori, Partner, DLA Piper
10:45
Keynote: How the UK is outpacing the world in university innovation
This keynote will unpack the blueprint for supercharging IP-rich spinouts, from rethinking funding models to building ‘scale-up’ partnerships with corporates and investors.
Ed Bussey, CEO, Oxford Science Enterprises
10:55
Sector spotlight panel: national security & defence technology
From AI-driven threat detection to quantum-resistant encryption, the next wave of defence technology is being shaped by innovative startups and strategic investors. This panel will uncover how venture capital, government partnerships and breakthrough technologies are converging to address national security challenges.
Clayton Williams, Managing Director, In-Q-Tel
Alison Perez, Senior Investment Manager, Lockheed Martin Ventures
Moderator: Victor Boyajian, Global Chair, Dentons Global Venture Technology
11:25
Fireside chat
Annie Goman, Managing Director, Btomorrow Ventures
James Mawson, CEO & Founder, Global Corporate Venturing
11:40
Panel: UK spinouts – How do we supercharge growth in IP-rich companies?
Britain is home to some of the world’s most innovative spinouts, but scaling these IP-rich companies requires a collaborative ecosystem. From funding and mentorship to commercialisation strategies, the panel will discuss how to bridge the gap between groundbreaking research and global market success.
Duncan Johnson, CEO, Northern Gritstone
Ed Bussey, CEO, Oxford Science Enterprises
Andrew Williamson, Managing Partner, Cambridge Innovation Capital
Moderator: Kim Moore, Editor, Global University Venturing
12:15
Keynote fireside chat: Estonia – testing new cleantech in a compact, agile market with untapped potential
Ursel Velve, Chairman of the Management Board, Enterprise Estonia
Moderator: Maija Palmer, Editor, Global Corporate Venturing
12:25
Panel: Early-stage investments vs growth capital – do you need a balanced portfolio?
Should CVC units focus on high-risk, high-reward seedlings or prioritise more mature companies to derisk their portfolios? Panellists will explore the pros and cons of each approach to drive greater impact, delivering both financial returns and strategic value.
Terry Doyle, Managing Partner, TELUS Global Ventures
Romy Schnelle, Managing Director, High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF)
Moderator: Bernhard Mohr, Managing Director, Evonik Venture Capital
12:50
Keynote: Investment opportunities in the UK
As global markets evolve, the UK stands at the forefront of transformative industries – from AI and clean energy to advanced manufacturing and fintech. Join this exclusive keynote on why corporate investors are doubling down on British innovation.
Poppy Gustafsson / Baroness Gustafsson of Chesterton CBE, UK Minister of State (Minister for Investment)
13:00 Networking Lunch
14:20
Session TBC
14:50
CVC portfolio management and the ever-increasing demand to maximise value – The rise of platform teams
A third of all CVCs and 65% of large, mature units now have dedicated platform teams that foster collaboration between portfolio companies and corporate business units and drive operational excellence. This session will explore how CVCs have created their own versions of VC platforms to power CVC performance, longevity and scale.
Elisabeth Granger, Operating Partner, PayPal Ventures
Joel Krikston, Managing Director & Head of Strategic Innovation Alliances, MSD Global Health Innovation Fund
Moderator: Liz Arrington, Co-Founder and Managing Director, GCV Institute
15:20
Panel: Could media-for-equity be a blueprint for innovation in CVC?
Media-for-equity investments have become a larger feature in venture capital in recent years, but could they also be the model for a services-for-equity approach to corporate VC? This session will explore how CVCs can get creative by attracting – or being – a different kind of equity investor.
Vinay Solanki, Founder & Head, Channel 4 Ventures
Niko Waesche, Founding Partner, GMPVC German Media Pool
Piyush Puri, Founding Partner, Mercurius Media Capital
Moderator: Robert Lavine, Special Features Editor, Global Corporate Venturing
15:50
Sector roundtables and CVC development discussions
The GCV Symposium audience breaks off into several different groups focused on a range of sector-led discussions, including:
15:50-16:35
Energy
Moderator: Tom Whitehouse, CEO, Leif Capital
Talking points include:
The new frontier in energy deeptech – micro-electronics, edge AI & photonics
Robot, co-bot or no-bot – venture opportunities and challenges in energy and industry
Next generation fuels and bioenergy
Climate tech – venturing in adaptation
Participants include:
Andrée-Lise Méthot, Founder and Managing Partner, Cycle Capital
Marc Bouchet, Senior Investment Associate, TDK Ventures
Kemal Anbarci, Vice President & Managing Executive, Venture Capital, Chevron Technology Ventures
Richard Riggs, Investment Director, Aramco Ventures
Johann Boukhors, Managing Director, Head of CVC, ENGIE New Ventures
16:35-16:45 [10-min break]
16:45-17:30
Mobility / Transport
Moderator: Tom Whitehouse, CEO, Leif Capital
Talking points include:
AI in the car (not out of the car) – what’s coming
Customer experience enhancement
Consumer safety
Venturing in software-defined transport
AI in the cabin – what’s coming?
Electrifying and decarbonising transport hubs
Reflections on some failures in mobility venturing
Participants include:
Ben Lawson, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives – Europe, Enterprise Mobility
Nicole LeBlanc, Partner, Woven Capital
15:50-17:30
Operational excellence
Moderators:
Joern Caumanns, Managing Director, Calisa
Liz Arrington, Co-Founder and Managing Director, GCV Institute
15:50-16:35
Operations & portfolio management
Chao Wu, VP, Head of Group Investment and Portfolio, ABB Ventures
Peter Wozny, Head of Legal, Btomorrow Ventures
Elisabeth Granger, Operating Partner, PayPal Ventures
16:35-16:45 [10-min break]
16:45-17:30
Platform & portfolio development
Tjerk Joustra, GM Global Business Development, Shell Ventures
Nichola Bates, Managing Partner, Aerospace Xelerated (Boeing)
Joel Krikston, Managing Director & Head of Strategic Innovation Alliances, MSD Global Health Innovation Fund
18:30 GCV Symposium Summer Party
June 19 | Day Two
08:30
Registration, welcome & information desk
Badges can be collected from the registration desk from 08:30.
08:30
Portfolio exhibition & networking
Grab a welcome hot drink and kick off your GCV Symposium by connecting with fellow peers as you network and explore the opening portfolio exhibition area – where selected, corporate-backed startups are ready to show you their latest innovations
09:40
Welcome back to the GCV Symposium!
Charlie Hayward, Deputy Managing Director, Global Corporate Venturing
09:45
Opening fireside chat: The ever-changing role that venture plays in innovation strategy
CVC has become an essential tool in corporate innovation. This session will explore how its corporate venturing team is driving strategic value and growth for the firm’s businesses, from accessing cutting-edge technologies to fostering ecosystem partnerships.
Anton Kotov, SVP, Head of Corporate Strategy and M&A, ABB Group
Kamel Ramdani, Group Science & Innovation Executive Vice President, Chief Technology & Innovation Officer, GC
Moderator: Maija Palmer, Editor, Global Corporate Venturing
10:15
Panel discussion: Harnessing a collaborative venture mindset between CVC and VC
In this session, we look at the learnings, case studies, and best practices that shape an optimum partnership between CVCs and VCs. Whether it’s LP positions, deal-flow accessibility, or just venture problem-solving, what are the key strategies that both sets of investors need to adopt?
Takeshi Kodama, Head and Managing Partner, JERA Ventures
Mike Smeed, Managing Director, InMotion Ventures
Jay Eum, Co-Founding Managing Partner, GFT Ventures
Moderator: Joshua Müller, Principal, T.Capital
10:45
Fireside chat: What Europe’s top FoFs really think – the future of innovation capital
What makes a good GP? This session will explore how today’s GPs – whether traditional VCs or CVC spinouts – are evolving, and discuss if the US shift towards RIA structures signals a global trend.
Chris Wade, Co-Founder & Partner, Isomer Capital
James Mawson, Founder & CEO, Global Corporate Venturing
11:00
Panel: Sustainability at scale – how CVCs are shaping the energy transition
Sustainability is no longer a niche focus – it’s a core driver of innovation and venture investment. CVCs are looking at innovations from nuclear energy, hydrogen and carbon capture and circular economy technologies.
Nichola Bates, Managing Partner, Aerospace Xelerated (Boeing)
Marc Bouchet, Senior Investment Associate, TDK Ventures
11:30
Panel: Bengaluru, the Silicon Valley of India
India’s diverse startup ecosystem has emerged as a global hotspot for CVC activity. With a maturing tech sector, a growing number of unicorns and a thriving deeptech innovation scene, Bangalore is attracting investors from around the world.
Archana Srivatsan, Partner & Head of South Asia Investments, Gates Foundation Strategic Investment Fund
11:50
Fireside chat: Circular economy – insights from Toyota
Leon van der Merwe, VP of Circular Economy & Energy Business, Toyota Motor Europe
Moderator: Nicole LeBlanc, Partner, Woven Capital
12:10
Panel: Partnerships and opportunities in the university spinout ecosystem
The UK is home to world-class university research, and the government is keen to support the creation of more university spinouts to boost economic growth. This panel will discuss the investment opportunities in UK spinouts and explore how the Mansion House Accord encourages investment from the private sector.
Tom Grant, Head of Venture & Growth Investments, Aviva Investors
Christine Hockley, Managing Director and Co-Head of Funds, British Business Bank
Moderator: Kim Moore, Editor, Global University Venturing
12:30
Panel: Investing in AI and broader deeptech – a CVC perspective
AI and other deep technologies are being rapidly adopted and have started to disrupt traditional industries. CVCs are playing a pivotal role in identifying, developing and adopting these innovations on behalf of their organisations.
Dong-Su Kim, CEO, LG Technology Ventures
Kaz Hadano, CEO, Sony Ventures
Chao Wu, VP, Head of Group Investment and Portfolio, ABB Ventures
Moderator: Jay Eum, Co-Founding Managing Partner, GFT Ventures
13:00 Networking Lunch
14:20
Panel: The global expansion of CVCs into Latin America
Global CVCs exchange ideas on the unique challenges and opportunities in the rapidly growing region, exploring the power of ecosystem partnerships.
Bernardita Araya Kleinsteuber, Manager, CMPC Ventures
Gabriela Toribio, Managing Director, Rabo Investments
Moderator: Fernando Moncada Rivera, Senior Reporter, Global Corporate Venturing
14:40
Panel: Open innovation toolkit – CVC, venture building and beyond
Panellists will examine diverse corporate innovation strategies, including direct investing, LP fund commitments, venture building, venture partnering, among others, and share the advantages or challenges of each model.
Raza Ali, VP, Innovation, International Airlines Group
Bruno Moraes, Managing Director, Wayra UK (Telefónica)
Tom Schneider, Senior Manager, Venture Building, Schenker Ventures (DB Schenker)
Moderator: Julian Ritter, Partner and Member of the Executive Board, Stryber
15:00
Sector roundtables and CVC development discussions
For the next 90 minutes, the GCV Symposium audience breaks off into several different groups focused on a range of sector-led, or thematic-led inclusive discussions.
Healthcare
Bill Taranto, President and General Partner, MSD Global Health Innovation Fund
Anthony Vallance-Owen, Senior Investment Manager, We Venture Capital
Defence & dual-use technology
Todd Stavish, Managing Partner, SRI Ventures
Alison Perez, Senior Investment Manager, Lockheed Martin Ventures
Fintech
AI
16:30 End of GCV Symposium
17:00 Networking Drinks
