Hey there!
It's time for another Flyby newsletter, where we help you stay sharp with innovation trends & insights.
In today’s newsletter:
- Quick Hits: Corporate Venturing Squads: Collaborative Innovation and Strategic Alliances
- Industry Radar: To keep you ahead on industry trends
- Research: Tech and Telecoms in 2025: The Year of Realism and Geopolitical Shifts
Let’s open the vault
🗞️ Quick Hits
Short & sweet—news that caught our eye this week.
📊 How do Corporate Venturing Squads (CVSs) unite corporations and start-ups to tackle complex challenges and advance technological innovation? CVSs boost open innovation by sharing resources, accessing start-up networks, and managing risks. However, they face hurdles such as coordinating diverse partners and potential knowledge leaks.
Source: IESE Business School
Find here the full research
📡 Industry Radar
Stay ahead of the curve— some of the hottest news & trends across our reference industries paired with some bonus insights from FounderNest.
🔋 Oil & Energy - Powering the Future: Key Trends Shaping Clean Energy
In 2025, clean energy will grow rapidly, with key trends including a surge in solar and battery investments, AI reshaping the energy grid, stronger industrial policies, and a potential nuclear revival driven by new technologies. Ongoing research will focus on improving efficiencies, reducing costs, and advancing emerging solutions.
🍏 Food & Bev - M&As Set to Surge in 2025 with Smaller, Strategic Deals
M&A activity in the food and beverage industry is set to rise in 2025, focusing on smaller bolt-on deals in premium, snacking, and health sectors. Improved conditions like lower interest rates and healthier balance sheets are driving this trend. Companies are prioritizing smaller acquisitions to optimize portfolios and boost growth without significant risk.
🏥 Healthcare - AI Sparks $23B Surge in Healthcare VC Investment
Venture capital in healthcare rose to $23 billion in 2024, with 30% invested in AI startups. AI, especially in biopharma, drove this growth, while health tech funding declined. Early-stage health tech saw slight increases, and IPO activity remained low. 2025 may bring improvements with potential IPOs from companies like Hinge Health and Omada.
FounderNest Bonus: We wanted to discover some AI-driven technologies in this market, so we ran our Market Intelligence feature. Sign up on FounderNest for more!
🤖 Technology: Intel’s Bold Spin-Off: Pioneering a New Era for Corporate Venture Capital
Intel plans to spin off its venture arm, Intel Capital, into a standalone fund with greater autonomy, aiming for independent operation and rebranding in 2025. This bold move reflects a significant shift in corporate venture capital (CVC) strategy, with Intel as an anchor investor to offer flexibility in attracting external capital. This spin-off, amid Intel's financial challenges and restructuring, may signal a trend towards greater CVC independence and external funding options.
📦 Retail & Logistics - 2024 Retail Reality: High-Tech Dreams, Low-Tech Delivery
The retail industry continues to struggle with effectively integrating technology to enhance the customer experience, despite significant advancements and discussions about its potential. In 2024, price and convenience emerged as primary motivators for shoppers, while technological innovations like AI and holograms remained largely aspirational and underutilized in stores.
👩🌾 Farming & Agriculture - Smart Agriculture Market Set to Grow 62% by 2029
The smart agriculture market is expected to grow from USD 14.4 billion in 2024 to USD 23.38 billion by 2029, driven by sustainable farming technologies like IoT, AI, and automation. Livestock monitoring and the Asia Pacific region will see the highest growth.
FounderNest Bonus: We wanted to explore which leading companies in smart agriculture make up the Asia Pacific region, so we launched a search, and here's what we found. Sign up on FounderNest for more!
📈 Banking: Empowering Banking’s Future: The Fusion of AI and Human Capital
The future of banking combines AI and human capital, with AI automating tasks and enhancing services while human connection remains essential. Reskilling employees is key as roles evolve, and collaboration between education, industry, and government will bridge the skills gap. Innovation, ethical AI practices, and a balance of human intelligence and technology will drive success in banking’s future.
✈️ Aeronautics & Aviation - Delta and Airbus Partner for a Sustainable Future in Aviation
At CES 2025, Delta and Airbus deepened their partnership to advance sustainable aviation. They will focus on innovation labs, testing the "fello'fly" technique to reduce fuel use, and scaling SAF production. Both companies aim for net-zero emissions by 2050, exploring future technologies like hydrogen aircraft and new airframe designs to make air travel more sustainable.
FounderNest Bonus: We decided to have a look at some of the patents held by Airbus, and for that, we ran our Competitive Intelligence tool. Sign up on FounderNest for more!
💊 Pharma - Biotech's 2025 Paradox: More Money, Fewer Winners, and China's Rising Influence
Entering 2025, the biotech industry experiences a sharp divide, with venture capital focusing on large funding rounds, benefiting well-funded companies while many public companies struggle with declining valuations. IPO opportunities are scarce and selective, with around 20 companies going public each year. China becomes an important player in drug licensing, posing a challenge to U.S. biotech firms.
🏭 Manufacturing - AI Drives Sustainability in Manufacturing: Boosting Efficiency and Reducing Waste
Manufacturers are using AI to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and optimize energy use, integrating it with Asset Lifecycle Management (ALM) for better maintenance and sustainability tracking. Despite challenges, AI is key to boosting sustainability and operational performance.
🚘 Automotive - Industry Leader Redefines Mobility with EVs and Automation
Scania is expanding beyond truck sales, leveraging autonomous driving and EVs to offer services like charging, logistics, and automation. Investments in startups and ventures like Juna, a pay-per-use electric truck service, highlight its push for sustainable solutions. Despite slow EV sales and rising competition, Scania is optimistic, focusing on innovation to stay ahead.
