Company builders are service providers who do the groundwork for founding new companies. Their business model is to enable corporate development to keep up with ever-changing markets and tap into new opportunities with experienced entrepreneurs. Their venture-as-a-service spectrum ranges from incubation to the scaling of business, but unlike accelerator programs, they act either as startup studios or venture builders for corporations, after which the team moves on to the next project. Company builders deliver the resources for the fast development of ideas into an actual product, service or organization. They are packed with serial entrepreneurs with experience in fields that have scarce talent availability like AI, e-mobility, fintech, robotics or medtech. Typical features include acting as innovation partners for corporations and managing the full startup lifecycle from ideation to scaling. Company builders continuously track market trends to build ventures that are strategically aligned, timely, and scalable.
Startup engagement platforms (SEPs) refer to programs that facilitate collaboration between startups and larger corporations. These service providers help bridge the gap between innovative, agile startups and established businesses seeking access to fresh technologies, talents or business models, providing a structured environment for partnerships and integration. They integrate the multiple interests of enterprise support, accelerators and venture capital functions. Typical users include startups, corporates, investors, accelerators, and ecosystem builders.