Start, Grow, and Scale
Start, Grow, and Scale
Venture Clienting Units don’t go from zero to hero overnight. They evolve and that evolution typically follows three distinct phases: Start, Grow, and Scale.
Each phase reflects a different level of ambition and organizational maturity. Whether you’re just kicking things off with one motivated person or operating a full-fledged corporate function, understanding which phase you’re in helps you focus on the right goals and next steps.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Start: You’re just getting going. Resources are tight, but motivation is high. Success comes from proving that Venture Clienting works, by running a few high-impact pilot projects that create internal buzz and real business value.
- Grow: You’ve shown it works, now it’s about making it repeatable. Processes become more structured, more people get involved, and you start scaling your impact across the organization.
- Scale: Venture Clienting becomes part of the company’s innovation engine. It’s professionalized, fully integrated, and supported by leadership. The company doesn’t ask if Venture Clienting works, it asks what’s next.
Think of this model as a helpful map to guide the development of your Venture Clienting Unit. You don’t have to do everything at once, but you do need to know where you are and what to aim for next.
Let’s dive deeper into each of the phases in the next articles.
Hi, I'm Madlen, and I lead the Venture Clienting solutions at GlassDollar. At GlassDollar, we empower corporations to quickly identify and test cutting-edge startup technology. Our outstanding team of Venture Clienting experts is committed to helping corporations harness startup innovations and drive growth at any stage. Whether you need strategic consulting, support in establishing a Venture Clienting unit, or assistance in operating and scaling it, we are your ideal partner.
Back to
Everything you need to know about Venture Clienting
Welcome to Venture Clienting
Learn what Venture Clienting is (and what it isn’t), where the model came from, and why it’s become a fast path to measurable business impact. It also clarifies the differences to CVC and Venture Building, shows how the three can work together, and closes with practical “golden rules” to start with the right problems, win early PoCs, and build the trust you’ll need to scale.
Getting Started
A quick on-ramp into Venture Clienting: a checklist to see if your organization is actually ready, the minimum setup you need (one owner, a starter budget, and light leadership backing), plus a plain-English glossary so everyone—from business units to procurement—uses the same terms and avoids confusion from day one.
The 3 Phases of Venture Clienting Units
A practical maturity map for how Venture Clienting Units evolve over time — from START (prove the model with a few high-impact PoCs), to GROW (make it repeatable and expand reach), to SCALE (run high volume with strong selectivity, efficiency, and strategic alignment). It clarifies what to prioritize in each phase: budgets, timelines, lead volume, stakeholder setup (procurement/IT/legal), and the specific habits that drive momentum without burning quality.
The Venture Clienting Process
A practical, end-to-end guide to running Venture Clienting in real life — from uncovering internal pain points and qualifying PoC leads to sourcing startups, running focused demos, executing lean PoCs, and turning successful pilots into real implementations with measurable business impact.
Advanced Topics
This chapter covers advanced Venture Clienting topics you’ll face once the basics work: managing PoCs as a portfolio, working effectively with IT, accelerating projects through alternative contracting models, and securing lasting C-level support. It shows how to reduce bottlenecks, allocate resources smarter, and turn Venture Clienting into a strategic, scalable capability.