What is Venture Clienting? (and why it’s not Corporate VC)
What is Venture Clienting?
Venture Clienting is a smart and structured way for companies to solve real business problems by using products from startups. Instead of trying to build everything in-house or waiting for the next big idea to magically appear, companies actively search for startups that already have a solution, and then buy it, test it, and ideally implement it.
Think of it as a “make-or-buy” decision. You’re not just looking for cool startups. You’re looking for ones that can actually help your business right now.
| Venture Clienting | Corporate VC |
|---|---|
| Buy the startup’s product | Buy shares in the startup |
| Goal: solve your problem | Goal: make a return on investment |
| Decision based on product fit and problem relevance | Decision based on financial potential and strategic alignment |
| Startup should have reference customers and a working solution | Startup can be early-stage, even without a product yet |
| Driven by business units | Driven by corporate investment teams |
In short
- Venture Clienting is about solving problems.
- Corporate VC is about making bets.
With Venture Clienting, you’re not funding a dream. You’re buying a solution that already works - just built by someone else.
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.
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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.