Stephen Hurford

London

Reporter at GlobalCorporateVenturing

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Chinese oil and gas company Sinopec launches $690m fund

1 week ago | globalventuring.com | Stephen Hurford

The state-owned energy company has announced a new fund to invest in hydrogen startups across the value chain. Credit: ShutterstockChinese state-run oil and gas company Sinopec has announced a 5 billion yuan ($690 million) CVC fund to invest in hydrogen energy startups. The fund will be managed by the Sinopec Capital subsidiary Sinopec Equity Fund Management.
Indian tech company Info Edge to launch a third fund at $117m

1 week ago | globalventuring.com | Stephen Hurford

Info Edge has announced shareholder approval for a third sector-agnostic fund to be managed by Smartweb Internet Services, totaling $117m. Photo courtesy of Trade BrainsIndian tech conglomerate Info Edge has received shareholder approval to launch a third investment fund at Rs 1,000 crore ($117m). InfoEdge Ventures, the company’s CVC unit, is sector agnostic. Almost all of its investments are in India, and it mainly targets the pre-seed, seed and series A stages but occasionally goes further.
Smith joins Siemens Energy as senior venture clienting manager

2 weeks ago | globalventuring.com | Stephen Hurford

Travis Smith joins Siemens Energy Ventures as senior venture clienting manager, where he oversees a training programme for staff. Travis Smith has joined German energy technology company Siemens Energy’s CVC unit as a senior venture clienting manager. His role involves working to identify startup technology that can create value for the Siemens Energy business units. He also runs a programme that trains staff members in venture clienting and gives them the opportunity to get involved.
German reinsurer Munich Re launches $125m investment fund

2 weeks ago | globalventuring.com | Stephen Hurford

Munich Re Ventures has launched a $125m fund with capital from insurer HSB, to be invested in technology for de-risking industry. Munich Re head office building, photo courtesy of Munich ReGerman reinsurance company Munich Re’s CVC unit has launched a fifth fund of $125m, focusing on startups making technology to mitigate risk in the construction and property industries and their related supply chains. It will also invest in resilience technology, such as cybersecurity software.
Sommer leaves German utilities company NEW

2 weeks ago | globalventuring.com | Stephen Hurford

Christoph Sommer is leaving his role in innovation at German utilities provider NEW, where he oversaw the group's venture clienting activity. Christoph Sommer, photo courtesy of LinkedInChristoph Sommer said he is leaving his role as innovation manager at the German utilities company NEW, in which he was involved with its venture clienting and startup partnerships. He has been at the company for just under four years, joining in July 2021.
Agrawal steps down as head of Celestica's CVC unit -

3 weeks ago | globalventuring.com | Stephen Hurford

Alok Agrawal has left his role as the head of Canadian electronics company Celestica's CVC unit after more than five years with the company. Alok Agrawal, photo courtesy of Outthinker NetworksAlok Agrawal has left his role as chief strategy officer and head of ventures at Celestica, where he ran the Canadian electronics company’s CVC activities. He joined Celestica in late 2019 as VP and head of corporate strategy.
Exits dip in April as IPOs dry up and health and IT M&A activity declines

3 weeks ago | globalventuring.com | Stephen Hurford

April saw fewer corporate-backed startup exits than the high months of Q1 2025, due to a fall in M&A for healthcare and IT companies. Remember Me Stephen Hurford Stephen Hurford is a junior reporter for Global Corporate Venturing.
The upward swing in corporate venturing deals continues in April

3 weeks ago | globalventuring.com | Stephen Hurford

Despite uncertainty in the wider economy, April has seen the most corporate-backed startup funding rounds in more than two years. Corporate venturing continues its steady upward climb as we move into Q2, even as macroeconomic uncertainty makes investors nervous. April 2025 saw the highest number of corporate-backed funding rounds for startups in a month since 2022, following a standout Q1 2025. This exceeds March, which was also a two-year high.
Bosch Ventures launches its sixth fund at €250m despite market uncertainty

1 month ago | globalventuring.com | Stephen Hurford

Despite the Trump administration's tariffs impacting target sectors, Bosch Ventures has launched a sixth fund, focusing on deep tech. Photo credit: P. L. on UnsplashBosch Ventures has announced a new €250m ($284m) deep tech fund despite the growing economic uncertainty affecting its target sectors. It is the sixth fund to be managed by Bosch Ventures, the CVC arm of the German multinational engineering and technology company Robert Bosch. It will focus on energy efficiency and AI startups.
Fourteen AI defence tech startups to watch -

1 month ago | globalventuring.com | Stephen Hurford

The use of AI in defence tech is redefining the modern battlefield, whether on land, sea or air. These are some of the startups attracting attention. Image credit: Getty ImagesAI is already everywhere on the battlefield. It is used to automate drones, assist with targeting, power sensors and to analyse data. Its development – driven by both large companies and startups – is not likely to slow down. “I don’t see an alternative view, really.