News & Insights

Stay updated with the latest developments, insights, and thought leadership from u-path's innovation ecosystem.

Expert Perspectives

Featured Articles

Our team of experts regularly shares insights on corporate innovation, venture capital trends, and strategic growth opportunities. Browse our collection of articles to gain valuable perspectives on navigating today's complex business landscape.

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June 2025

What Slush'D Penang Taught Us About Building Ecosystems Through Place

Most startup conferences gather people in windowless halls under fluorescent lights. Slush’D Penang flipped the model. Over three days, the streets, cafés, temples, and industrial zones of George Town, Malaysia became the stage for an ecosystem-building experiment—with real lessons for the future of innovation gatherings.

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May 2025

Expo 2025 Osaka: A Beautiful Gathering — But Where Are the Bold Frontiers?

Amid rising global uncertainty, Expo 2025 Osaka offers a moment of reflection — and reveals a deeper question: Are we dreaming big enough? This article explores the beauty and symbolism of the Expo, the cautious narratives on display, and the urgent need for bold, human-centered visions in an era that demands more than collaboration — it demands imagination.

May 2025

Beyond ESG: Why CVC Must Lead on Food, Water & Energy Security

In a world defined by disruption — climate volatility, geopolitical fragmentation, technological acceleration — the role of Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) is undergoing a radical evolution. What once began as a strategic experiment on the edge of the business is now becoming central to corporate resilience and long-term value creation.

March 2025

Germany's Path to Overcoming the Challenges of Transformation

Germany is at a turning point. While it remains a global economic powerhouse, its ability to adapt to the rapid transformations of the 21st century is in question. Structural weaknesses - including excessive bureaucracy, slow digital adoption, a rigid tax system, and a shortage of skilled labor - are making it increasingly difficult for startups, investors, and industries to thrive.

February 2025

Adapting to Change: What the New U.S. Administration Means for Corporate Venture Capital and Innovation in Europe

With the U.S. entering a new chapter under its latest administration, leaders in venture capital, corporate innovation, and European business are navigating a shifting landscape. Policy changes, evolving geopolitical dynamics, and fast-paced market conditions are prompting companies to reassess their strategies.

From Business Models to AI – Transformation Requires Ecosystems

At the recent 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗗𝗮𝘆, two key themes stood out:

1) 𝗔𝗜 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹 — 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁.
2) 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹.

2 Corporate VC Models To Fuel Unicorn Success In Emerging Industries

Venture capital (VC) thrives on risk. Corporations prioritize stable growth. Top-tier VC firm Andreessen Horowitz (AH) often pushes the boundaries of traditional VC and continuously experiments with new strategies, and pivots quickly when strategies fall short.

Why "u-path": The Story Behind Our Name

Inspired by Otto Scharmers Theory U, a framework for leading profound change by sensing, reflecting, and creating with purpose, we believe that navigating today’s complexities requires deep understanding, intentional action, and collaborative leadership.

Exploring the Vibrant Landscape of Asian Venture & Impact Capital: Insights from My Travels

Welcome to our comprehensive overview of the dynamic venture capital landscape in Asia! Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to travel across various parts of Asia, attending key conferences, meeting with leading venture groups, families, impact investors, and exploring the rich and diverse startup ecosystems.

Exploring the Dynamic World of Venture Capital: A Comprehensive Overview

Welcome to our comprehensive overview of the dynamic world of venture capital! Over the past month, we've delved into various facets of venture capital, from its fundamental principles to its impact on emerging sectors like sustainability, mobility, consumer tech, energy tech, and more. In this article, we'll recap our journey and provide a convenient gateway for you to explore each topic in detail through the links provided.

Watch & Learn

Video Insights

Explore our collection of video content featuring U-Path experts discussing key innovation topics, sharing insights from global events, and providing practical guidance on corporate venture capital, startup collaboration, and digital transformation. These videos offer an engaging way to access our team's expertise and stay current with industry developments.

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IFA Berlin 2024: Venture Clienting: Startups Incept and Corporations Bring Innovation to Life

At IFA Berlin, Philipp Willigmann moderated a high-energy panel on Venture Clienting—how corporates can rapidly adopt startup innovations to solve real business challenges. Joined by leaders from Deutsche Telekom, Bosch Siemens Home Appliances, and GlassDollar, the discussion explored why this model is gaining traction in Germany, how it delivers measurable business impact faster than traditional corporate venturing, and the cultural and operational shifts needed for success. The panel shared practical frameworks, best-practice case studies, and insights on aligning startup agility with corporate scale to drive sustainable innovation.

AsiaBerlin 2024: Innovation Leadership

Collaboration between Asia and Europe is essential. Many of the most innovative solutions come from Korea, Japan, and China. If Berlin wants to be a true hub, it must partner more closely with these regions and lead by example.

Web Summit 2024: VNTR Investor Summit CVC Insights

Philipp Willigmann has over 20 years of experience leading innovation and growth across Fortune 500 companies and startups

IAA 2023: The Multi-Energy Future in Mobility - IAA MOBILITY 2023

At IAA Mobility 2023, Philipp Willigmann shared his perspective on the multi-energy future of mobility—highlighting the need for a mix of solutions like CNG, biofuels, electrification, hydrogen, and e-fuels to decarbonize transport. He explored global energy trends, the “energy trilemma” of security, sustainability, and affordability, and real-world case studies on helping fleets and industries transition to cleaner, more efficient operations.

World Systemic Forum 2023 – We Don't Have Time's Davos Hub Day 4

Watch our report from The Hus' annual event gathering some of the most respected and influential minds of our time, to collaborate on...

Regular Updates

𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬 & 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲 Newsletter

Stay informed with our curated newsletters covering the latest trends, insights, and developments in corporate innovation, venture capital, policy, and emerging technologies. Each edition delivers valuable analysis, expert perspectives, and practical takeaways directly to your inbox, helping you navigate the rapidly evolving innovation landscape.

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Innovation Is Shifting. Are You?

Whether you’re reading this from a quiet beach, a mountain trail, or a half-empty office, summer offers a rare chance to step back.

While many leadership teams are resetting for fall, a different kind of shift is accelerating.

In Asia, ecosystems are executing.
In the Gulf, capital is mobilizing.
In the U.S., strategy is being rewritten.
And in Europe?
Too many are still caught in committee.

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Asia Is Rewiring the Innovation Playbook

Our May 2025 field report across Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, and Malaysia reveals a stark reality: Asian innovators are reshaping global tech in Singapore conference rooms and Tokyo boardrooms. And Europe? It's not even invited to the table.

The Realignment: Gulf capital is everywhere. US players are present and engaged. But Europe's absence from critical AI, accessibility, and infrastructure conversations was impossible to ignore

CVC's Global Vision: Building Momentum for What's Next

  • A deep dive into how CVCs are futureproofing infrastructure with bold bets in food, water, and energy

  • Highlights from our upcoming global tour through Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, and Hong Kong, where we’ll speak on sustainability, inclusion, and frontier tech with CVCs, family offices, and policy leaders

  • A first look at our next white paper on emerging venture markets

From the Front Lines of Corporate Innovation

Coming off the heels of an unforgettable CVC / Open Innovation Summit in Miami, I couldn't be more excited to share what we've been building and what’s ahead.

  • How AI is really being deployed inside CVCs — and what separates success from noise

  • Why geopolitics and sustainability are reshaping investment priorities

SPECIAL EDITION: Innovation Without Borders

This special edition of the u-path newsletter is dedicated to one of the core missions that drives us every day: building strong bridges across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Whether it's through corporate partnerships, venture investments, events or ecosystem building, we believe collaboration across borders is essential to driving real innovation and long-term competitiveness.

CES Update: Not just a showcase of technology, but a glimpse into the future of human potential

As I reflect on CES 2025, I’m reminded of the incredible momentum that comes from collaboration and vision. This year’s event wasn’t just about showcasing technology—it was about unlocking potential, forging partnerships, and addressing the challenges that will define our future.

Unveiling Climate Tech VCs Reshaping Tomorrow!

Welcome to our latest newsletter, where we delve into the realms of corporate venture capital, family offices, innovation, climate & sustainability, inclusive and assistive tech, and personal development. Today, we shine a spotlight on the Middle East and South East Asia, exploring the latest developments in these dynamic regions.

Introducing the u-path Leadership Newsletter!

Welcome to the inaugural edition of our u‐path Leadership Newsletter! We're thrilled to embark on this journey with you, where we'll be diving deep into transformative insights, visionary leadership strategies, and impactful initiatives that are shaping the future of business and society. You are receiving this newsletter because we met over the last years around the world. We hope you enjoy the updates and we look forward to collaborating with you.

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