Viewed in McKinsey & Company
From experimentation to value creation
Innovation today is increasingly AI-powered. Across industries, leading companies are not just adopting AI—they’re using it to build entirely new businesses. McKinsey’s latest survey shows that companies investing in corporate venture building are achieving faster growth, higher ROI, and stronger resilience than peers. Once they build one venture, they tend to build many more—often reshaping their org charts as innovation moves closer to the core.
Experienced venture builders
Experienced venture builders—those that have launched at least three ventures in the past five years—report nearly twice the revenue per dollar invested and reach break-even 40% faster. Over half of their ventures now generate more than $10 million annually, many scaling to $50–$100 million within three years. It’s proof that venturing, done repeatedly and with purpose, compounds learning and value.
Three patterns of AI impact on innovation
- Acceleration – AI reduces time-to-market dramatically. From design to go-to-market, small teams can build what once required hundreds. AI-driven prototypes, analytics, and marketing accelerate growth at minimal cost.
- Efficiency – Venture costs are falling fast. Average investment to break even dropped from $125 million to $77 million in one year, as AI automates research, testing, and scaling. AI helps ventures do more with fewer people—often reaching profitability within two years.
- Amplification – The biggest wins come from reusing what companies already have: data, IP, and existing customer insights. AI turns underused assets into revenue streams, creating digital ventures with lower risk and faster payback.
Five moves that make AI innovation succeed
- Build serially – Each venture compounds experience, confidence, and speed.
- Leverage what you own – Data, IP, and proven models are low-cost launchpads.
- Stay close to your core – Use domain advantage, but explore adjacencies where AI can scale impact.
- Invest in people and culture – 68% of successful ventures share a culture that rewards experimentation and upskilling.
- Make AI a co-founder – Leading builders embed AI in ideation, product design, and scaling decisions—not just automation.
Take-away
Innovation cycles are shortening, and AI is the catalyst. Whether built internally or acquired externally, AI-enabled ventures are emerging as the fastest route to new growth—and as catalysts for new leadership structures across org charts worldwide.
For context, in our database, 23% of Global Fortune 500 companies already have a VP of Corporate Venture on their executive team—a clear signal that innovation leadership is moving to the core.
Special thanks to Daniel Aminetzah, Jason Bello, Jerome Königsfeld , Paul Jenkins, Corinna Leist, and Robin Martens of McKinsey & Company for their inspiring perspectives on AI-driven innovation and venture building.
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