In this episode of Corporate Venturing Insider, recorded on March 24, 2026 at the Global Corporate Venturing Innovation Summit in Monterey, Nicolas Sauvage sits down with Hoolie Tejwani to unpack one of the most unconventional models in venture today.

With over 600 investments since 2018, Coinbase Ventures has taken a radically different approach—prioritizing speed, breadth, and ecosystem development over concentrated ownership and control. Tejwani shares how the firm scaled from a decentralized experiment into a high-velocity investment platform, why conviction matters more than consensus, and how Coinbase Ventures operates as an “API” for founders rather than a traditional lead investor.

The conversation explores the tradeoffs behind investing at scale, the role of corporate venture alongside traditional VC, and how Coinbase Ventures supports founders without imposing structure too early.

Tejwani also reflects on the importance of humility, continuous learning, and regularly “disrupting” internal frameworks to stay adaptive in a fast-moving market.

For investors, operators, and founders alike, this episode offers a candid look at how venture models are evolving—and what it takes to build at the edge of an emerging ecosystem.

In this episode of Corporate Venturing Insider, Nicolas Sauvage speaks with Laurel Buckner, head of BHP Ventures, about what it takes to step into and lead an already established corporate venture fund. Laurel shares how she approached her first 30 days, aligned with senior leadership, and built on a high-performing team without disrupting momentum. The conversation explores BHP Ventures’ integrated model, its focus across the mining value chain, and how corporate VCs can balance strategic alignment with financial discipline. Laurel also discusses emerging opportunities in AI, critical minerals, and the evolving role of corporate venture capital in today’s innovation ecosystem.

Interviewed February 11, 2026

In this episode of Corporate Venturing Insider, Nicolas Sauvage speaks with Mirella Lisboa, Head of AgroStart LatAm at BASF, about how large corporations can turn startup collaboration into real business impact. Mirella explains how AgroStart operates as an open innovation platform connecting BASF business units with startups tackling real agricultural challenges. She discusses how the team structures partnerships around clear problems, measurable KPIs, and disciplined proof-of-concepts to avoid “innovation theater.” The conversation also explores AgroStart’s role as a venture client and how its work feeds insights to BASF Venture Capital. The result is a practical look at how corporates can build internal capacity to respond to innovation.

Interviewed February 10th, 2026

In this episode of Corporate Venturing Insider, recorded January 6, 2026, Nicolas Sauvage speaks with Francesco Di Lorenzo of Copenhagen Business School about the evolution of corporate venturing. Drawing on a decade of research, Francesco explores the shift from traditional CVC to venture clienting, examining why collaboration models are gaining traction. He challenges the hype around venture clienting, highlighting hidden OpEx costs, governance friction, and risks of short-termism. The discussion unpacks CapEx vs. OpEx, power law vs. distribution thinking, and how boards should structure venturing for long-term resilience. A thoughtful, critical look at where corporate venturing is headed next.

Interviewed January 5th, 2026

In this episode, Nicolas Sauvage speaks with Patricia Kroondijk of Canon Marketing Japan about building corporate venture capability through venture clienting. They unpack Canon’s VC-as-a-Service approach, why pilots come before investments, and how Japanese corporate culture shapes decision-making. Patricia shares where the platform is heading next as it gains independence.

In this episode of Corporate Venturing Insider, Nicolas Sauvage sits down with Bill Taranto, founder of the Merck Global Health Innovation Fund and outgoing co-chair of the GCV Leadership Society. Recorded on January 6—just one day after his conversation with fellow co-chair Arvind Purushotham—the discussion offers a rare look at leadership transition inside the global CVC community. Taranto reflects on nearly four decades in corporate venturing, shares hard-earned lessons on strategy, trust, and longevity, and offers candid advice to Sauvage as he assumes the GCV chairmanship. A thoughtful conversation on stewardship, community, and building institutions that endure.

Interviewed January 6th, 2026

As Nicolas Sauvage steps into the role of co-chair of the GCV Leadership Society, he sits down with outgoing co-chair Arvind Purushotham of Citi Ventures to reflect on how corporate venturing has matured over the past 15 years. Together, they explore what it takes to build durable CVC programs—covering strategic impact, incentives, governance, and the importance of patience in a long-term venture model.

Interviewed January 5th, 2026

Interviewed October 18, 2025

In this episode of Corporate Venturing Insider, Nicolas Sauvage sits down with Jody Thelander, founder and CEO of J. Thelander Consulting, to unpack how compensation shapes autonomy, retention, and performance in corporate venture capital. Together they explore the delicate balance between VC-style incentives and corporate governance. Listeners will learn how to design compensation models that align mission, motivate teams, and earn the mothership’s trust.