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Bosch: 250 million euros for startups

Venture capital for technological development

  • Robert Bosch Venture Capital (RBVC), the venture capital firm of the international Bosch Group, has set up a fund with 250 million euros for technology startups
  • RBVC's investments focus on energy efficiency and electromobility
  • By supporting startups, RBVC also aims to find technological answers to the new global geopolitical and economic challenges
  • Stefan Hartung, chairman of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH: "Our startup investments help to develop the economy, improve the quality of life in society and help to conserve natural resources."
  • Bosch is also active in the world of startups in Hungary: Bosch Hungary has joined the Hungarian Startup University Program (HSUP), and the associates at Bosch Budapest Engineering Center can even implement their own business ideas as internal startups
Bosch: 250 million euros for startups

Stuttgart, Germany – Despite the many global challenges this year, the international Bosch Group has decided to further strengthen its existing position as a venture capital investor in the technology startup market. Robert Bosch Venture Capital (RBVC) has launched a new fund with 250 million euros for startup companies in 2022. "As a venture capital investor, the Bosch Group supports startup companies around the world that use technology to help develop the economy, improve the quality of life in society and help conserve natural resources. Bosch's investments in startups are also useful because they enable us to solve increasingly complex technological challenges together more quickly and efficiently," said Stefan Hartung, chairman of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH.

Focus on energy efficiency and electromobility
As a leading innovator, Bosch wants to be a driving force for sustainable and connected technologies. The Bosch Group has recently announced billions of euros in investments in climate-neutral technologies, including the hydrogen economy and the digital transformation of companies. In line with this, RBVC's startup investments also focus on areas such as energy efficiency and electromobility.

Expanding globally: startup investments from the Americas to Asia
As one of Europe's largest corporate investors, RBVC specializes in technology startups. Its portfolio currently includes more than 50 companies, mainly in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (IoT), semiconductors and quantum computing. RBVC has its own local offices and contacts to support startup players in technology hubs such as China, Germany, Israel and the U.S. "As global investors, we are part of the startup scene, constantly looking for disruptive technologies that can revolutionize entire markets. With the new office in the U.S., we can keep our finger on the pulse of technology startups," said Dr. Ingo Ramesohl, managing director of Robert Bosch Venture Capital.

Open Bosch: close cooperation between startups and the Bosch Group
Each year, experts from RBVC examine over 2,000 startups, but only about a hundred of these make it to the shortlist and six to ten carefully selected companies are actually invested in each year. RBVC invests up to 25 million euros in a new startup, while Bosch also provides operational support through its own technological expertise and network of contacts. "Thanks to the Open Bosch program, RBVC creates a link between startups and Bosch's business units at an early stage by creating an open innovation culture. In addition, startups have the opportunity to become Bosch suppliers, customers or technology partners. On the other hand, Bosch will use the collaborations to develop its products with the latest technologies," explained Dr. Ingo Ramesohl, managing director of Robert Bosch Venture Capital.

Innovative answers to global geopolitical and economic challenges
The newly opened financing fund will also help RBVC to provide technological answers to global geopolitical and economic challenges. "With two years of the coronavirus epidemic and international conflicts, the chip shortages and supply chain disruptions are being felt everywhere. That is why we are also looking for technology trends in these areas that can address the emerging problems," said Dr. Ingo Ramesohl, head of RBVC.

Effective investments, tangible technological and business success
Like other venture capital organizations, RBVC aims to take startups public. A successful example is the recent IPO of Xometry. The company's AI-assisted marketplace supports custom manufacturing. Another success was IonQ, the first-ever quantum computing company to be publicly listed. Since 2021, RBVC’s portfolio has also included Variantyx. This startup uses AI-assisted genetic testing in cancer diagnosis, and also works with the Robert Bosch Hospital in this field. To support the shift to electromobility, RBVC has also invested in the startup BASIC Semiconductor, which manufactures silicon carbide power electronics. Finally, Motive, the startup formerly known as Keep Trucking, operates a fleet management system in the U.S. that reduces trucking costs and fuel consumption.

Bosch is also active in the startup world in Hungary
Bosch is also doing a lot to support startups and startup culture in Hungary, because as a large enterprise it believes in going beyond the existing boundaries and creating a multi-stakeholder ecosystem with startups, universities, academic institutions, SMEs and government to be truly innovative. This is why Bosch Hungary has joined the Hungarian Startup University Program (HSUP), which aims to introduce Hungarian students to the world of innovation, modern entrepreneurship and especially to the functioning of startups – through a new common educational platform. Bosch will provide mentors and industry experts to consult on topics proposed or deemed worthy of support in the HSUP. The company is also active in its own ranks to deepen the startup mindset. The associates at the Bosch Budapest Engineering Center are supported in validating and implementing their own business ideas as internal startups in a corporate environment, using methods such as lean startup or business model innovation. The Bosch Budapest Innovation Campus, a 90,000 square meter research, development and test center for automotive electronics, which will be inaugurated on September 8, 2022, will also be an important venue for collaboration with startups.

Tags: Bosch, Robert Bosch Venture Capital, RBVC, Open Bosch, Hungarian Startup University Program, HSUP, innovation, venture capital, startup, investment, entrepreneurship, AI, electromobility

Zita Hella Varga

Phone: +36 70 667-6374