In line with its digital strategy, Porsche is strengthening its innovative power outside of its core business. This is how the sports car manufacturer has been building its start-up ecosystem over the past five years.
Porsche Ventures is the venture capital provider of Porsche AG, with offices in Stuttgart, Berlin, Tel Aviv, Palo Alto and Shanghai. As an agile unit, Porsche Ventures invests in innovative technology and business models worldwide and holds a stake in around 30 companies. Its annual investment framework amounts to 150 million euros.
Porsche Digital is the technology and digital unit of the Stuttgart-based sports car manufacturer. Its mission is to discover and scale new digital business models and optimise existing products. In realising this aim, the subsidiary of Porsche AG develops digital offerings and services, comes up with technologically excellent industry solutions, and is the main catalyst driving the digital ecosystem.
Forward31 is both the company builder and a business unit of Porsche Digital. It focuses on building a portfolio of promising start-ups that reach new target groups and value chains beyond Porsche’s core automotive business. With the help of entrepreneurs, these start-ups are founded, supported, and developed into independent companies. Active around the world, this Berlin-based team includes experts in design, product, software and business development.
APX is an early-stage investor and long-term partner for start-ups. Based in Berlin and backed by Porsche and Axel Springer, it supports and partners with the most ambitious founding teams and their pre-seed start-ups from Europe and beyond – often as their first investor. Since 2018, APX has invested in more than 100 start-ups across more than 20 industries with founders from more than 20 countries, together with 100 co-investors.
The global innovation platform Startup Autobahn brings together founders and young digital talent from the tech and mobility scenes with established companies, including Porsche, Bosch, the DHL Group and ZF Friedrichshafen AG. Together, they work on intelligent, sustainable and progressive solutions for the future of mobility.
Through its quartet of companies – Porsche Ventures, Porsche Digital, Forward31 and APX – Porsche enables founders and start-ups to develop a financially sustainable business model, no matter what stage their idea or company is at.