BASF Venture Capital GmbH

Investment strategy

BASF Venture Capital
 

“Catalyzing Change for BASF
and the Chemical Industry”

Our venture capital activities are an important element of BASF's innovation strategy. To strengthen and complement our own research and development activities, we – as the world's leading chemical company – activate cooperation with external partners. We cooperate with young companies and jointly develop innovations and new, disruptive business models.

In addition to BASF's traditional business areas, the focus is particularly on Decarbonization, Circular Economy, AgTech, New Materials, Digitization, and New, Disruptive Business Models.

We actively shape the growth of our portfolio companies. In addition to providing advice on strategic management decisions, our access to internal and external resources of the BASF Group plays an important role. In this way, we increase their visibility in the market and accelerate market access. As soon as another financing round is due, we support our portfolio companies by arranging contacts and initiating partnerships – both with leading industrial companies and with our venture capital network.

As a strategic investor, our interest goes beyond short-term financial success. Our long-term goal is the joint development of technical solutions, products and services.

We invest in line within the balance sheet of the BASF Group. The term of our investments is unlimited, which allows us to act flexibly and with a long-term perspective. Since our founding in 2001, we have covered the entire spectrum of venture capital investments at an international level. This includes initial and follow-on investments as well as exits through M&A transactions and IPOs.

What is the difference between venture capital and corporate venture capital? How does corporate venture capital fit into BASF's strategy?

Markus Solibieda, former Managing Director of BASF Venture Capital GmbH, explains this in an expert talk of the Bundesverband Deutscher Kapitalbeteiligungsgesellschaften (BVK, Federal Association of German Private Equity Companies). Watch the two videos to learn more.

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Much more than just financing

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Strategic instrument for joint success