"When we partner with the right startups and find the right collaborative environment to bring those outside innovations into the Boeing company, there's this amplification of that. Boeing is able to apply our knowledge, our resources, our connections, and often our customer base to grow these startups at a rate that they won't find elsewhere. And at the same time, we can access talent, ideas, insight, and technologies that are moving faster or in a radically different way."
– Bobby Niehaus, Investment Strategy Principal - Applied Innovation at The Boeing Company—the World's largest aerospace company and leading provider of commercial airplanes, defense, space and security systems, and global services
What does the world's largest aerospace company and leading provider of commercial airplanes, defense, space and security systems, and global services think about innovation? Bobby Niehaus is on the Applied Innovation team, which is the corporate ventures group that brings outside innovation into Boeing, essentially the bridge between Boeing's internal technology strategy and external innovation partners. We talk about outside-in innovation, the value of Corporate Venture Capital, the dual mandates of corporate venturing, overcoming NIH (Not Invented Here) Bias, and portfolio development to trigger strategic transitions.
Bobby Niehaus works on the Emerging Capabilities team to source, screen, diligence, and select external startups for venture partnership and investment. His venture capital experience began as an early operating team member with Angeles Investors. Bobby later served as a VC Fellow at IDEA Fund Partners and is currently an investing member of VITALIZE Venture Capital.
As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures, and services commercial airplanes, defense products, and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a top US exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability, and community impact. Boeing's diverse team is committed to innovating for the future, leading with sustainability, and cultivating a culture based on the company's core values of safety, quality, and integrity.
VentureFuel builds and accelerates innovation programs for industry leaders by helping them unlock the power of External Innovation via startup collaborations.
