“When we are interacting with startups as corporations, we need to recognize the need for speed on the startup side. So, [the] decision-making, whether it's investment decisions or strategic tie, creation decisions, those have to be done very quickly...We think that the value creation has to be mutual, meaning Goodyear has to enable the startup with some of its key assets and competencies that [it] would get and hopefully supercharge their efforts in the market. And on the other side, we would get some terrific learnings working with the startups directly, one on one with some of the projects that we do with them."
–Abhijit Ganguly, the Managing Director of Goodyear Ventures—the corporate venture capital arm of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
In this episode, we speak with Abhijit about going beyond the tire; and the evolution from traditional R&D and M&A to inside-out + outside-in innovation. We talk about the balance between strategic versus financial investments for a CVC; and the importance of continuous innovation, especially at an iconic 125-year-old company that is intent on accelerating the future of mobility.
From electrification to autonomy, delivery robots to airplanes, we explore how Goodyear will thrive at the intersection of convenience, accessibility, sustainability, efficiency, and safety.
Based in Akron, OH, Abhijit Ganguly is the managing director of Goodyear Ventures, responsible for leading the venture fund. In his past roles, Abhijit led Goodyear's Corporate Incubator focusing on IOT-enabled solutions businesses.
Before joining Goodyear, Ganguly was responsible for driving growth initiatives in West Africa and Canada for a manufacturing company. Abhijit holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Jadavpur University in India and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth in Hanover, NH, USA. He has co-authored two articles on Business Model Innovation & is the winner of the 2015 Maurice Holland Award for his contributions to the field of Business Model Innovation. Outside work, Abhijit enjoys playing his acoustic guitar, cooking, and golfing.
VentureFuel builds and accelerates innovation programs for industry leaders by helping them unlock the power of External Innovation via startup collaborations.
