From Pilots to Portfolios: Comcast’s Integrated Corporate Growth Startup Strategy

Corporate innovation is at its strongest when startup pilots and venture investments align. How do you structure for that kind of synergy?

Join our Founder & CEO, Fred Schonenberg, alongside Laura Plunkett, Vice President, Startup Engagement; Head of Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs; and Marc Silberman, Partner at Comcast Ventures, for a fireside chat entitled "From Pilots to Portfolios: Comcast’s Integrated Corporate Growth Startup Strategy," recorded earlier this year during the Global Corporate Venturing & Innovation Summit 2025.

The discussion delves into how LIFT Labs' strategic pilots with business units seamlessly complement Comcast Ventures' investment strategy in adjacent and emerging markets, with a particular focus on AI technologies.

VentureFuel is proud to serve as the operating partner for the new accelerator — focused on identifying and supporting startups that align with Comcast’s strategic priorities.

Episode Highlights

• Rebuilding the Startup Engagement Model for Speed and Impact - Laura shares how LIFT Labs evolved from a traditional early-stage accelerator into an enterprise-ready innovation engine — doubling program cycles per year and focusing on startups capable of large-scale impact from day one.
• How VentureFuel and Comcast Align Innovation Strategy Across Functions - Fred introduces how VentureFuel supports Comcast’s external innovation ecosystem by creating a bridge between startup pilots and scalable business outcomes.
• Comcast Ventures and LIFT Labs: A Dual-Track Innovation Flywheel - Marc explains how investment decisions and startup collaborations are coordinated across Comcast Ventures and LIFT Labs, creating a feedback loop that aligns capital, capability, and commercial validation to drive real returns.
• How LIFT Labs Turns Pilots into Investments - The team shares a real-world example of NLX, an AI-powered customer experience platform that successfully transitioned from a LIFT Labs pilot to a Comcast Ventures investment.
• Why Adaptability Drives Long-Term Success in Corporate Innovation - Laura and Marc highlight the importance of constantly refining innovation models based on startup and internal feedback. Their emphasis on humility, quick iteration, and cross-functional collaboration shows how innovation programs can stay relevant and impactful.
  
  

Are you an enterprise-ready AI startup looking to accelerate your path to collaboration? Join LIFT Labs' Info Session to learn how our equity-free, hands-on program connects AI-native startups to high-impact decision-makers across Comcast, NBCUniversal, and Sky to accelerate the road to partnership. Learn more: https://lift.comcast.com/accelerator/