Bosch Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of the Bosch Group, has announced the launch of a new €250 million ($270 million) fund aimed at supporting early-stage and scale-up deeptech startups in North America. This strategic move highlights Bosch’s ambitions to expand its global footprint and reinforces its commitment to strengthening Germany’s innovation ecosystem, industrial competitiveness, and broader economic strategy.
Why North America, and Why Now?
Bosch Ventures, founded in 2007 and previously known as Robert Bosch Venture Capital GmbH (RBVC), has become one of Europe’s largest corporate venture capital investors. With a portfolio worth over $1.1 billion, Bosch Ventures operates globally with offices in Silicon Valley, Boston, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Tel Aviv, and China. Its active investments span a wide range of industries, including AI company Aleph Alpha, battery recycling innovator Li Industries, autonomous driving firm TrunkTech, and quantum computing startup Quantum Motion.
The new €250 million fund, the sixth in Bosch Ventures’ history, will focus on deeptech sectors such as artificial intelligence, energy efficiency, automation, climatetech, and quantum computing. Despite global economic challenges and trade tariffs affecting these sectors, Bosch’s leadership views North America as a critical hub for technological innovation, particularly in generative AI, advanced manufacturing, and climate technology. Ingo Ramesohl, managing director of Bosch Ventures, noted: “As a global investor, we need to be part of the local startup ecosystem to find startups with potential, whose innovative technologies could transform entire markets.”
Implications for Germany’s Innovation Ecosystem
While Germany is renowned for its engineering excellence and research institutions, it faces challenges in scaling startups, particularly in securing late-stage venture funding. Bosch Ventures aims to bridge this gap by incorporating international best practices and attracting co-investors for German startups. This will help Germany tap into global innovation and expand its startup landscape.
Stefan Hartung, chairman of Robert Bosch GmbH, highlighted the economic importance of disruptive technologies, stating: “Startups can boost innovation in a way that provides significant growth opportunities for a country’s economy.” Bosch’s global venture strategy also aligns with major investments in Germany’s tech infrastructure. For example, Bosch is expanding its semiconductor manufacturing capacity in Dresden and Reutlingen, investing more than €400 million in 2022, with an additional €250 million planned for clean-room facilities through 2025. These investments aim to meet growing chip demand in mobility and IoT, reinforcing Germany’s role in the global semiconductor supply chain.
Bosch’s “Open Bosch” Program and Co-Innovation
Bosch’s “Open Bosch” initiative, launched in 2018, fosters collaboration between startups and Bosch’s core business units. This partnership model accelerates startup growth while enhancing Bosch’s innovation efficiency. The program allows startups to leverage Bosch’s R&D capabilities, global reach, and industrial infrastructure, thus ensuring long-term competitiveness.
Despite its research leadership and skilled workforce, Germany’s innovation momentum is hindered by overregulation and slow policy adaptation. Stefan Hartung has advocated for bold reforms to remove excessive regulations and improve Germany’s global competitiveness, particularly in AI and emerging technologies. He emphasized that reforms should go beyond short-term measures to deliver long-lasting benefits for the economy.
Bosch Ventures’ investments create a multiplier effect, driving high-tech job creation and fostering regional development in cities like Stuttgart, Dresden, and Aachen. The fund’s focus on sustainable mobility, climate-neutral solutions, and connected systems aligns with Germany’s national goals, including the Energiewende (energy transition), Industrie 4.0, and digital sovereignty.
By targeting deeptech startups and demonstrating success in international markets, Bosch Ventures helps address Germany’s shortage of late-stage venture capital funding, a critical bottleneck for innovation. The fund’s scale and global reach also position Bosch to advocate for regulatory changes that could make Germany more attractive to entrepreneurs and investors, particularly in areas like employee stock options, IPO readiness, and skilled immigration.
Bosch Ventures’ €250 million fund is a strategic asset for Germany’s innovation agenda, creating a model for how German corporations can drive technological leadership both domestically and abroad.
