Welcome to VentureFuel

VentureFuel helps global corporations unlock the power of innovation by partnering with startups and breakthrough technologies.

Corporations

Navigating Opportunities and Disruptions

The pace of change will only accelerate. This furious velocity is creating disruptions as well as seismic opportunities. We help the largest companies in the world stay ahead of what’s next and identify powerful new ways to capitalize on change.

We de-risk innovation and deliver tangible opportunities that have sustainable and scalable impact. Our Global Innovation Network (Seed/Angel Investors, VCs, Accelerators, University Labs, Futurists and Governments) and proprietary sourcing capabilities provide an advanced pipeline of relevant and unique solutions, vetted specifically for your business. We are 100% independent, do not take equity in the startups, and work as an objective extension of your team.

Innovation Drives Tangible Business Impact!

VentureFuel Client Results: Major CPG

18.7% Sales Lift

VentureFuel Client Results: Major Alcohol Brand

5x Purchase Intent Lift

VentureFuel Client Results: Major CPG

9.3% Brand Lift

VentureFuel Client Results: Major CPG

22.8% Engagement (4x industry avg)

VentureFuel Client Results: Major CPG

73% Lift in Brand Consideration

Investors & Startups

Access to Corporate Decision Makers

How do you navigate the corporate spaghetti to identify real decision makers, with real budgets, that want to activate rather than just play innovation tourism?

Access

Gain exposure to the decision makers to drive revenue through corporate partnerships. Our clients are the biggest in the world and are tackling challenges across all areas of their business. They turn to us, to find the best path to success. If your startup or investment/portfolio company can make a meaningful difference – we would love to hear from you.

Insight

We identify corporate trends and pain-points to help your investment strategy. We also can provide insights and best practices for partnering with large corporations to help you grow your business.

Do you know of a startup that could benefit from a corporate partnership?

Our corporate partners are always on the lookout for innovations that can help grow their business.

Tell Us About Them

Visionaries

The Elite Change-Agents of Innovation

Our invite-only networking group. These are the change-agents embracing new opportunities to drive outsized results for their companies. From CMOs to VCs, from Angels to the up-and-coming disrupters. They receive unprecedented, advanced access to the hottest emerging companies and pioneering technologies as well as exclusive programming all over the world with our Innovation Brew Series and special programming at Cannes, SXSW, CES, etc.

Amiah Sheppard, Visionary of the Year 2019

Amiah Sheppard
Director, Backstage LA
Backstage Capital

Investor Visionary of the Year, 2019

Jaime Fabricant, Visionary of the Year 2019

Jaime Fabricant, Director, Store of The Future Innovation & Execution
PepsiCo, Inc.
Corporate Visionary of the Year, 2019

Meet the Visionaries

Apply to Become a Visionary!

Resources

Tools to Help You Stay Ahead

We are honored to speak at many industry conferences, write thought leadership pieces on emerging technologies and share insights from our Innovation Safaris around the world. Here are a few pieces to help our clients stay ahead of disruptions and discover new opportunities.

The Best Emerging SportsTech

I was fortunate to be a judge this past week in Frisco, Texas for the 9th cohort of the Stadia Accelerator, which is one of the best run startup programs in the world. Many accelerators lack focus, over-promise on their connections, and take on too many companies. Conversely, the Stadia team convenes the who’s who of the sports ecosystem to judge a well-curated group of emerging startups, focused exclusively on sports - where Stadia can make connections that move the needle. While we aren’t allowed to share the new companies we judged, we can share a few of our favorites from the demo-day reveal.

I was fortunate to be a judge this past week in Frisco, Texas for the 9th cohort of the Stadia Accelerator, which is one of the best run startup programs in the world. Many accelerators lack focus, over-promise on their connections, and take on too many companies. Conversely, the Stadia team convenes the who’s who of the sports ecosystem to judge a well-curated group of emerging startups, focused exclusively on sports - where Stadia can make connections that move the needle. While we aren’t... Read More

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Published On: 2019-08-01

NYC Media Lab Combine Highlights

Last week I was able to mentor several startups from the NYC Media Lab, which is a public-private partnership that supports early-stage emerging media technology entrepreneurship across NYC's universities. “We launched the Combine venture platform in 2015 and have invested over $1.1M of equity-free funding into 40 startups. Over a dozen have gone on to raise $8.5M outside of the Combine,” said Amy Chen, who is the Director of Entrepreneurship Programs for the NYC Media Lab. Here are a few of the companies that may be of interest to our corporate partners.

Last week I was able to mentor several startups from the NYC Media Lab, which is a public-private partnership that supports early-stage emerging media technology entrepreneurship across NYC's universities. “We launched the Combine venture platform in 2015 and have invested over $1.1M of equity-free funding into 40 startups. Over a dozen have gone on to raise $8.5M outside of the Combine,” said Amy Chen, who is the Director of Entrepreneurship Programs for the NYC Media Lab. Here are a few... Read More

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Published On: 2019-08-01

Cooper Hewitt Biofuturism

As our industrialized world becomes more tech-centric and globally interconnected, many eyes have turned towards the impact that this progress has made on our fragile planet. It’s hard to ignore the many conversations around sustainability, which can leave consumers feeling conflicted, confused and sometimes hopeless. As business leaders and brand builders, it’s within our power (and some might say responsibility) to influence the way we relate to nature and the world we leave behind for those to come. But how?

As our industrialized world becomes more tech-centric and globally interconnected, many eyes have turned towards the impact that this progress has made on our fragile planet. It’s hard to ignore the many conversations around sustainability, which can leave consumers feeling conflicted, confused and sometimes hopeless. As business leaders and brand builders, it’s within our power (and some might say responsibility) to influence the way we relate to nature and the world we leave behind for... Read More

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Published On: 2019-07-26

Innovation with Purpose

I have a confession: I love Cannes Lions. It is one of two conferences (ANA Masters of Marketing the other), of the dozens that I attend each year, where I leave inspired and with a better understanding of the challenges marketers face. But that value is buried under a rosé sipping Instagram avalanche launched by entitled, self-congratulating sales pitches on sponsored yachts. Worst of all is the endless purpose washing on panels, without concrete plans for delivering change. But, if you dig into the actual work and seek to learn from the executives that are having real conversations and implementing action, it’s amazing the amount of inspiration and creative invention happening in the advertising world. At Cannes, the startup/new tech scene is always a bit lagging (mostly due to staggering cost to attend and the inability to stand above the noise of the tech giants), but I have highlighted 5 partnerships at the intersection of startups (Davids) and corporates (Goliaths) that show that with purposed based innovation, the advertising community may be able to change the world.

I have a confession: I love Cannes Lions. It is one of two conferences (ANA Masters of Marketing the other), of the dozens that I attend each year, where I leave inspired and with a better understanding of the challenges marketers face. But that value is buried under a rosé sipping Instagram avalanche launched by entitled, self-congratulating sales pitches on sponsored yachts. Worst of all is the endless purpose washing on panels, without concrete plans for delivering change. But, if you dig... Read More

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Published On: 2019-06-26

The Future of California Innovation

VentureFuel was so honored to host Rogue Women on May 7, 2019 in NYC where nearly 200 women gathered to learn from and connect with trailblazing women from Nike, The United Nations, Amex, AB-InBev, Nasdaq, Pepsi, Intel, Major League Soccer, Univision, Diageo, Comcast, Sunday Dinner, The Martin Agency, Meredith, and a dozen of the best new female-run startups, new tech companies and best female investors. This began as an idea for a small networking lunch before evolving into “A Force” and “The best conference I have ever been to” and the attendees leaving “feeling energized and inspired to continue dreaming crazy and being fearless.” One startup reported 6 proposals, a signed deal and negotiations with an investor within 7 days of the conference. Pretty cool. The word “inspired” was the most common reaction we got from the attendees and the speakers – so we asked the speakers to share “one piece of advice to guide the careers of future female leaders.” Below are a few of our favorite nuggets of wisdom that we hope will be helpful to all the Rogue Women out there:

VentureFuel was so honored to host Rogue Women on May 7, 2019 in NYC where nearly 200 women gathered to learn from and connect with trailblazing women from Nike, The United Nations, Amex, AB-InBev, Nasdaq, Pepsi, Intel, Major League Soccer, Univision, Diageo, Comcast, Sunday Dinner, The Martin Agency, Meredith, and a dozen of the best new female-run startups, new tech companies and best female investors. This began as an idea for a small networking lunch before evolving into “A Force” and... Read More

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Published On: 2019-05-15

Innovation Brew

Events To Showcase What is Next, Now

Our Innovation Brew series of events around the world enable leading investors, founders and corporate innovators to network and trailblaze meaningful partnerships. We bring together the best of what is next at tentpole events like CES, SxSw, Cannes as well as our stand-alone conferences.

Innovation Brew NY

AW TechX

Sx Innovation Brew

The Fuelers

Our Team is Your Team

VentureFuel’s secret sauce is our team. We are able to H A C K innovation because we are Helpful, Attuned, Curious and Kick-Ass. Our elite corporate innovators are an extension of your team and 100% dedicated to delivering sustainable and scalable impact for your business.

Fred Schonenberg

Founder

For over 15 years, Fred has introduced new formats, first-to-market opportunities and is known for his award-winning creative solutions and ability to forge strategic partnerships to grow revenue. He is a frequent speaker at industry events such as SXSW, Ad Tech, Advertising Week, IAB, OMMA and thought-leader published in everything from The Huffington Post, Business Insider, Media Post, The Drum, Tech.co, Creator Magazine, Advertising Week, Event Marketer, etc.

Contact Us

We Are Always Here To Help Your Business

Send Us A Message

Contact Info

Where to Find Us

205 Hudson Street, FL7
New York, NY 10013

3900 W Alameda Ave, FL11
Burbank, CA 91505

Email Us At

info@venturefuel.net