BIOGRAPHY

Matthias is co-founder and head of the BMW Startup Garage, the Venture Client unit for early stage automotive startups of the BMW Group. The Garage helps startups with technologies that can significantly advance or transform the automotive sector to succeed in this multi trillion dollar industry. Before he was the leader of the innovation process, designing and improving how innovation will be done in BMW R&D. Matthias led several open innovation initiatives and projects (e.g. The BMW Urban Driving Experience Challenge in cooperation with Local Motors). He was a senior strategist at BMW R&D focusing on sustainability and urban mobility. He started his career at BMW as a senior developer in several international positions. Matthias studied Safety Engineering at the University of Wuppertal and the Oklahoma State University. He holds a PhD in Safety Engineering from the University of Wuppertal. In 2011 he received a MBA in Innovation and Business Creation from the Technical University of Munich.

Experiences of Startups in Collaborating With Corporates and Building New Businesses

Abstract tba

  • Lean Startup, Collaboration with Startups and CV
  • Panel Session
Collaborating With Startups – Becoming Startups’ First Client Instead of Investing in Them

Since its inception in February of 2015, the BMW Startup Garage has already initiated 8 startup collaborations. BMW Startup Garage does offer a first client relationship and does not invest in the startups. All IP belongs to the startup during the program. Rather, BMW Startup Garage brings the startup into the heart of BMW innovation center to work with BMW experts. Matthias Meyer will detail this unique approach to collaboration with startups, including:

  • The merits of investing in building partnerships with startups instead of investing in ownership – Focusing on becoming the first client of startups and paying for prototypes instead of demanding equity when new technologies are developed
  • Integrating startups into corporate innovation activities – Bringing startups into the organization’s innovation infrastructure and ensuring access to the right contacts, tools and resources
  • A lite touch in managing IP to make it easier for startups, who are wary of losing IP ownership, to enter into working relationships with the large corporation
  • Lean Startup, Collaboration with Startups and CV
  • Track Talk