Converting corporate R&D into viable and valuable businesses globally
We are the hands-on, trusted venture management partners that will take a venture from concept through to full implementation of a product or service
We have a 10 year track record of successfully maximising the value of R&D ventures for some of the world’s largest companies
How we work
Pilot Lite Ventures helps our corporate clients identify, de-risk, validate and launch early-stage technologies, new ventures and stranded intellectual property across developed and emerging channels and markets
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Pilot Lite Capital typically acquires and directly invests into Corporate stranded or uncommercialised IP, products and brands, predominantly with ethical and/or sustainable attributes, and develops these ventures into free-standing, revenue-generating businesses
Learn moreHow we help
Pilot Lite’s unique, proven approach to end to end validation and deployment
Scouting & Origination
(16 weeks)
We provide strategic scouting and origination of new business (product / technology or channel) or IP opportunities for future commercialization with a focus on building strategic and sustainable platforms.
The outcome is a set of 5 to 10 tangible investment opportunities that fit our client’s strategic objectives with a set of explicit steps to validate and action the investment and, where the opportunities satisfy our own investment criteria, the potential for direct funding collaboration between Pilot Lite and the client.
Validation
(10-12 weeks)
Our Pilot Lite commercialization team, working with our extensive network of subject matter experts, rigorously validates innovation opportunities through a uniquely commercial lens to assess their 'doability', sustainability and financial viability.
The outcome of this work is an immediately actionable plan to move the opportunity towards implementation and readiness for pilot launch. For opportunities that satisfy our own investment criteria, Pilot Lite can also participate through direct funding collaboration.
Business Readiness
(3-8 months)
Once validated, a period of preparation for launch is required. Pilot Lite’s team takes on accountability for a pilot launch of the opportunity, leveraging our capabilities and methodologies to accelerate and de-risk the opportunity in market. Our team addresses all the core work streams highlighted in Validation, firming up critical planned pathways, raw materials, supply, co-manufacture, sales, logistics and regulatory activities. We initiate and close all contracts in preparation for a green light to launch.
At the end of this stage, the opportunity is ready for an initial pilot launch in market to maximize learning prior to a full scale launch.
Launch
(3-24 months)
Pilot Lite deployment teams take new ventures into market to actively stress test all aspects of launch, including consumer response, supply chain performance and technology robustness. We directly managing all aspects in preparation for a scaled up effort.
This step de-risks the opportunity and accelerates subsequent scale up into the selected target markets.
Scale Up
(6 months)
In preparation for mass scale, where our corporate clients leverage their proven muscle to build businesses, Pilot Lite is deployed to test all partners across the supply chain and their ability to cope with geographic expansion.
Pilot Lite expects the next stage following scale-up to involve either the corporate parent re-absorbing the venture or spinning it out into a stand-alone business. Where the ventures satisfy our own investment criteria, Pilot Lite can also consider investment in such spin outs at this stage of development.
Funding Collaboration
At all stages of consideration, Pilot Lite, through its Capital division, can participate in co-investment R&D that fit our own rigorous investment criteria.
Whilst corporates often champion breakthrough innovation they often have difficulty diverting funds from legacy businesses to fledgling ventures and consequently starve them of critical capital. Therefore, in each of the above stages of consideration, should it be appropriate, Pilot Lite Capital has the ability to invest either alongside the client to become a co-investor and scale-up partner, or as an acquirer of stranded or uncommercialized projects or ventures.
Who we help
Case Study: Pilot Lite Group
Next-generation plaque removal and oral hygiene
Cutting edge hydrodynamic technology to deliver next-generation teeth cleaning and dental stain removal: a step change cleaning device for those with complex oral hygiene needs
News
3 Reasons to Up Your E-Commerce Game
6 July 2020
Shelter-in-place orders issued during the global Covid-19 pandemic have caused a major shift in consumer purchasing behavior: as hospitality/food service and brick-and-mortar retail sales came to standstill, online purchases surged. Although it remains to be seen what will happen post-Covid, we know for certain is that ecommerce is a channel all corporates should be closely looking at—here are 3 reasons why.
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Brand Expert Remi Rasenberg joins PLV
3 July 2020
Remi Rasenberg, a brand consultant and former advertising / marketing exec at agencies such as Saatchi & Saatchi and BBH, has joined Pilot Lite Ventures as Creative and Marketing Director. During his career, he has helped launch multi-channel campaigns for some of the world’s most recognizable brands including Unilever, Diageo, Audi and Patek Philippe.
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Proud sponsor of Future Food-Tech 2020
1 July 2020
Pilot Lite is a proud sponsor of Future Food-Tech, the world's leading event series focusing on the disruptive technologies transforming our food system. Due to the global Covid pandemic, the next Future Food-Tech event, September 17/18, 2020, will be virtual. We look forward to news on upcoming FFT events and plan to be a key sponsor in 2021.
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Managing your external supply for innovation
14 February 2020
According to McKinsey, to acclerate innovation, more companies are turning to outsiders for help – especially their suppliers. Getting supplier innovation to work means rethinking incentives, relationships and management. Read what they have to say here – and also make sure that if you are attending Future Food-Tech, 19-20 March in San Francisco, that you hear what our CEO Mike Anstey has to say about the matter in his keynote.
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About Us
Our core team is made up of professionals who combine proven best of class corporate, consultancy and entrepreneurial expertise, together with a wider pool of over 100 technology, geocentric and financial management professionals and subject matter experts worldwide. We engage with and challenge our customers’ organisations, which gives us unrivalled access, insight and relationships.
Meet the leadership team
Contact
If you would like to find out more about Pilot Lite or what we can do for your business, then call or email us and let's start a conversation.