Leipziger Wasserwerke (LWW) supplies drinking water to more than 660,000 people in the Leipzig region and operates five waterworks and 25 wastewater treatment plants.  With increasing connectivity in industrial control systems, cybersecurity in operational technology (OT) becomes a core requirement for reliable operations.To strengthen its security architecture, LWW had already separated office IT from process control networks and introduced defined security zones. The next step was to validate this setup, create full transparency across the network, and identify potential vulnerabilities. This is where venture clienting became relevant: instead of building internal solutions, LWW worked with a specialized technology provider to address a defined challenge. Through a structured collaboration, SpinLab alumni Rhebo from class 2 supported LWW in reviewing and improving its OT network security.  

Our CEO and founder Eric Weber shares his latest analysis, giving you insights into what’s happening in the startup and venture capital world - globally, nationally, and at the regional level. This is the second part. Check out the first part here.

Eric Weber, CEO and founder of SpinLab – The HHL Accelerator, shares his analysis of the global venture capital landscape. Covering international, national, and regional developments, his insights reveal the shifting dynamics of startup financing in 2024 and what founders and investors need to pay attention to.

In 2014, 27pilots founder Gregor Gimmy, while working at BMW's innovation strategy department, conceived an approach to enhance how BMW engaged with startups. He established specific processes, resources, and a new value system, leading to the creation of the BMW Startup Garage, the world's first official Venture Client Unit. In Venture Clienting, established companies actively engage with startups by becoming targeted clients. This involvement goes beyond mere financial support, it provides valuable feedback, expertise, and market access to startups in their early stages. In return, startups deliver innovative solutions and technologies that can be seamlessly integrated into the companies' operational processes. During a pilot project, the utility of the purchased technologies for the company is assessed over several weeks to months. Upon successful adoption, a long-term collaboration is sought, aiming to provide competitive advantages for both parties.