InMotion Ventures, established in 2016, was created to explore future mobility and smart city technologies but has since shifted its focus to align with Jaguar Land Rover's (JLR) strategic transformation.

Corporate venture capital investments have surged, now representing 29% of overall VC funding, up from 15% a decade ago, with major players like Nvidia, Google, and Apple leading the charge.

Portfolio companies are evaluated against JLR's needs and the broader Tara group, ensuring mutual value creation through partnerships.

Smeed notes that traditional automakers can no longer manage all developments internally without risking inefficiency, particularly in the rapidly evolving electric vehicle sector.

Mike Smeed, managing director at InMotion Ventures, emphasizes that corporate venture capital (CVC) funding aims to create both financial and strategic value for parent companies.

Startups are encouraged to understand a CVC's goals and the additional value it can provide beyond just capital, as many CVCs operate independently for quicker decision-making.

Operating as an off-balance sheet evergreen fund, InMotion provides flexibility in its investment allocation.

The firm primarily invests in early-stage startups located in the UK, Bay Area, and Tel Aviv, with investments ranging from $250,000 to $2 million.

InMotion's long-term vision allows for sustained investment in early-stage companies, fostering foundational innovation.

Startups within JLR's ecosystem benefit from access to a vast network of engineers and experts, significantly enhancing their growth potential.

More than 90% of InMotion's portfolio companies engage with JLR, with many entering procurement stages or forming design partnerships.

The success of InMotion is largely attributed to its ability to demonstrate tangible value, as evidenced by the active collaboration of over 90% of its portfolio companies with JLR.