Whether you're curious about venture building, our process, or how we work with partners, this FAQ page is here to help you get the clarity you need.
What is corporate venture building?
Corporate venture building is the process of partnering with established companies to identify unmet market needs, validate new business concepts, and launch independent ventures. Unlike traditional R&D or internal product development, venture building applies startup methodology — rapid experimentation, customer validation, and lean iteration — within a corporate context. Highline Beta has helped companies like American Family Insurance, Colgate-Palmolive, and the City of Cincinnati build and launch new ventures this way.
How long does a typical venture build take?
A typical venture build spans 7-12 months across four phases: Discover (2-3 months to identify venture concepts), Validate (2-3 months to test with real customers), Build (3-6 months to develop the product), and Pilot (testing with real customers and refining the go-to-market strategy). Timelines vary depending on the complexity of the market and the corporate partner's decision-making speed.
Why co-build with Highline Beta instead of developing internally?
Internal corporate development can take years, often gets slowed by existing processes and priorities, and typically lacks entrepreneurial talent. Highline Beta brings startup speed, seasoned venture builders, and co-investment capital. Corporate partners contribute domain expertise, customer access, and strategic direction. This combination lets companies test new markets and business models faster and at lower risk than building entirely in-house.
What commitment does our company need to make?
Successful venture building requires a dedicated executive champion, subject-matter experts who can participate in customer discovery and pilot programs, and a co-investment budget for ventures that reach the build stage. Highline Beta handles the day-to-day venture-building work, but corporate engagement and decision-making support are essential for moving ventures forward.
How are IP and equity handled when spinning out a new venture?
IP generated during the venture build is assigned to the new venture entity. Equity is negotiated upfront and shared among the corporate partner, Highline Beta, and the founding team. The specific structure depends on the engagement model — whether ventures are fully spun out, co-owned, or retained as subsidiaries. Highline Beta structures these terms to align incentives so all parties benefit from the venture's long-term success.
What happens after a venture is launched?
After launch, ventures enter a growth phase focused on customer acquisition, revenue traction, and operational scaling. Highline Beta can continue to support through follow-on investment, board participation, and access to its portfolio network. Some ventures raise external funding and operate independently; others are integrated back into the corporate partner's business. The goal is a self-sustaining company with real customers and a clear path to scale.
What is a corporate venture studio?
A corporate venture studio is a dedicated organization that partners with large companies to systematically build and launch new ventures. Unlike accelerators or incubators that support existing startups, a venture studio creates companies from scratch — from identifying problems and validating solutions to assembling teams and launching products. Highline Beta operates a corporate venture studio that has helped companies like RBC, Colgate-Palmolive, and AB InBev build new businesses aligned with their strategic goals.
How is a venture studio different from an accelerator or incubator?
Accelerators run time-limited programs (typically 3-6 months) that mentor existing startups. Incubators provide workspace and basic resources. A venture studio acts as a co-founder — it generates ideas, builds products, assembles teams, and co-invests capital. Highline Beta embeds its builders directly into the venture until it secures product-market fit, which is a much deeper and longer engagement than an accelerator program.
What is the difference between an internal and external venture studio?
An internal venture studio is built and operated entirely within a corporation — the company owns the studio, hires the team, and owns the ventures. An external venture studio is operated by an independent firm like Highline Beta that partners with the corporation. External studios are typically faster to launch, bring entrepreneurial talent and methodology that's hard to build internally, and avoid cultural challenges that slow down corporate innovation.
How long does it take to design and launch a venture studio?
Designing a corporate venture studio typically takes 2-4 months, including defining the thesis, governance model, team structure, and investment approach. Launching the first ventures within the studio adds another 3-6 months. Most Highline Beta engagements produce venture concepts within the first 90 days and launched ventures within 12 months.
What does it cost to build a corporate venture studio?
Costs depend on the model. An external partnership with Highline Beta involves a management fee for the studio's operational work plus a co-investment commitment for venture capital. Building an internal studio typically requires a dedicated team of 5-15 people and an annual operating budget starting at $2-5 million, before any venture investment. Highline Beta works with companies to determine which model fits their goals and budget.
What is a vertical venture studio?
A vertical venture studio focuses on building ventures within a specific industry or market segment. Highline Beta operates vertical studios in DentalTech and Ethereum-based finance (ETH Finance), allowing deep specialization and concentrated expertise. This contrasts with horizontal studios that build across multiple industries without a specific thesis.
What is a venture studio?
A venture studio repeatedly builds and funds startups and new ventures. Often venture studios work on their own ideas and provide shared infrastructure, while taking an equity stake in each company. Highline Beta works on its own ideas, but also collaborates with corporate partners, family offices and others to validate ideas and build new businesses.
How many portfolio companies does Highline Beta have?
We currently have 20+ portfolio companies, see more detail on them here.
What industries do you focus on?
Historically we have been sector‑agnostic but most active in fintech & insurtech, sustainability & logistics, and health & wellness. In March 2025, we announced Highline Beta 3.0, which is our renewed strategy focusing on Vertical Venture Studios, which are industry specific, and currently have studios in the DentalTech and Ethereum spaces.
Does Highline Beta invest its own capital?
Yes, we invest at pre‑seed and seed with follow‑on capacity and the ability to syndicate larger rounds from our investor network.
What cheque sizes and stages do you target?
Initial cheques range from USD $150k to $250k at the pre‑seed stage, with follow‑on in the seed round and possibly beyond.
Do you follow on in later rounds?
On occasion we’ll invest at Series A, but typically we invest up to the seed round.
How do I reach Highline Beta to find out more information or to submit press inquiries?
You can reach out to us using our contact form.
Where can I find Highline Beta’s latest insights?
Explore the News & Views hub for articles, whitepapers, event recaps and the “Beyond the Core” podcast.
What qualities do you look for in team members?
Entrepreneurial bias to action, comfort with ambiguity and the ability to work with both scrappy startups and Fortune 500 partners.
Are you hiring?
Open roles are posted on our Careers page. We also contract specialists in product, design and growth for venture projects.
Where are you based?
Headquartered in Toronto with team members across Canada and the U.S., operating virtually and on‑site with partners worldwide. Most of our corporate partners are U.S.-based companies, often with a global presence.
Who founded Highline Beta?
Highline Beta was co‑founded by Ben Yoskovitz and Marcus Daniels, serial entrepreneurs and early‑stage investors.
