7 Tips To Build A Successful Corporate Venture Studio, with Kal Amin of 1848 Ventures

As founding partners of Highline Beta, we have spent countless hours with venture studio leaders, learning what works and what doesn't in the industry. Recently, we had a fascinating conversation with Kal Amin, who's doing remarkable things as Managing Director of 1848 Ventures.

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In just seven months at the helm, Kal has already transformed their approach. They're planning to launch three new ventures in 2025 alone, matching what they accomplished in their first six years. Our chat with him revealed some powerful insights about scaling a corporate venture studio that we think are worth sharing.

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Here are seven key lessons from his experience:

1) Establish a clear mandate and stick to it

1848 Ventures, backed by Westfield Insurance, demonstrates the power of maintaining a consistent focus. While they could have pursued insurance-related products, they instead chose to concentrate on B2B solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. This clarity of purpose has remained unchanged since the studio's inception, providing a strong foundation for decision-making and growth.

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2) Embrace a "learning by doing" approach

As Amin emphasized, you can conduct research indefinitely, but real insights come from getting products into the market and in front of customers. 1848 Ventures maintains a structured process while remaining flexible enough to adapt based on market feedback. This balance between methodology and agility is crucial for success.

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3) Prioritize revenue and profitability from the start

Unlike many venture-backed startups, corporate venture studios should focus on building sustainable businesses. 1848 Ventures sets clear expectations for their ventures to generate revenue early and achieve profitability within five to seven years. This approach helps maintain corporate support and demonstrates the studio's value to stakeholders.

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4) Build a dedicated team that's committed to the studio model

Success requires people who are focused on building new businesses rather than using the studio as a stepping stone for corporate advancement. 1848 Ventures operates independently from its parent company, allowing team members to fully commit to the venture-building mission without concerning themselves with corporate politics or career paths within the larger organization.

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5) Implement rigorous but flexible validation processes

1848 Ventures uses a scorecard methodology to evaluate ventures, considering factors like market size, customer demand, and willingness to pay. They've raised the bar for customer validation, requiring more proof points before moving ventures forward. This approach helps ensure resources are allocated to the most promising opportunities.

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6) Embrace failure as a learning opportunity

The studio model inherently involves risk, and not every venture will succeed. What matters is failing fast, learning from mistakes, and applying those insights to future ventures. 1848 Ventures creates an environment where failure is accepted as part of the journey, provided it leads to valuable learning that improves the studio's overall success rate.

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7) Invest in core capabilities that accelerate venture building

1848 Ventures has doubled its engineering team in seven months and is expanding its go-to-market capabilities. They're also exploring how AI can enhance their venture-building process, from idea generation to prototype development. These investments in foundational capabilities help the studio launch more ventures more quickly.

The success of 1848 Ventures demonstrates the effectiveness of these principles. Their experience shows that corporate venture studios can be powerful engines of innovation and value creation when structured and operated thoughtfully. The key is maintaining strategic clarity while building strong operational capabilities and fostering an entrepreneurial culture that balances structure with flexibility.

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Want to dive deeper into Kal's insights on building successful ventures? Our full conversation covers everything from their unique AI-first strategy to practical tips on when to bring in venture leaders.

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