BMW i Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of the BMW Group, backing early-stage startups developing technologies relevant to the future of mobility, manufacturing, and industrial systems. With the close of its third fund, the firm manages $1.1 billion in capital across North America and Europe.
Fund III targets physical AI, agentic AI, and industrial software with particular depth in manufacturing workflow automation, supply chain intelligence, and the broader automotive ecosystem. The firm also continues investing in advanced materials, circular supply chains, and energy resilience technologies, viewing AI as foundational infrastructure that enables progress across those verticals rather than as a separate trend.
BMW i Ventures Fund III closed at $300 million in April 2026, bringing total capital under management to $1.1 billion. The fund invests from Seed through Series B across North America and Europe, with a focus on startups building AI applications for physical industries. Fund III follows a first fund launched in 2016 focused on autonomous vehicles and digital technology, and a second fund launched in 2021 that made more than 35 investments in sustainability and supply chain. BMW Group CEO Oliver Zipse reaffirmed the automaker’s long-term commitment to corporate venture capital alongside the fund announcement.
Leadership
Marcus Behrendt is Managing Partner with over 25 years of experience in the automotive industry. He previously held management roles across BMW Group’s research and development division before joining BMW i Ventures in 2018. Kasper Sage is Managing Partner based in Silicon Valley, where he has spent most of his career as a venture capital investor. He joined BMW i Ventures in 2016 and focuses on identifying investments that have deep operational impact, with a preference for opportunities that may appear mundane but have significant real-world consequences.
Investment Strategy
BMW i Ventures deploys up to $10 million per deal from Seed through Series B. The fund invests across North America and Europe with a bias toward companies building technology that improves manufacturing workflows, supply chain operations, and advanced material production. The firm benefits from BMW Group’s operational scale as a value-add for portfolio companies building in automotive and adjacent industrial sectors.
Notable Investments
The portfolio includes companies across industrial AI, autonomous systems, and advanced materials:
Other
BMW i Ventures offers portfolio companies access to BMW Group’s manufacturing infrastructure, supply chain relationships, and global commercial footprint, a meaningful advantage for startups validating technology in demanding industrial environments. The firm deliberately evolves its thematic focus with each fund cycle, anchoring investment to what it identifies as the next generation of industrial infrastructure.
Germany
