Introducing EQT Access, connecting startups and enterprises

At EQT Ventures, we know how hard it is to build successful companies — we’ve had first-hand experience of the challenges associated with creating, scaling and supporting startups. This is why we don’t just provide founders with access to capital, but also the resources, skills and experience needed on the entrepreneurial journey. Today, we’re taking this operational support a step further with the launch of EQT Access — a programme that unlocks opportunities between corporates, scale-ups and industry experts.

So, what exactly is EQT Access?

For many startups — our portfolio included — getting their first enterprise customers through the door is a key milestone. These clients provide earlier stage startups with credibility and offer the comfort factor for other large prospects. For scale-ups, enterprise contracts offer a huge growth opportunity. What starts as a pilot project can result in a huge multi-million pound global roll-out. But getting a foot in the door at these enterprises is tough. You need to be talking to the right people, in the right place, at the right time otherwise how do you know when / if they’re planning to deploy new technology? How do you get visibility of the procurement process? How do you know who the champions for technology are within an organization?

Similarly, many enterprises are keen to collaborate with startups as they’re keeping up with the rapid pace of innovation in areas such as AI. But, with so many startups pushing their offerings, the challenge for enterprises is identifying which earlier stage companies can actually help solve their problem, are enterprise-ready and can work with them effectively.

What does EQT Access offer you?

EQT Access currently provides our portfolio companies with value in four key areas when it comes to building and scaling their commercial functions:

• Mentoring — get advice from experts on how to build and scale a high impact commercial organization
• Talent — hire your first VP of Sales, CCO or CRO to help drive revenue growth with the help of our team
• Customer introductions — tap into industry know-how and engage directly with decision-makers
• Events — attend exclusive forums, build relationships with CXOs and industry leaders

Equally, corporates seeking access to proven, deployable and enterprise-ready innovation get the following benefits:

• Events — Attend exclusive forums on the business applications of disruptive technologies, and build relationships with selected entrepreneurs
• Peer dinners — Fuel cross-industry learning with other innovation, business and corporate development teams
• Discover our portfolio — Find out how new technologies from EQT Ventures’ portfolio companies could impact and reshape your organization
• Advisory board — Gain board experience by advising growth-stage software companies on their strategies

Early results

EQT Ventures’ portfolio company Peakon has secured a flagship client in North America via EQT Access. The people analytics company helped EQT Infrastructure II portfolio company WASH, a leader in multifamily laundry systems founded in 1947, develop its change management strategy. Watch the video to find out how the collaboration developed.

If you’d like to find out more about EQT Access, please contact me on naza@eqtventures.com