Corporate Capital in the Age of AI
- Mar 4
- 2 min read
How do the corporate venture arms of the world’s largest industrial companies decide where the future of technology is heading?
In this episode of Silicon Valley Unplugged, Sparknify brings together leaders from three of the most influential corporate venture capital groups shaping the next wave of AI, semiconductors, and deep tech innovation. These investors sit at the intersection of frontier technology, global manufacturing, and long-term industrial strategy. 
Unlike traditional venture funds, corporate venture capital (CVC) focuses not only on financial returns but also on strategic alignment with the future of their industries. With deep domain expertise, direct access to customers, and global supply chains, these investors often help determine which technologies move from breakthrough ideas to industry standards. 
In this candid conversation, we explore how corporate venture teams evaluate emerging technologies and where they see the next wave of AI-driven infrastructure developing.
Featured Speakers
• Anand Kamannavar — Applied Ventures (Applied Materials)
• Divya Raghavan — Hitachi Ventures
• Ben Haskell — Lam Capital (Lam Research)
Together, they represent strategic capital embedded inside companies that power the physical backbone of the modern world — from semiconductor fabrication equipment and advanced materials to global industrial systems.
Topics discussed
• How corporate venture teams identify strategic AI investments
• What signals matter when evaluating deep-tech startups
• The future of semiconductor, robotics, and advanced compute startups
• How CVC balances financial returns with long-term industrial vision
• Where the next generation of AI infrastructure may emerge
For founders building deep tech, this conversation offers insight into how to align with strategic investors. For investors and technologists, it provides a window into where global industrial leaders are placing their long-term bets.
About Sparknify SV Unplugged
Silicon Valley Unplugged (SV Up) is a monthly live studio show with audience produced by Sparknify, broadcast across the Comcast network in Silicon Valley, and distributed across social and digital platforms. Each episode brings together visionary founders, technologists, and creators to discuss bold ideas at the intersection of innovation, humanity, and the future.
Visit https://sparknify.com/live-show for information on upcoming episodes, guest speakers, and how to attend future shows in person.
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