Corporate Innovation Scouting

Start2Match

Increase the Speed and Scale of Open Innovation
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Start2Match discovers, evaluates, and connects you with the startups best positioned to solve your specific business challenges, anywhere in the world.

Great Startups Are Out There. Finding the Right One Isn't Easy.

The global startup ecosystem is larger and more fragmented than ever. Thousands of startups launch every year, spread across accelerators, incubators, databases, and networks that rarely talk to each other.

For corporate innovation teams, that means:
-> Translating business goals into a clear challenge is harder than it sounds. Without a well-defined challenge statement, it's difficult to align the search with the startups that can actually solve it.
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-> Open challenge statements attract volume, not fit. They can generate many applications, but conversion stays low, and the right startup is often missed in the noise.

-> Even with active scouting, fit is hard to judge. Startups apply hoping to secure a contract, but without a clear way to assess alignment, teams can't tell who's actually the right fit, and mismatched partners rarely lead to successful pilots.

‍Start2Match exists to close that gap, turning an open-ended search into a focused, validated shortlist you can act on immediately.

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Intro

What is Start2Match?

Start2Match helps organizations discover, evaluate, and connect with the most relevant startups and emerging technologies worldwide.
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Rather than leaving corporates to sift through fragmented databases and cold outreach, Start2Match acts as a dedicated scouting engine, transforming an open-ended search into a focused, validated shortlist your team can act on immediately.

Who It’s For

Innovation Teams

Accelerate Innovation Programs
You already have an innovation mandate. Start2Match gives your team a steady pipeline of startups that fit your strategic goals, so you spend less time searching and more time piloting.

Corporate Development & Strategy

Explore New Markets and Technologies
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You're evaluating where to place your next bet. Start2Match identifies startups solving the business challenges on your roadmap, validated and ready for evaluation.

Business Unit & Partnership Leads

Build Corporate-Startup Collaborations
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You need a partner, not just a lead list. Start2Match supports pilots, partnerships, and co-development from first intro through relationship.

China

We offer regulatory insights, localization strategy, and access to trusted partners
within China’s fast-evolving innovation landscape.

Japan

We offer corporate matchmaking, market entry support, and expert guidance on navigating Japan’s structured business environment.

Trusted by Clients Worldwide

With 18 years of experience across 21 countries, Start2 Group partners with corporate innovation teams rather than simply advising them, drawing on a network of 6,000+ startups and 1,300+ industry and subject matter experts to convert innovation ambition into measurable outcomes.

Methodology

The Start2Match Approach: Smarter Startup Scouting and Sourcing

Start2Match runs on the PS2X methodology, a dual-track approach that pairs continuous market scanning with direct qualification against your business challenges, delivered through a clear six-step process.

The two tracks:
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Scouting
-> Continuously scanning global ecosystems, databases, accelerators, and networks for cutting-edge startups.

Sourcing  
-> Engaging and qualifying startups directly against your specific business challenges.

This dual approach means you don't just see "what's out there." You get tailored, validated, and timely startup matches aligned with your needs.

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Approach

The six steps:

Challenge Definition

We start by understanding your organization's key business challenges and strategic priorities.

1

Focused Opportunity Mapping

We identify the most relevant startups using multiple sourcing channels, databases, and networks.

2

Curated Selection

We narrow the field to a focused shortlist of startups that best match your challenge.

3

Quality Assurance & Validation

We verify and validate every shortlisted startup for credibility, maturity, and relevance.

4

Facilitated Introductions

We connect you directly with the shortlisted startups and support the first conversations.

5

Final Delivery

You receive a verified, high-value startup shortlist, plus a Start2Match Insights Report summarizing our findings and recommendations.

6
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Why It Works for You

Most organizations start by searching internally, using whatever contacts and databases their own team has, or subscribing to a startup database and treating sourcing as self-serve research. Other scouting providers can offer broader reach, but many work off a single database and generic matching criteria, handing over a list rather than a validated shortlist. Start2Match pairs a global network of over 3 million startups with a structured qualification process built around your specific challenge, so what you receive has already been evaluated for fit, not just filtered by keyword.

Challenge-Led Fit

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Receive a curated shortlist mapped directly to your problem statements or line of business, not a generic list of "trending startups.”

Global Market Coverage

Start with confidence that you're not missing the best-fit solution anywhere in the world, across regions and sectors most internal teams can't reach alone.

Repeatable Engine

Deploy a systematic, repeatable scouting process you can reuse across different challenges and business units, not a one-off project.

Data-driven Funnel for PoC track

Skip months of manual research. Move straight to pilots, partnerships, or co-developed solutions with startups that are already validated.

FAQs

What is open innovation scouting?
How does Start2Match differ from other scouting services?
Which companies benefit most from Start2Match?
Can Start2Match help find startups outside my region?
What happens after I submit the form?
Why is open innovation relevant for corporations?

One Partner Across the Innovation Lifecycle

From building readiness to earning recognition, Start2 supports every stage of corporate innovation under one methodology.

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Start your Innovation Journey Today

Discover the startups best positioned to solve your business challenges, anywhere in the world.

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