Emerson Ventures

Emerson Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of Emerson, a global technology and software company. The firm focuses on advancing sustainable, emerging industrial technologies through early-stage investments and collaborative partnerships. Their investment strategy is deeply integrated with Emerson's core business, seeking to identify and support innovative startups that address real-world challenges in manufacturing and production automation.

The corporate venture initiative, Emerson Ventures, was officially launched in November 2021 with a commitment of $100 million to be invested over five years. While Emerson had made some venture-style investments prior to this, the 2021 launch marked the formal establishment of Emerson Ventures as a dedicated corporate venture capital unit. The firm aims to invest in four to six early-stage startups annually, leveraging Emerson's global network, expertise, and market access to accelerate the development and commercialization of new technologies.

Emerson Ventures targets innovative companies in areas such as discrete automation, industrial software, energy transition, and associated enabling technologies. Notable investments include companies like VEERUM (business/productivity software), Aloxy (electronic equipment and instruments), Virtual Peaker, NevadaNano (emissions-tracking technology), Symmera (device authentication and data protection, leveraging AI/ML), and CoreTigo (industrial wireless automation). The firm also has portfolio exits such as inmation, Fluxa, Frugal Technologies, and Zitara.

The team at Emerson Ventures works closely with Emerson's businesses to identify strategic investment opportunities. Thurston Cromwell serves as the Vice President of Development and Innovation and leads Emerson Ventures, emphasizing a partnership approach where the firm supports and mentors companies to gain strategic insights into emerging technologies, adjacent markets, and industry disruptors.