Converting corporate R&D into viable and valuable businesses globally
Pilot Lite is a pioneer and international leader in venture management with a successful track record of more than 10 years helping multi-national corporations accelerate the commercialization of their R&D and innovation.
How we work
Pilot Lite Ventures helps our corporate clients identify, de-risk, validate and launch early-stage technologies, new ventures and stranded intellectual property across developed and emerging channels and markets.
Pilot Lite Capital typically acquires and directly invests into Corporate stranded or uncommercialized IP, products and brands, predominantly with ethical or sustainable attributes and develops these ventures into free-standing, revenue-generating businesses.
Learn moreHow we help
Pilot Lite’s unique, proven approach to end to end validation and deployment
Scouting & Origination
(16 weeks)
We provide strategic scouting and origination of new business (product / technology or channel) or IP opportunities for future commercialization with a focus on building strategic and sustainable platforms.
The outcome is a set of 5 to 10 tangible investment opportunities that fit our clients' strategic objectives with a set of explicit steps to validate and action the investment and, where the opportunities satisfy our own investment criteria, the potential for direct funding collaboration between Pilot Lite and the client.
Validation
(10-12 weeks)
Our Pilot Lite commercialization team, working with our extensive network of subject matter experts, rigorously validates innovation opportunities through a uniquely commercial lens to assess their 'doability', sustainability and financial viability.
The outcome of this work is an immediately actionable plan to move the opportunity towards implementation and readiness for pilot launch. For opportunities that satisfy our own investment criteria, Pilot Lite can also participate through direct funding collaboration.
Business Readiness
(3-8 months)
Once validated, a period of preparation for launch is required. Pilot Lite’s team takes on accountability for a pilot launch of the opportunity, leveraging our capabilities and methodologies to accelerate and de-risk the opportunity in market. Our team addresses all the core work streams highlighted in Validation, firming up critical planned pathways, raw materials, supply, co-manufacture, sales, logistics and regulatory activities. We initiate and close all contracts in preparation for a green light to launch.
At the end of this stage, the opportunity is ready for an initial pilot launch in market to maximize learning prior to a full scale launch.
Launch
(3-24 months)
Pilot Lite deployment teams take new ventures into market to actively stress test all aspects of launch, including consumer response, supply chain performance and technology robustness. We directly managing all aspects in preparation for a scaled up effort.
This step de-risks the opportunity and accelerates subsequent scale up into the selected target markets.
Scale Up
(6 months)
In preparation for mass scale, where our corporate clients leverage their proven muscle to build businesses, Pilot Lite is deployed to test all partners across the supply chain and their ability to cope with geographic expansion.
Pilot Lite expects the next stage following scale-up to involve either the corporate parent re-absorbing the venture or spinning it out into a stand-alone business. Where the ventures satisfy our own investment criteria, Pilot Lite can also consider investment in such spin outs at this stage of development.
Funding Collaboration
At all stages of consideration, Pilot Lite, through its Capital division, can participate in co-investment R&D that fit our own rigorous investment criteria.
Whilst corporates often champion breakthrough innovation, they often have difficulty diverting funds from legacy businesses to fledgling ventures and consequently starve them of critical capital. Therefore, in each of the above stages of consideration, should it be appropriate, Pilot Lite Capital has the ability to invest either alongside the client to become a co-investor and scale-up partner, or as an acquirer of stranded or uncommercialized projects or ventures.
Case studies
Case Study:
Biodegradable Pulp-Based Bottle
Pilot Lite and Diageo collaborated to establish Pulpex, a sustainable packaging technology company that has developed a patented, first-of-its-kind, single-mould paper bottle that is being adopted for use by a consortium of global CPGs.
Case Study:
Expert Oral Therapy at Home
Pilot Lite has harnessed a pioneering, disruptive and patented hydrodynamic technology from one of the leading global Corporates in Oral Care to develop an advanced water flosser that is twice as effective at removing plaque.
Case Study:
Re-imagining Laundry
w'air is a revolutionary, 3-in-1 sustainable clothing care system that can remove stains, refresh garments between washes and even deep clean your delicates using just a fraction of the water, energy and detergent of conventional laundry.
News
Can Fashion Ever Be Truly Sustainable?
22 January 2021
Care for it better. Wear it longer. Why your attitude to clothing can make fashion truly sustainable.
Find out more in this thought-provoking article by PLV Venture Lead and w'air CEO, Jonny Hewlett.
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Solutions for a Food System Under Stress
18 January 2021
With our global food system undergoing a revolution, Pilot Lite is once again proud to sponsor the Future Food-Tech virtual summit being held on 11 and 12 March - including a keynote presentation by Mike Anstey.
Post-Pandemic Snack Trends
13 January 2021
Following the launch of Mindful Snacker earlier this month, this article featured in Food Business News interviews our very own Tara Quick talking about the opportunities to make snacking both healthier & tastier.
Top Packaging Innovations of 2020
11 January 2021
As the article below says, it's been a particularly tough year, but we are delighted to read that Pulpex, our sustainable packaging collaboration announced last Summer, has been listed as #1 in Packaging Strategies magazine.
About Us
Our core team is made up of professionals who combine proven best of class corporate, consultancy and entrepreneurial expertise, together with a wider pool of over 100 technology, geocentric and financial management professionals and subject matter experts worldwide. We engage with and challenge our customers’ organisations, which gives us unrivalled access, insight and relationships.
Meet the team
Contact
If you would like to find out more about Pilot Lite or what we can do for your business, then call or email us and let's start a conversation.