Dealflow.eu’s Multicorporate Matchmaking Events, organised by EurA AG, provide a dynamic platform for EU-funded innovators to engage directly with prominent European corporations, opening doors to robust networking and meaningful business opportunities. Emerging startups have the chance to build strategic alliances, refine their solutions, and fast-track their path to market.
For participating corporations, these events serve as a gateway to discover cutting-edge solutions crafted by innovators backed by the European Commission. This involvement not only provides access to fresh ideas but also bolsters their position as forward-thinking leaders in the innovation ecosystem.
At our most recent Multicorporate Matchmaking Event, CUF joined forces with Siemens Healthineers to connect with 18 startups specialising in Health and MedTech innovations, exploring avenues for collaboration and investment prospects.
We spoke with representatives from CUF, one of the corporate participants in this matchmaking initiative, to gain their perspectives on the event and to learn why they believe innovators should seise the opportunity to take part in such collaborative ventures.
What is your role within the company?
The Innovation Team is responsible for engaging in the innovation ecosystem (building partnerships, identifying opportunities, attending and hosting events). Additionally, the team manages the internal ideation programme and implements innovation through piloting programmes and POCs (Proofs of Concept).
Tell us more about your approach towards innovation.
The main and final objective is to position CUF as an early adopter of the most innovative solutions and technologies that allow us to become more efficient and provide better services to our clients. To achieve this, the programme aligns with the company’s strategic goals and priorities, identifying solutions in the market that address those challenges. Once alignment is established, the innovation team proceeds to the next step: confirm all necessary prerequisites, design the POC or pilot, define KPIs to measure outcomes, and start the test. Following this period, the team evaluates the results achieved and proposes the next steps, whether implementation across the organisation or recommendations for improvement.
Recently, you teamed up with Dealflow.eu to co-host a Multicorporate Matchmaking event. Could you explain to us the motivation to join forces with Dealflow.eu? Why do you believe it is important for companies to focus more on these types of corporative innovation initiatives? And what advantages do they bring?
Nowadays, numerous startups, SMEs, and companies are developing innovative solutions, creating a wide range of options. For large organisations, the challenge is not merely discovering new solutions but finding those that genuinely address their specific needs. This requires a precise match between the maturity and specificity of the solution and the organisation’s unique requirements, needs, and characteristics.
This is why establishing these types of partnerships is essential. By clearly and specifically communicating our needs, working with a partner who connects us with the best solutions in the market, and ensures they address the identified challenges, we can genuinely increase the probability of finding the right fit.
In your opinion, what are the most important skills needed for working in innovation, and what do you usually look for in terms of companies or startups to work with you?
We are aware that the realities of a startup and an organisation like CUF are quite different. Our responsibility as the innovation team is to bridge that gap.
When evaluating a startup, we primarily look for: a results-oriented approach, sensitivity, commitment to addressing the real challenge, attention to all stakeholders involved, deep knowledge of the subject — not only from an academical perspective but also a practical one — a user-friendly solution, compliance with legal requirements, and strong organisational skills.
What are the biggest challenges faced by innovators and startups working with big corporations?
In our experience, the biggest challenges are primarily linked to the high standards and guarantees expected. Large organisations, when investing in a new solution, require a certain level of assurance, especially if moving forward with a test – ensuring the quality standards in service and client responsiveness, as well as upholding the values of the brand, is essential; and of course each case is unique, but the legal and organisational requirements present a real challenge.
This leads to another challenge: multidisciplinary complexity. While startups tend to concentrate all functions within a small group of people, larger organisations are more dispersed. The innovation team acts as a connector but does not replace any of the specialised teams. This means that a solution must be evaluated from multiple perspectives and address all related needs.
Finally, the different paces at which a startup or SME and a large organisation operate can also be challenging. Startups are typically much more agile and fast-moving, which can lead to frustration with the time a large organisation takes to respond or make a decision. Ultimately, it comes down to balancing rigorous standards with multidisciplinary structures and aligning expectations between both parties.
Any advice or tips for companies wanting to work with you?
Understanding our challenges, researching our structure, and making an effort to comprehend the complexity and stakeholders impacted by the solution are essential. We seek partners who approach us with a solution that considers all these factors into account—simply, clearly and directly.
How do you envision the collaboration between startups and corporates in the future? What gaps still need to be covered?
The future of startup-corporate collaboration will be increasingly strategic and symbiotic, leveraging startups’ agility and innovation alongside corporates’ scale and resources through shared ecosystems, and co-creation of products. Strategic talent exchange and outcome-based models will enhance these partnerships. However, challenges such as cultural differences, speed-versus-scale conflicts, intellectual property disputes, slow corporate procurement processes and misalignment of focus and priorities need addressing. Startups often operate from a technology-driven perspective, focusing on developing innovative tools, platforms, or methodologies based on what is technically possible or cutting-edge. While this approach can lead to groundbreaking ideas, it sometimes overlooks the practical and immediate needs of end-users. Organisations like CUF, on the other hand, focus on addressing the current health problems faced by the population. They face daily challenges such as improving patient care, optimising operational efficiency, and addressing compliance or regulatory requirements. These issues require solutions that are not only innovative but also practical, implementable, and aligned with the organisation’s workflows and goals. The disconnection arises when startups develop solutions that are impressive from a technical standpoint, but do not directly address the organisation’s critical pain points. Building trust and ensuring transparent communication are essential.
To bridge this gap, startups must shift to a problem-first approach, deeply understanding the organisation’s challenges and co-designing solutions that fit real-world constraints. Meanwhile, organisations can contribute by clearly defining their pain points and supporting iterative collaboration. By aligning technology with genuine needs, both parties can create impactful, and practical innovations.
Basically, success requires a shift perspective from both sides: startups need to align their innovations with real-world needs, while organisations need to embrace collaborative experimentation.
Article published by EurA AG.
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More about Dealflow.eu
Supported by the European Commission, Dealflow.eu discovers and supports the most promising EU-funded innovators and connects them with relevant investors and corporates. The initiative was launched to help groundbreaking innovations secure the funding needed for their future commercialisation by offering them tailored support and matchmaking services.
To learn more about Dealflow.eu, visit https://dealflow.eu/
Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
