#12 - From Corporate to Co-Founder: Venture Building that Actually Works w/ Patrick Luke (Co-Founder & CEO, ZigZag)
🎙️ Welcome to a new episode of The Corporate Venturing Podcast ! What separates corporate ventures that actually scale from those that stall in POC limbo? In this episode, I’m joined by Patrick Luke , Co-Founder and…
🎙️ Welcome to a new episode of The Corporate Venturing Podcast!
What separates corporate ventures that actually scale from those that stall in POC limbo?
In this episode, I’m joined by Patrick Luke, Co-Founder and CEO of Zigzag: a fast-growing B2C startup born from inside Nestlé Purina and now thriving as an independent, purpose-driven B Corp.
Patrick shares the rare perspective of someone who’s lived every side of corporate venture building: from strategy and innovation at HQ, to spinning out a venture and leading it full-time as founder.
Together, we unpack what truly makes venture building work—and where it often breaks down.
In this episode, Patrick shares insights on:
🏗️ Structural enablers : the systems, setups, and governance models that allow ventures to scale
💡 Consumer centricity as a North Star: why business value follows user value
⚖️ The corporate-venture tension: where to draw the line on autonomy vs. integration
📊 Real-world metrics: proving value with data and traction, not just vision
🧪 Why B Corp? the thinking behind Zigzag’s rare certification, and its unexpected benefits
🚫 Common pitfalls: why many ventures fail due to speed, funding, or unclear ownership
🧠 Team building in venture mode: hiring for pace, ownership, and adaptability
🔁 Lessons in iteration: how Zigzag evolved its strategy through constant learning loops
🎯 From strategy decks to scientific proof: the study that validated Zigzag’s impact
We close the episode reflecting on Patrick’s most meaningful milestones: from corporate innovation teams to publishing peer-reviewed research, and what it really took to get there.
Resources:
• Open Road Ventures Newsletter
🎧 Follow the podcast for grounded stories and actionable insights from inside the world of Open Innovation and Corporate Venturing.
