Advantaged: An Alloy Partners Podcast

There’s No Such Thing as a Corporate Startup: What Companies Get Wrong About Venture Building

Episode Summary

Drew Beechler and Elliott Parker challenge the myth of the “corporate startup,” unpacking what companies consistently get wrong about venture building. The conversation offers nuanced lessons on internal vs. external ventures, incentives, and what actually drives innovation success inside large organizations.

Episode Notes

Episode Breakdown

• Lessons from 10 years of venture studios
• Does a “corporate startup” exist?
• Internal vs. external venture creation: frameworks and pitfalls
• Why most internal “startups” never deliver
• The right moment and model for launching external startups
• Practical advice on governance, incentives, and measuring success
• Trends and headwinds in innovation teams
• Quickfire: books, podcasts, and startup ideas

Featured Guests

• Elliott Parker — CEO, Alloy Partners (LinkedIn)
• Drew Beechler — VP of Marketing, Alloy Partners (LinkedIn)

Referenced in the Show

• a16z partner's tweet on “no such thing as a corporate startup”
• Wharton & Mack Institute Corporate Venturing Report (2025)
• Indie.vc's Bryce Roberts’ “one-person billion dollar company” thesis
  • It's not quite a "billion-dollar one-person company", but the Indie.vc website says:
    We’re obsessed with the idea that someone is going to build a business doing $100M in revenue with less than 10 employees and see it as this generation of founders’ 4 min mile. Once someone shows it can be done, many more will follow. We want to partner with the one that does to help define a repeatable playbook for those that follow.
• Google/Alphabet Acquired podcast episode
• The Price of Time (book)
• Founders Podcast

Resources & Related Links

• Alloy Partners: https://www.alloypartners.com
• Advantaged podcast: https://advantaged.alloypartners.com
• Contact Alloy Partners for venture-building collaborations: https://www.alloypartners.com/connect