Most corporate venture studios move at the speed of, well, a corporation. 1848 Ventures is flipping that script.
In a recent episode of Beyond The Core, Highline Beta’s podcast on venture building, Managing Director Kal Amin laid out how he’s leading 1848 Ventures through a rapid transformation, one that prioritizes speed, AI, and an “always be shipping” mindset.
From Six Years of Work to One Year of Results
1848 Ventures has been steadily building since its inception, but recently the pace has accelerated. In 2025 alone, the studio plans to launch three new ventures, matching the total output of its first six years. That’s not a coincidence, it’s the result of a sharper strategy and a relentless focus on execution.
Kal, who’s spent his career scaling startups and leading teams at Google and Spotify, saw an opportunity to bring more discipline to how the studio operates. The goal? Turn 1848 Ventures into a true venture-building engine—one that gets products into the hands of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) faster and more effectively.
AI is the Accelerator
AI isn’t just a feature of the solutions 1848 Ventures builds, it’s core to how they build them. The team is using AI at every stage:
- Faster Ideation: AI helps filter and refine new venture ideas before resources are committed.
- Smarter Validation: AI-driven insights help test product-market fit earlier in the process.
- Better Execution: AI speeds up prototyping, customer research, and even internal decision-making.
It’s a self-reinforcing cycle, the more AI is embedded in the process, the more efficiently they can scale new ventures.
The New Rules of Venture Building
Amin’s approach to running a venture studio breaks from the traditional corporate mold. Some key takeaways from the conversation:
- Narrow the Focus. 1848 Ventures isn’t chasing shiny objects; they’re laser-focused on B2B solutions for SMBs.
- Launch Fast, Learn Faster. Research is great, but real insights come from putting MVPs in front of customers and iterating.
- Revenue Matters. Unlike VC-backed startups that can burn cash for years, 1848’s ventures aim for profitability within five to seven years.
- Kill What Doesn’t Work. A rigorous scorecard methodology ensures resources go to ideas that show real traction.
What’s Next?
With a clear mandate, an AI-first approach, and a commitment to speed, 1848 Ventures is redefining what a corporate venture studio can be. The future of venture building is faster, smarter, and more focused—and 1848 Ventures is proving what’s possible.
Curious to learn more? Listen to Kal Amin’s full conversation on Beyond The Core here.
Have thoughts on how AI is reshaping venture studios? Ideas on how businesses can move faster and smarter? We’d love to hear from you!
Reach out to questions@1848ventures.com to share your thoughts, feedback, or just start a conversation about the future of venture building.
