Member Spotlight: TDK Ventures

For this deep dive, we spoke to Nicolas Sauvage, President of TDK Ventures.

Tell us about your firm. What makes it different?

TDK Ventures is the corporate venture capital (CVC) arm of TDK Corporation, established in 2019 to invest globally in early-stage startups from Seed to Series B. With $500M in assets under management across four funds, we back Impact Scalers—entrepreneurs committed to solving global challenges through groundbreaking technology in fields like sustainability, advanced materials, mobility, clean energy, health, and digital transformation. 

What makes us different is what we call “TDK Goodness.” We strive to be far more than a source of capital—we aim to be a strategic partner and bridge between startups and the global TDK ecosystem. Through access to our R&D, supply chain, engineering, and customer networks, we help founders scale faster, de-risk growth, and turn bold visions into reality. 

We take a long-term, equal-partnership approach that emphasizes deep collaboration over transactional investing. Our Scaling and Engagement Teams, collectively known as our Platform Team, provide ongoing operational and strategic support—helping founders navigate go-to-market challenges while also giving TDK early exposure to transformative innovations. 

We also believe in contributing to the broader evolution of CVC best practices. That’s why I launched the podcast Corporate Venturing Insider—a series of candid conversations with leading investors, founders, and innovation leaders. The podcast shares real-world insights and lessons to help more people do CVC well—and, ultimately, ensure that entrepreneurs benefit from more effective, aligned corporate investors. 

What defines your portfolio?

Our portfolio is defined by deeptech excellence, global relevance, and a clear commitment to environmental and societal impact. We invest in visionary entrepreneurs tackling the most pressing issues of our time—from climate change to compute performance to circular manufacturing. 

Some of our standout investments include: 

•  Groq, redefining computing architecture to enable ultra-low-latency AI performance (integrating over 51 TDK components) 
• Ascend Elements, leading in battery recycling through a closed-loop ecosystem 
• Agility Robotics, the world’s leading manufacturer of humanoid robots
• Silicon Box, advancing chiplet-based semiconductor packaging at scale 

To date, we’ve made 44 investments, including three unicorns. But what truly unites our portfolio is a shared purpose: to build the foundations of a more intelligent, connected, and sustainable world. 

Tell us about the current VC landscape in your geography/region.

We operate globally, with teams and offices in Silicon Valley, Boston, London, Bengaluru, Tokyo, and a presence in China. Our global strategy reflects our belief that the world’s biggest challenges—like energy transition and digital infrastructure—require global solutions. 

Across regions, we’re seeing startups think beyond borders, with founders embracing global market implications and CVCs collaborating more than ever. While macroeconomic conditions remain dynamic, innovation hasn’t slowed—it’s adapting. We see remarkable resilience and creativity in startups worldwide, and we’re proud to play a role in helping them thrive across ecosystems. 

What are the benefits of being an NVCA member?

For us, community is everything—and that’s exactly what NVCA offers. Through its convenings, advocacy, and peer-to-peer network, NVCA has created an essential forum for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and collective action across the venture capital ecosystem. 

Their leadership in engaging policymakers has helped make the U.S. more startup-friendly, while their programming fosters high-value relationships between investors and entrepreneurs. In many ways, NVCA helps impact scale us, so we can better support the entrepreneurs who are scaling impact in the world. 

What’s ahead for your firm?

We’re entering an exciting new chapter in our mission to support breakthrough deeptech. Our latest fund will focus on Seed to Series B startups driving innovation in energy transition, electrification, AI infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and sustainability. Building on TDK’s legacy in advanced materials, power solutions, and sensors, we’re also exploring new frontier technologies that can shape a more connected and sustainable future. 

Our mission remains unchanged: to champion the entrepreneurs building a better future. Through strategic capital, global partnerships, and an unwavering belief in the power of innovation, we’re committed to helping the next generation of world-changing companies thrive.