As the year comes to a close, we’ve donned our festive jumpers, popped a bottle (or two) of bubbly, and taken a moment to reflect on everything we’ve accomplished in 2024. Spoiler alert: It’s been a cracker of a year.

From growing our team and globe-trotting across continents to matchmaking groundbreaking corporate-startup collaborations, Co:cubed has had a year to remember.

 But as we celebrate, we also pause to reflect on a tragic loss that deeply touched our team. We said goodbye to our cherished colleague and friend, Henry Keith, who passed away in August. His infectious laugh and boundless charm left an imprint on everyone he met. Henry, we’ll miss you dearly.

2024: The Year of Impactful Innovation

This year, we welcomed a shiny new CEO (talk about a mic drop moment!) and added six brilliant minds to our growing team—Joel, Serena, Alizey, Rienk, Darla, Alex, and Aidan. Each of them has brought fresh ideas and a whole lot of energy to the table.

Oh, and did we mention? We packed our bags and expanded to the Netherlands, with Rienk Franken leading in Amsterdam.

The Highlights Reel: What Made 2024 so Special

Big wins, bold partnerships

This year, we helped corporates tackle some massive challenges and turned ambitious ideas into reality. A few standout moments:

• Assisting one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies to better engage with clinical trial patients.

• Revolutionising fashion design with generative AI—future-proofing how brands create and innovate.

   

• Using XR technologies to make a multinational companies office move feel like child’s play

  
  Our Own Initiatives

  At Co:cubed, we live and breathe innovation matchmaking. And this year, we made sure to keep the spark alive by:

  • Hosting startup showcases that brought corporate giants and bright entrepreneurs together faster than you can say “speed dating.”

     

  • Supporting industry events that spotlighted the power of corporate-startup collaboration.

     

  • Launching Co:cubed Netherlands, proving we’re more than just matchmakers—we’re global innovators.

     

  • Establishing our Brand Expansion & Business Model Innovation Practice with Serena Martin who joined us from the BBC.

     

  • From Europe to Asia and beyond, we’ve been busy connecting clients with the best and brightest startups from across the globe.

  By the Numbers: Co:cubed’s 2024 in Stats

  Solutions scouted: Over 19,000+ startups & scaleups evaluated from every corner of the world.

  Collaborations launched: We helped foster 20+ corporate-startup partnerships, delivering over £80m in top-line & bottom line impact.

  Industries matchmaking in: From financial services, CPG, engineering, sustainability, healthcare, automotive and beauty, we’ve left no stone unturned.

  Ecosystem Immersions: 17 sessions featuring 120+ startups and ecosystem players, helping matchmake the world’s best startups with corporate partners.

  Drinks opened: Of course we’ve been enjoying sipping back on some of the latest drinks innovations hitting the shelves…our favourite – Liquid Death (go check it out!).

   

  Lessons from 2024: What We Learned About Innovation

  • AI boom entering a new phase: We’re seeing AI boom continue to gather momentum. It’s not just impacting the bottom line and improving efficiency, we’re seeing generative AI and predictive algorithms revolutionise top line growth within industries in unexpected ways.
  • Sustainability is non-negotiable: Green innovation isn’t just a trend—it’s a mandate. Startups focusing on climate tech and sustainable solutions are more in demand than ever.

     

  • Collaboration is key: The most successful projects this year stemmed from genuine collaboration between corporates and startups. The magic really happens when bold ideas meet big resources.

Looking Ahead: 2025, Here We Come!

As much as we’ve loved 2024, we’re even more excited about what’s next. In 2025, we’ll be:

• Doubling down on sustainability-focused innovation to tackle the planet’s biggest challenges.

   

• Expanding into new territories, connecting even more corporates with startups that are pushing boundaries.

   

• Continuing to refine our matchmaking process, making it faster, smarter, and (dare we say it?) even more fun.

   

Thank You: To the Clients, Startups, and Team Who Made It All Possible

To our incredible clients: thank you for trusting us to turn your big challenges into big wins.

To the visionary startups we’ve had the privilege to work with: keep doing what you do best—changing the world.

Wishing you all a joyful holiday season filled with laughter, good company, and a touch of innovation. 

 Ready to Innovate with Us in 2025?

Is 2025 the year we work together? Whether you’re a corporate seeking breakthrough solutions or a startup ready to shake up your industry, let’s make it happen—together. Get in touch, and let’s create impact that matters.