E453 | Marika King, PINC: How Purpose-Driven CVCs Drive Early-Stage Innovation and Corporate Synergy

In this episode of our CVC series, Andreas Munk Holm and our CVC in-house expert, Jeppe Høier, talk with Marika King, Head of PINC, the corporate venture arm of Paulig.

Marika shares how PINC was born to accelerate core innovation and deliver long-term impact across health, sustainability, and food security. She explains why PINC goes earlier than most CVCs and how they leverage Paulig’s R&D and cultural DNA to validate, support, and scale startups. Marika also offers candid reflections on governance structures, founder dynamics, and how her journey through burnout shaped her values as an investor.

Here’s what’s covered:

• 03:10 Early Stage Investments and Validation
• 16:54 Governance and Structure of Pink Ventures
• 24:00 Lessons in Structuring a Corporate Venture Fund
• 26:34 Understanding the Role of a CVC
• 27:03 Misconceptions About CVCs
• 28:49 Flexibility and Patience in CVC Investments
• 31:29 The Importance of Founder-Friendly A