The startup innovation hub
CampX by Volvo Group
In the CampX Venture Client we co-develop and validate your solution. All projects are closely tied to concrete Volvo Group business needs and aimed at creating meaningful and measurable customer impact. You will gain direct access to our engineers and business leaders. The lean framework enables Proof of Value projects to be kicked off rapidly, with a clear focus on scaling successful solutions whenever feasible.
- Venture Client
- Venture Builder
Startups – Co-create with us
Are your startup working within the sustainable mobility area developing a product or prototype?
The CampX Venture Client has more than 180 Proof of Value projects with different startups in the portfolio, will you be the next?
About Venture Client
Participating in the CampX program gave HAAS Alert access to key stakeholders and decision makers across Volvo Group significantly faster and in a more coordinated fashion.
CampX by Volvo Group helped us define real-life use cases and specify the appropriate features to perfectly match the needs of the automotive industry.
Two meetings with engineers at CampX saved us multiple months in gathering industry knowledge and in-depth understanding of the use cases.
What does the Venture Client do?
We co-develop and validate solutions with startups tackling real-world challenges in sustainable mobility. Each project starts from a specific need in our business. You’ll work directly with Volvo Group teams – engineers, managers, and domain experts. We keep things fast and lean: proof of value projects are built to launch quickly and show impact within months.
What companies are we looking for to join the Venture Client?
We’re looking for scalable startups with a functional product or prototype. You should be solving a clear problem in sustainable mobility – whether that’s zero emission vehicles, electrification, intelligent processes and vehicles, or services. You’ll need a team committed full-time, freedom to operate, and readiness to build with us.
What do I get for joining the startup Venture Client?
- A tailored proof of value project with Volvo Group
- Access to Volvo Group engineers, managers, and domain experts
- Access to our trucks, labs, and facilities when needed
- Gain the Volvo Group as your customer during the project
- A fast and simple setup highlighting your product’s unique features within approximately 3-6 months
How to join the Venture Client - Entry criteria
To ensure strong collaboration, the Volvo Group tech startup accelerator looks for companies ready to hit the ground running. Our Venture Client model is built for startups that can quickly engage in proof-of-value projects and deliver real solutions to real challenges. Applications are reviewed with the following criteria in mind:
- Maturity of technology/solution: Should be ready for testing and validation.
- Registered company: Only incorporated businesses are eligible.
- Scalability: The solution must be able to grow with demand and enter new markets.
- Financial stability: Need to show evidence of funding, revenue, or a clear path to profitability.
- Sustainability focus: Solutions with a positive environmental impact are prioritized.
CampX success stories
AiDEN – addressing urgent customer need
When new transport regulations were introduced in Poland, Volvo Trucks’ customers needed an immediate and seamless way to comply. By partnering with the startup AiDEN through CampX, Volvo Group’s innovation arena, a solution was rapidly developed and brought to market.
Combining Volvo’s industry expertise, customer access, and global scale with startup agility and advanced technology enabled fast development, real-world testing, and pilot commercialization within a year. The result: a fully integrated digital service embedded in the truck’s interface and Volvo Connect — solving a pressing customer need without added hardware or complexity.
Read more here.
Novum Tech – electric retrofit
The aim of the project was to assess the environmental, technical and economic feasibility of electric retrofitting for heavy goods vehicles. The project was enabled through collaboration with Novumtech, a startup with expertise in battery design and production, and with financial support from the ADEME, the French Agency for Ecological Transition
The next milestone for this project is certification of the converted truck in order to validate compliance with current regulations. Once this approval has been obtained, Renault Trucks will begin a phase of tests under real operating conditions in partnership with Clovis Grand Paris in France.
Read more here.
Foretellix - extended partnership
After a successful Proof of Value Group Project in the CampX venture client, where the Foretelix portfolio and its potential value in confined areas was evaluated, Volvo Autonomous Solutions initiated an extended cooperation together with Foretelix. “Volvo Autonomous Solutions believes in a collaborative verification concept, one that uses open standards,” says Magnus Liljeqvist, Global Technology Manager Volvo Autonomous Solutions. “The partnership with Foretellix gives us access to the state-of-the-art verification tools and accelerating our time to market.
“We are very proud to partner with Volvo Group. This partnership is a significant milestone for the industry as it is the first time that large scale Coverage Driven Verification will be used for verification of ADS in confined areas. Our partnership will combine the expertise of the two companies and set a new standard in the verification of automated driving systems, boosting both safety and productivity,” says Ziv Binyamini, CEO and co-founder of Foretellix.
Intelligent vehicle
We’re looking for startups that bring cutting-edge technology to the vehicle itself. This includes solutions that improve autonomy, connectivity, safety, and overall vehicle intelligence. Think automatic driving, AI-powered driver assistance, sensor fusion, real-time diagnostics, or connected platforms that make vehicles smarter and more adaptive on the road.
Intelligent processes
Startups that can help digitalize and automate complex workflows across our operations are a strong fit. This includes everything from predictive maintenance systems and logistics optimization to advanced data analytics and robotic process automation. We’re interested in tech that cuts waste, speeds up decisions, and improves how our teams and machines work together.
Zero emission vehicle & electrification
We welcome startups developing clean mobility solutions – whether it's battery electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cells, or alternative biofuels. This also includes supporting technologies such as fast-charging or refueling infrastructure, energy storage, smart grid integration, and complete life-cycle management of electric drivetrains. We're building toward a zero-emission future, and we want partners who are ready to move fast and scale solutions.
Services & Solutions
We’re interested in all customer-facing services that go beyond the vehicle. This includes digital platforms, predictive service models, fleet management tools, uptime optimization, financing, insurance, and more. If your solution enhances the ownership experience or supports customers in their day-to-day operations, we want to hear from you.
Advanced Materials
Startups that rethink how materials, components, and systems are reused, recycled, or regenerated are essential to our vision. We're looking for innovations in circular design, remanufacturing, waste reduction, life-cycle tracking, and sustainable sourcing. If your technology can help us close the loop and minimize our environmental footprint, it’s a strong match for this track.
2024
Special award for Interconnected Innovation Model.
2023
Top 100 Corporate Stars
2023
Best Accelerator/Venture Access program
The CampX innovation model
What makes CampX by Volvo Group truly unique is the ability to support your startup at every stage of your company journey, providing resources and guidance needed to thrive. From nurturing ideas in the Venture Access to collaborating on proof of value projects through the Venture Client, and even building new businesses with the Venture Builder, we offer a comprehensive ecosystem that fosters innovation and growth.
One-minute video about the Innovation Model
Read the full CampX Innovation Model here
Deep dive into the Innovation model
In this series of articles you get a deep dive into the different parts of CampX Innovation Model.
Why the CampX Innovation Model
The CampX Venture Client Program
The CampX Venture Access Program
Sponsor-driven innovation: a people-centric approach
Frequently Asked Questions
A corporate Venture Client is a collaborative program running co-creation projects together with startups. The primary purpose for the corporate is to access and test cutting-edge technologies and solutions and be able to incorporate into operations rather than investing in the startup company. For the startup, it is to develop and scale their technology and potentially gain the corporate as a customer.
The CampX Venture Client is important for Volvo Group because it enables us to accelerate innovation by collaborating with startups and other external partners. While innovation is part of our DNA, we recognize that transformation cannot happen in isolation—we need to team up with others who bring new perspectives, speed, and cutting-edge technologies. CampX provides capabilities to co-create with startups and other external partners, helping us address real challenges faster and more effectively and supporting the startup to test their technology or solution on a real-life customer.
Our goal is to build an ecosystem of corporates, startups and other key players in the innovative ecosystem around sustainable mobility. Your startup’s success is our success. Across Volvo Group, we have a wide range of technical challenges and strategic opportunities with a strong focus on customer impact. By partnering with startups, we can validate innovative solutions in real-world environments, solve business challenges, and create new opportunities together.
Before registering your interest, please make sure your startup meets the following criteria:
- Maturity of technology/solution: Should be close to testing and validation.
- Registered company: Only incorporated businesses are eligible.
- Scalability: Must show potential to grow and enter new markets.
- Financial stability: Basic financial viability is required.
- Sustainability focus: Clear environmental benefits are prioritized.
If your startup meets all of the above, register your interest here.
We will get in touch if we see a potential fit with our immediate business challenges and strategic priorities
What does the Venture Builder do?
What sets the Venture Builder apart from the Venture Client is that the business opportunities originate internally – from departments within the Volvo Group seeking support from the CampX toolbox to bring their initiatives to market. The Venture Builder can leverage insights and solutions from the Venture Client projects.
What companies are we looking for to join the Venture Builder?
This program isn’t for outside startups. It’s for internal ventures – working in business development or having a strategic business initiative. The Venture Builder can leverage from insights and solutions from both the Venture Client and Venture Access programs and can help turning it into market-ready solutions.
Lean framework and cross functional teamwork
With the Venture Builder capabilities, Volvo Group product and business owners get support to validate and bring forward cases with high business potential. If market value is proven high a new venture is created, either inside Volvo Group or externally as spin out. Key to get speed is the cross functional established CampX network with Legal, IP strategy and Group Finance as well as Purchasing
Venture Builder Success stories
Volvo Roof Light (VRL)
Volvo Roof Light (VRL) is an innovative solution that includes specially designed roof lights with sensors. VRL supports Volvo Group’s safety value and provides drivers with additional comfort when driving in dark zones. VRL automatically turns off the vehicle's extra lights to prevent drivers of oncoming traffic from being dazzled. VRL was developed by Volvo Group in collaboration with partners, using an existing patent and exploring ways to validate the technology. The process of bringing the product to market took less than 12 months, which is faster than usual. VRL is currently available in the Nordics through the Volvo dealer network. This was made possible by close collaboration with several stakeholders, and the decision process was accelerated by the CampX by Volvo Group’s Venture Builder. With VRL, Volvo Trucks customers can enjoy better safety, visibility, and an enhanced driving experience.
Cetasol - Minimize emissions and maximize efficiency
Pilot tests performed with a Volvo Penta customer showed a significant fuel reduction. The idea was lifted out of Penta to be further evaluated in CampX & it was decided to spin off into a company of its own. The iHelm idea came from within the new technology development team at Penta, led by Ethan Faghani. By initiating cetasol , Penta and Qamcom Group are investing in the start-up of the company which will be led by co-founder Ethan Faghani. When bringing the i-Helm project to CampX it brought speed and focus to finding the right partner and set up the start-up company.
At CampX we work with speed and agility, trying to do things in new ways, all with the ultimate goal to accelerate innovation. Part of our scope is to support great ideas that come from our internal innovators.
Fyrqom AB - Automated calibration system for tires
With a tire pressure monitoring system, the driver is informed if one of the tires loses the pressure but today rather few heavy-duty vehicles are equipped with such a system. Roman Iustin, a Volvo Group engineer, had an idea on how to make this process more efficient with an automated calibration system. Through campX, the Volvo Group’s global innovation arena for technology and business transformation, Roman Iustin got support to validate the solution and business potential. The validation showed a high customer value and with the solution being slightly outside current Volvo Group’s business, the decision was to make a “spin out” and build a new venture. This was done with speed using the CampX concept with support from many areas within the Volvo Group, like Legal, IP strategy, Finance, Tax, HR and Purchasing.
Read more:
Press release
Fyrqom webpage
2024
Special award for Interconnected Innovation Model.
2023
Top 100 Corporate Stars
2023
Best Accelerator/Venture Access program
The CampX innovation model
What makes CampX by Volvo Group truly unique is the ability to support your startup at every stage of your company journey, providing resources and guidance needed to thrive. From nurturing ideas in the Venture Access to collaborating on proof of value projects through the Venture Client, and even building new businesses with the Venture Builder, we offer a comprehensive ecosystem that fosters innovation and growth.
One-minute video about the Innovation Model
Read the full CampX Innovation Model here
Deep dive into the Innovation model
In this series of articles you get a deep dive into the different parts of CampX Innovation Model.
Why the CampX Innovation Model
The CampX Venture Client Program
The CampX Venture Access Program
Sponsor-driven innovation: a people-centric approach
Frequently Asked Questions
Our corporate Venture Access is a way to work side by side with startups with relevant technologies and solutions. Being close to each other will help to develop solutions, products, or services and to grow as a company, both for startups as for Volvo Group. Through the corporate Venture Access, the startups are provided mentorship, connections with peers and the mobility ecosystem, facilities, and quick customer validation.
A corporate Venture Client is a collaborative program running co-creation projects together with startups. The primary purpose for the corporate is to access and test cutting-edge technologies and solutions and be able to incorporate into operations rather than investing in the startup company. For the startup, it is to develop and scale their technology and potentially gain the corporate as a customer.
Our Venture Access is there for the long(er) run. In the Venture Access, we focus on early-stage startups and help them quickly validate their solution directions. Our Venture Client “accelerates” the growth of an already established startup with a product or service. Having a product or service ready for use is therefore a necessity for our accelerator as well as a steady team and secured funding to support product development.
The role of a corporate Venture Access is to open the corporate social network that startups might otherwise not been able to access. Corporates are often active in only one specific industry and know all the key players and opening that network and working side by side is a priceless experience for startups. In this way we are different from university-based Venture Access/Incubators as they tend to be more technology and industry agnostic, making it more difficult to support customer validation.
We will not interfere with your customers, your IP or your (potential) investors, and taking equity is not part of our Venture Access offer. We strongly believe in an open approach and a collaborative mindset and by keeping our hands off we will create the most value together. Of course, if you want us to, we will happily talk about being your first customer, your strategic investor or your advisory board member.
Yes, we will charge a fee for using our services, comparable with renting an office in any inner city or science park. Our business model revolves around this fee as well as grants from governments and funding from Volvo Group. The Venture Access program does not take equity.
No, but we highly recommend it. Being incorporated in Sweden means you are more interesting for local investors, and it is easier to work with local actors. It is also possible to apply for research and development grants.
No, however we have seen great advantages of the Venture Access (Incubator) companies being on site being close to our engineers and to the business.
CampX is a global innovation hub based in Sweden, France, India and North America however the Venture Access is for the time being based in Sweden. We are located in the Lundby campus in Gothenburg where R&D engineers working within the areas of Electromobility, Volvo Autonomous Solutions and Hydrogen are co-located. In Gothenburg, some of the world’s largest mobility industries are just a short bike ride away from each other — creating unique opportunities for collaboration.
The CampX Venture Client is important for Volvo Group because it enables us to accelerate innovation by collaborating with startups and other external partners. While innovation is part of our DNA, we recognize that transformation cannot happen in isolation—we need to team up with others who bring new perspectives, speed, and cutting-edge technologies. CampX provides capabilities to co-create with startups and other external partners, helping us address real challenges faster and more effectively and supporting the startup to test their technology or solution on a real-life customer.
Our goal is to build an ecosystem of corporates, startups and other key players in the innovative ecosystem around sustainable mobility. Therefore, your startups success is our success weather you are part of the Venture Client or the Venture Access/Incubator program. We have numerous technical challenges and opportunities within Volvo Group and working together with startups can help solve them or discover new opportunities together.
Before applying, please make sure your startup meets the following criteria:
- Maturity of technology/solution: Should be close to testing and validation.
- Registered company: Only incorporated businesses are eligible.
- Scalability: Must show potential to grow and enter new markets.
- Financial stability: Basic financial viability is required.
- Sustainability focus: Clear environmental benefits are prioritized.
If your startup meets all of the above, apply here.