Lukasz is an Emerging Leader – it’s official

We're excited to announce that our Investment Director, Lukasz Garbowski, has been named as one of Global Corporate Venturing's top 50 Emerging Leaders in 2023.

The annual GCV awards recognize the outstanding professionals working in corporate venturing, making Lukasz one of the top 0.5% of individuals in the profession.

The entire BTV team is immensely proud of Lukasz's achievement, coming on the back of his GCV Rising Star award last year.

As Investment Director, Lukasz has led a significant numbers of investments and exits made by BTV since its inception in 2019 and also spearheads the fund’s ESG initiatives.

Commenting on his award, GCV wrote:

Digital innovation, ESG and functional foods have been strong focus areas for Garbowski, whose path to BTV included stints in investment banking, private equity and corporate development as well as Harvard Business School’s MBA programme. In addition to leading investments, he has overseen two successful exits – Brazil-based last-mile logistics provider Uello, and California-based freight and supply chain services provider, ClearMetal.

The rigorous selection process to be named an Emerging Leader involved research into more than 20,000 individuals, in more than 2,500 corporate venturing units.

The selection process took performance metrics into consideration, as well as recommendations from managers and colleagues.

Lukasz explains:

Attracting top entrepreneurs to our CVC, given the legacy business of our parent – it’s not the easiest story to tell. If explained correctly, it makes sense but has been challenging.

BTV MD, Juan M. Palacios, says:

The entire BTV team is thrilled for Lukasz. We all know how valuable he is to our business, and we have always been confident in his leadership skills. But now it’s official. Lukasz also shines in his role as leader of the GCV Global Consumer Council, which brings together corporate VCs in the consumer sector to work together on driving the market further. This recognition from GCV is formal acknowledgement of Lukasz’s unique expertise and ability.

Juan continues:

We couldn’t be more excited for him. This is just the latest step of Lukasz’s inspiring professional journey. I also want to recognize the great team who is behind the scenes supporting Lukasz on investments and portfolio management, along with Lukasz they all have played a key role in the success of BTV.”