GlassDollar
GlassDollar builds vclOS, a B2B SaaS platform that enables large enterprises to systematically source, evaluate, and manage startup collaborations through AI-powered search, CRM, and proof-of-concept workflow tools. The company serves corporate innovation teams across automotive, manufacturing, energy, and industrial sectors, with named customers including BMW, Siemens, Bosch, and Volkswagen.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What GlassDollar does
GlassDollar GmbH is a Berlin-based B2B SaaS company founded in 2019 that builds vclOS (Venture Clienting Operating System), a cloud platform enabling large and mid-size enterprises to systematically source, evaluate, and manage startup collaborations. The platform consolidates the venture clienting workflow into four integrated modules — Business Unit Hub & CRM, Intelligent Search across a 20M+ startup database, Startup CRM, and PoC Project Management — supported by AI features (SourceAI, PainpointAI, VCL Guide Tool on Anthropic Claude) and add-on services including Expert Sourcing and Benchmarking.
The company serves primarily large enterprises with established corporate innovation programs, targeting Fortune 500 and DAX-listed corporations across automotive (BMW, Bosch, Volkswagen, Schaeffler, MAHLE), industrial manufacturing (Siemens, BSH, Kärcher), semiconductors (Infineon), aviation (Lufthansa, MTU), energy (A2A), and consumer electronics (LG Electronics). Its business model combines tiered SaaS subscriptions (Free, Starter, Growth, Pro, Enterprise) with usage-based expert sourcing services, data monetization from a proprietary 400,000+ relationship dataset, and consulting partner referrals. Distribution is hybrid: self-serve PLG with a 14-day free trial for smaller customers and direct enterprise sales for larger accounts, increasingly augmented by a February 2026 strategic partnership with Start2 Group for international scaling.
GlassDollar has accumulated 4,730+ active users, 4,000+ startup sourcings, and 1,000+ PoCs, with €500M+ in reported customer business impact. The company holds TISAX certification for automotive-grade information security, operates engineering in Sofia (Bulgaria) alongside commercial offices in Berlin and Munich, and has raised approximately $4.2M across four funding rounds between 2019 and 2023 from HTGF, APX, 22 Capital, blueworld.group, and Hauer Ventures.
GlassDollar firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GlassDollar
- Legal name
- GlassDollar GmbH
- Website
- https://glassdollar.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- GlassDollar builds vclOS, a B2B SaaS platform that enables large enterprises to systematically source, evaluate, and manage startup collaborations through AI-powered search, CRM, and proof-of-concept workflow tools. The company serves corporate innovation teams across automotive, manufacturing, energy, and industrial sectors, with named customers including BMW, Siemens, Bosch, and Volkswagen.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GlassDollar industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Innovation Management Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (513210), Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate Innovation & Technology Scouting Units (with investment mandate) (FSANAHAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD)
Keywords
Where GlassDollar is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
GlassDollar business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- SaaS Subscription: Tiered subscription model (Free, Starter, Growth, Pro, Enterprise) providing access to the platform with varying levels of admin users, business unit users, expert sourcings, lists, and projects. Core recurring revenue stream.
- Expert Sourcing Services: On-demand expert startup sourcing services available at different tiers with discounts (20% for Growth, 30% for Pro). Charged per sourcing engagement, either as add-on to subscription or pay-per-use for Free tier.
- Data Monetisation: Leveraging proprietary dataset of 250k+ corporate-startup collaborations and 400k+ relationships for insights and benchmarking services.
- Consulting Partner Referrals: Referral and co-selling arrangements with consulting partners who provide implementation and advisory services around the platform.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free tier for individual users or small teams exploring the platform |
| Subscription | Annual | Entry-level paid tier for growing innovation teams |
| Subscription | Annual | Mid-tier option with increased team capacity and expert sourcing |
| Subscription | Annual | High-tier option for established innovation teams with significant sourcing needs |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Custom enterprise solution for large organizations with tailored requirements |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
GlassDollar product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GlassDollar sells vclOS, a cloud-based venture clienting operating system that lets enterprise innovation teams source, evaluate, and scale startup solutions from a database of 20M+ startups. The platform combines AI-powered search, a Business Unit Hub & CRM, a Startup CRM, and PoC management with add-on services such as Expert Sourcing (curated shortlists in 5 days) and Benchmarking (innovation program maturity assessment). Target buyers are corporate innovation, procurement, and finance teams at large and mid-size enterprises seeking to run systematic startup collaboration programs.
Product overview
GlassDollar offers vclOS (Venture Clienting Operating System), a unified enterprise platform for managing the complete startup collaboration lifecycle. The platform consists of four core integrated modules: Business Unit Hub & CRM (multi-BU interface with stakeholder management), Intelligent Search (AI-powered startup discovery across 20M+ startups), Startup CRM (centralized startup relationship management), and Project Management (end-to-end PoC tracking with automations). Supporting features include SourceAI and PainpointAI for AI-powered challenge-to-startup matching, News Feed for innovation intelligence, Reporting for impact measurement, and the VCL Guide Tool chatbot for venture clienting knowledge. The platform also offers add-on services including Expert Sourcing (5-day curated shortlists) and Benchmarking (maturity assessment). Data is enriched from LinkedIn, Crunchbase, and PitchBook. Pricing tiers range from Free (limited users) to Enterprise (custom workflows, API connectors, dedicated server).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- vclOS (Venture Clienting Operating System) Cloud-based SaaS platform that enables enterprise teams to source, evaluate, and scale innovative startup solutions. Acts as the central operating system connecting business units, startup data, and project management workflows across the enterprise.
- Expert Sourcing On-demand expert startup shortlist service delivering curated recommendations from Venture Associates within 5 days, including benchmarking, notes, demo scheduling, and internal-ready slides. Sold as a paid add-on to SaaS subscriptions or as pay-per-use for Free tier users.
- Benchmarking 2-minute maturity quiz that compares a user's Startup Partnering Program against 70+ innovation leaders, helping identify improvement areas for the venture clienting program.
- VCL Guide Tool (Venture Clienting Chat) AI-powered chatbot (currently in beta) that answers questions about building, running, and scaling a Venture Clienting program, powered by GlassDollar's 60-chapter Complete Guide and Anthropic Claude AI. Available to platform users via the venture-clienting-chat page.
Quantifiable outcome
- €500M+ business impact generated through platform-enabled startup collaborations
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use GlassDollar
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
GlassDollar technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability5 records
Feature8 records
GlassDollar partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Start2 GroupcoreStrategic partnership combining GlassDollar's venture clienting technology with Start2 Group's consulting expertise. The partnership enables joint go-to-market activities where Start2 Group consultants provide implementation and advisory services to GlassDollar enterprise customers seeking structured innovation programs.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
GlassDollar competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Planbox: Planbox offers an AI-powered innovation management platform covering idea capture, evaluation, and execution. Serves the same enterprise innovation personas and overlaps in startup collaboration use cases.
- Itonics: Itonics delivers a systematic innovation and technology scouting platform with AI-driven startup intelligence and trend radar features. Directly comparable to GlassDollar's Intelligent Search and scouting capabilities.
- HYPE Innovation: HYPE Innovation offers an enterprise innovation management suite covering idea management, technology scouting, and startup collaboration. Closely comparable to GlassDollar's full platform play for corporate innovation programs.
- SwitchPitch: SwitchPitch enables corporations to connect with startups through a structured engagement platform, including pilot tracking and ROI measurement—directly comparable to GlassDollar's startup CRM and PoC management.
- NineSigma: NineSigma runs an open innovation platform and provider network helping corporates source external technology and startup solutions. Comparable in serving corporate technology scouting and innovation program management.
- Brightidea: Brightidea is an innovation management platform used by enterprises to run structured innovation programs, idea challenges, and pilot tracking. Overlaps with GlassDollar's PoC management and business unit workflows.
- Qmarkets: Qmarkets provides enterprise innovation management software including idea crowdsourcing, technology scouting, and startup engagement modules, competing in the same corporate innovation tooling category as GlassDollar.
- Wellspring (formerly InnoCentive): Wellspring provides a SaaS platform for corporate open innovation and startup sourcing. It directly overlaps with GlassDollar's venture clienting and startup collaboration workflows, serving similar enterprise innovation teams.
Broad incumbents
- Salesforce (Innovation Cloud / AppExchange): Salesforce's CRM and Experience Cloud can be configured to support startup relationship management and innovation workflows. As a broad incumbent, it could absorb or replicate venture clienting functionality for its large enterprise base.
Others
- Start2 Group: Start2 Group is a venture clienting-focused accelerator and consulting partner that works with corporates on startup programs. It is both a strategic partner and adjacent competitor in the venture clienting services space.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
GlassDollar social profiles
Digital presenceGlassDollar financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GlassDollar leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
GlassDollar funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GlassDollar M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GlassDollar
What does GlassDollar do?
GlassDollar sells vclOS, a cloud-based venture clienting operating system that lets enterprise innovation teams source, evaluate, and scale startup solutions from a database of 20M+ startups. The platform combines AI-powered search, a Business Unit Hub & CRM, a Startup CRM, and PoC management with add-on services such as Expert Sourcing (curated shortlists in 5 days) and Benchmarking (innovation program maturity assessment). Target buyers are corporate innovation, procurement, and finance teams at large and mid-size enterprises seeking to run systematic startup collaboration programs.
Is GlassDollar a public or private company?
GlassDollar is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was GlassDollar founded?
GlassDollar was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is GlassDollar based?
GlassDollar is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does GlassDollar make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. SaaS Subscription is the primary driver. The others are expert Sourcing Services, data Monetisation and consulting Partner Referrals.
Who are GlassDollar's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Planbox, Itonics, HYPE Innovation, SwitchPitch, NineSigma, Brightidea, Qmarkets and Wellspring (formerly InnoCentive). Salesforce (Innovation Cloud / AppExchange) is listed as a broad incumbent. Start2 Group is listed as an others.
Does GlassDollar have an API?
No public API is recorded for GlassDollar.
What industry is GlassDollar in?
GlassDollar's product category is Innovation Management Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAHAI, Corporate Innovation & Technology Scouting Units (with investment mandate), with a secondary code of FSANAHAD, Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs. Its NAICS code is 513210 and its SIC code is 7372.