Inside CVC by u-path

Welcome to Inside CVC —Inside CVC by U-Path is the podcast where corporate venture capital meets strategy, leadership, and systemic change. Hosted by Philipp Willigmann and Steve Schmith, the show brings senior voices from across corporate venture, startups, investment, academia, and policy to the table.

Each episode goes beyond buzzwords to explore how capital, technology, and leadership shape the future of business and society. From AI and robotics to geopolitics, board governance, and inclusive innovation, Inside CVC is designed for executives and policymakers who want to understand not just what’s happening — but what to do about it.

Guest

Taj Eldridge

Taj Eldridge has more than 25 years of experience as an investment professional. He brings deep expertise across venture capital, private equity, climate tech, and workforce development. He co-founded Include Venture Partners, an organization investing in diverse founders and fund managers building innovative ecosystems, and previously served as a senior director at the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator. Earlier in his career he managed a $19.5M workforce and climate portfolio at Aries Management and led the University of California Accelerator in Riverside. Taj holds a PhD in geopolitical economics from Claremont Graduate University, an MBA from Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, and bachelor's degrees in poetry and literature from Texas A&M University at Commerce. He is currently based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Guest appearance on:

Inside CVC | Taj Eldridge on Why Africa Is the Next Innovation Frontier