---
id: "action-back-believers"
type: "action-item"
source_timestamps: ["§ Practical Steps for CVC Leaders to Take Next"]
tags: ["quick-wins", "stakeholder-management"]
related: ["claim-skeptic-focus-backfires", "concept-frontstage-work", "contrarian-ignore-skeptics"]
action: "Partner with 2-3 enthusiastic business units on early pilots rather than trying to convert internal skeptics."
outcome: "Generates visible early wins and creates internal advocates who credibly explain the CVC's value."
sources: ["ecosystem"]
sourceVaultSlug: "hbr-seg-ecosystem"
originDay: 11
articleStem: "hbr-cl-81-corporate-vc-funds"
sourceUrl: "https://hbr.org/2026/03/what-successful-corporate-venture-capital-funds-do-differently"
sourceTitle: "What Successful Corporate Venture Capital Funds Do Differently"
---
# Back Your First Believers

## Action

Partner with **2–3 enthusiastic business units** on early pilots rather than trying to convert internal skeptics.

## How

Identify the 2–3 business units most likely to engage. Co-create **one visible initiative** with each (a pilot, scouting effort, or partnership) with **clear success criteria** and a **plan for sharing learnings**.

## Expected outcome

Generates visible early wins and creates internal advocates who credibly explain the CVC's value to the rest of the organization.

## Grounding

This is the operational form of [[claim-skeptic-focus-backfires]] and frontstage practice #1 ([[concept-frontstage-work]]); its contrarian framing is [[contrarian-ignore-skeptics]]. **Caveat from enrichment:** pursue believers for *operational* focus, but still map and at least neutralize powerful skeptics with formal budget/strategy authority, or risk a later veto coalition.