EUVC

In this episode of the EUVC podcast, Andreas and our in-house CVC expert, Jeppe Høier, are joined by Samuli Siren, CEO of Redstone, one of Europe's most successful venture capital firms.Together, we’ll dive deep into Redstone’s approach to corporate venture capital, exploring how they’ve built a portfolio with around €600M across ten different funds. Redstone specializes in Series A rounds and is headquartered in Berlin, focusing on DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) and global markets—particularly the U.S.Redstone's focus spans multiple sectors, though always with a digital and B2B edge. Some of their standout investments include PlanRadar, Liqid, Psy, Finanzguru, Atlas Metrics, and Yoto. With Samuli, Redstone has excelled in attracting corporate investors, making his insights invaluable to anyone looking to understand how to raise capital from corporates.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:01:53 The Journey of Building Redstone03:32 Challenges in Venture Capital04:42 Working with Corporate Investors07:03 Managing Corporate Relationships14:07 Fundraising Strategies and Insights16:15 The Importance of Investor Relations19:32 Long-Term Relationships with LPs24:01 The Importance of Professional LPs24:32 Key Strategies for Success with Corporates25:05 Making Startup Innovation Fun25:33 Personal Touches in Business Interactions26:50 Tailoring Pitch Decks for Corporates28:33 The Pain of Cold Outreach29:49 Fundraising Buckets and Success Rates33:01 Balancing Passion, Family, and Self34:11 Advice for Young CVC Professionals40:52 Challenges in Corporate Digitalization

Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC podcast, where our good friends Dan Bowyer and Mads Jensen from SuperSeed cover recent news and movements in the European tech landscape 💬Go to eu.vc to read the core take-aways.Chapters:01:11 UK VCs on the Rise02:41 Global VC Fundraising Trends03:45 Big Names in Fundraising06:40 Climate Tech and COP29 11:06 UK International Investment Summit13:06 Labour's Economic Strategy16:35 Public Sector Investment Insights 20:07 National Wealth Fund Discussion22:07 Investment and Planning Challenges22:54 Exploring the Future of the European Union23:30 Macron's Warning and the EU's Productivity Challenge24:45 The German Automotive Industry's Struggles25:37 The Rise of Electric Vehicles in China25:54 Protectionism and the European Export Engine28:09 The EU's Startup Ecosystem Initiative30:05 SpaceX's Technological Feats32:48 Balancing Space Exploration and Climate Change33:47 The Future of Energy and Innovation36:42 Venture Capital and Market Liquidity Challenges

In this episode of the European VC podcast, we're diving into the fascinating world of investing in culture and everything that surrounds it.At the CultTech Summit on November 5th and 6th in Vienna, a dedicated panel discussion is planned, and as a foretaste, we have brought together a panel of experts with diverse backgrounds who are reshaping how we think about culture and creativity through investment.We are joined by Oliver Holle, Founding Managing Partner at Speedinvest, who brings a wealth of knowledge from his experience backing startups across various sectors. Alongside Oliver, we have Severin Zugmeyer, Founder of New Renaissance Ventures, who specializes in pre-seed and seed investments, particularly in creative tech.We’re also excited to welcome Uli Schmitz, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Axel Springer Digital Ventures, an expert in the media and adjacent spaces. Finally, we are completing the panel with Hazel Savage, VP of Music Intelligence at SoundCloud, whose insights into the intersection of tech and music will add a unique perspective to the discussion.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:00:20 Meet the Panelists03:49 Defining the Creative and Cultural Industries04:24 Investment Opportunities in Creative Industries05:56 Challenges and Opportunities in Creative Tech14:26 AI's Role in the Music Industry16:46 Legal Challenges in Generative AI21:02 European Competitiveness in Creative Industries 24:08 Success Stories and Market Dynamics 29:02 Challenges and Opportunities in Consumer Investments 30:40 Founder Profiles in Creative Industries32:27 Importance of Understanding User Behavior35:35 Generative AI in Music38:03 The Role of AI in Music Creation43:38 Emerging Technologies: Metaverse and Beyond46:27 The Future of AR and VR49:04 Success Stories and Final Thoughts

Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC podcast, where our good friends Dan Bowyer and Mads Jensen from SuperSeed, discuss with Lomax Ward, General Partner at Outsized Ventures, to cover recent news and movements in the European tech landscape 💬Go to eu.vc to read the core take-aways.Chapters:03:33 Nobel Prizes and AI Innovations06:16 The DOJ vs. Google: Breaking Up Big Tech11:47 UK Borrowing Costs and Economic Challenges14:14 Pension Funds and Infrastructure Investment18:45 Labour Government's Economic Strategy20:03 Regulatory Innovation Office: Speeding Up Approvals20:39 Exploring the Impact of Deregulation21:01 The Role of Regulation in Innovation22:15 Challenges of Regulatory Bodies23:29 Investing in the UK: A Critical Perspective23:41 LPs and Venture Capital: A 2025 Outlook25:27 Emerging Managers and the Venture Landscape31:27 European Series B Success Stories32:25 The Importance of Ownership and Location37:36 The Future of European Deep Tech38:31 Concluding Thoughts on European Venture

In this episode of the EUVC podcast, Andreas discusses with Hannah Seal, Partner at Index Ventures. Andreas and Hannah explore the dynamics of founder relationships, the European venture landscape, and more with insights from the recently launched book - Scaling Through Chaos.As a Partner at Index, Hannah focuses on B2B software and enterprise AI applications. She works with founders, reshaping every sector of the economy by digitizing workflows, automating manual processes, and transforming the services sector at large.In close to a decade at Index, she has built a track record of helping visionary entrepreneurs from day one and supporting them as their companies scale. She is particularly energized by founders who leverage technology to tackle daunting problems in large and traditional sectors previously deemed too hard to tackle. Her investments at Index include DataSnipper, who supercharge auditors; Remote, a platform to hire, manage and pay global teams; Multiverse, the company bringing apprenticeships into the digital age; and Fonoa, tax technology for global businesses.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:03:02 Debunking Myths About European Startups04:48 Scaling Through Chaos: Research Insights06:59 The Importance of Talent in Startup Growth08:53 Navigating Founder Dynamics and Team Evolution09:45 The Rise of Breakout Founders 17:15 AI's Impact on Professional Services23:05 The Role of AI in Modern Startups27:57 The Future of Remote Work in Venture Capital29:34 The Future of Remote Companies30:13 Navigating US Investor Expectations31:54 Hannah Seale's Journey to Venture Capital35:11 The Venture Capital Apprenticeship36:37 Inside Index Ventures: Culture and Growth38:05 The Investment Decision Process42:26 Global Presence and Knowledge Sharing45:03 The Importance of US Market Insight48:48 Building a Unique Company Culture50:31 Advice for Founders on Fundraising

Welcome to a new episode of our special series, At The Cap Table.Today, Sarah Finegan, Senior Investor at Antler has a discussion with Nicola McClafferty, Partner at Molten Ventures. Molten Ventures, formerly Draper Esprit, is a venture capital firm investing in high-growth technology companies with global ambitions, with offices in London and Dublin. Molten is publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange and takes flexible and patient capital to invest across primary, secondary, and fund funds. Molten invests ~$200 million a year across Seed - Series B stage companies with ~$2 billion AUM.Nicola spent 5 years as a venture capital investor with Balderton Capital and media consultancy Ravensbeck, focusing on early-stage technology and digital consumer investments. She graduated from University College Dublin with a degree in International Business and French.In this episode of *At The Cap Table*, Nicola will share her insights and experiences in a dynamic and wide-ranging discussion. We’ll dive into Nicola's personal journey, her work at Molten Ventures, and her industry expertise, offering a mix of personal and business insights. Stay tuned for an engaging and informative conversation!Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:00:14 Meet Nicola McClafferty00:32 Nicola's Unique Career Path03:40 Early Career in Investment Banking05:01 Transition to Venture Capital07:34 Building and Scaling a Business08:00 Challenges and Exit Strategy08:34 Return to Venture Capital09:00 Key Learnings as a Founder09:39 Empathy and Understanding Founders11:20 State of Entrepreneurship in Europe15:38 Excitement About the Irish Market19:00 Molten Ventures' Unique Model24:59 Trends in Pre-Seed and Seed Stage28:53 Focus on Consumer Software and AI33:57 Advice for Founders: Zero to One39:00 Final Thoughts and Personal Insights

Join us as Tom Wilson from Seedcamp and Anthony Danon from Cocoa talk to Dorothy Chou, Director of Policy & Public Engagement at DeepMind.Dorothy shares her journey from working at major tech companies to becoming an angel investor. She raises the importance of diversity in the startup ecosystem, particularly in supporting underrepresented founders. Dorothy highlights the need for a systemic change in venture capital and how her experiences have shaped her investment strategy. She also discusses AI's potential for driving social change and innovation.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:01:45 Dorothy's Journey to Angel Investing 03:12 Focusing on Diversity in Founding Teams03:38 Venturing into Women's Health03:56 Challenges in Women's Health Investment05:23 First Angel Investment Experience05:54 Success Stories and Notable Investments06:25 The Power of Public Procurement08:09 Leveraging Networks in Angel Investing09:29 The Importance of Access and Diversity09:54 Backing Underrepresented Founders19:40 The Role of Relational Competence21:35 AI's Impact on Science and Society22:43 Public-Private Partnerships in AI26:35 Core Learnings in Angel Investing35:09 Counterintuitive Insights in Investing

Today, we welcome the amazing duo Salomon Aiach, co-founder & General Partner, and Blaise Matuidi, General Partner from Origins Fund.Origins is a new type of venture capital fund backing legendary consumer founders with an unfair advantage from pre-seed to series A. They invest $100k to $500k in consumer tech startups and come with the power of influence of LP’s community and their 160,000,000 followers.We invite you to listen to this discussion below for some inspiring stories; besides the actionable advice, you can have a sneak peek at the below.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:00:02:05 - From Athlete to Investor00:04:13 - Starting your first investment journey00:06:18 - The Journey into Venture00:07:59 - Adding Value as a GP at a Fund00:09:53 - Strength in Numbers00:12:00 - Angel Investing for Athletes00:14:10 - Changing Landscape of the Sports World00:16:09 - The Glamour and Resilience of Successful Entrepreneurs00:19:38 - Investing in Mental Health and Education00:21:36 - The Mental Challenges of High Performance00:23:42 - Raising Awareness for Mental Health00:25:23 - The Impact of Supportive Individuals and Entities in Entrepreneurship00:27:44 - The Influence of Soloman on Entrepreneurs00:29:35 - The Challenges of Consumer Investing00:31:31 - Investing in Consumer Companies in Europe00:33:26 - The Importance of Building the Best Team00:35:49 - Trust and Accessibility in the Industry

In this episode of the EUVC podcast, Andreas and our in-house CVC expert Jeppe Høier discuss venture capital with Gina Domanig, Managing Partner at Emerald Technology Ventures.Gina Domanig is the Managing Partner of Emerald Technology Ventures. In 2000, she founded the business as Europe's first independent cleantech venture capital fund. In addition to Emerald activities, Gina serves on the boards of Die Mobiliar and the Basel Agency for Sustainable Energy (BASE) Foundation.In today’s conversation, Gina shares insights on how they landed their first corporate LPs and the challenges of engaging with startups. She also emphasizes the importance of technical depth, thorough due diligence, and being supportive and constructive in the startup ecosystem.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:02:25 Gina's Journey in Venture Capital03:11 Emerald's Focus on Sustainability and Industrial Technologies04:08 Flex Term Structure and Corporate Engagement06:56 Challenges and Innovations in Corporate Partnerships13:48 Leveraging AI and LLMs in Venture Capital16:58 Insights on Corporate Venture Capital28:43 Corporate Culture and Specialist Roles29:07 Managing Corporate Partnerships29:33 Investment Process and Portfolio Management30:26 Corporate Co-Investment and Follow-On Rounds32:04 Branding and Transparency in CVC32:52 CVC Team Dynamics and Responsibilities35:48 Navigating LP Conversations36:46 Corporate Venture Programs and Team Structure38:16 Corporate Relationships and Conflict of Interest49:43 Balancing Corporate and VC Worlds

In this episode of the EUVC podcast, Andreas discusses with David Meiborg, General Partner at First Momentum Ventures.First Momentum Ventures, with their €30M fund, specializes in backing deeply technical founders at the pre-seed stage. Their focus spans deep tech, industrial climate tech, dev tools, data, and enterprise SaaS across the DACH region and beyond.In today’s discussion, David introduces us to the Deep Tech Hardware Napkin framework they recently launched, which includes the latest benchmarks on funding, team, product, and commercialization, broken down by stage. The Napkin and full report are based on a survey completed by 30 DeepTech VCs from 8 countries.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:00:02 Meet David Marburg from First Momentum Ventures00:28 Deep Tech Heartware Napkin05:48 Deep Tech Napkin Collaboration06:17 Inspiration and Data Sourcing09:34 Deep Tech Hardware Napkin Breakdown10:54 Pre-Seed Stage Insights14:18 Seed Stage Insights16:40 Series A Insights24:07 Series B Insights26:59 Founding Teams and Commercial Savviness35:46 Technology and Product Stages44:12 Tech Maturity and Valuation49:06 Common Hardware Business Models

Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC podcast, where our good friends Dan Bowyer and Mads Jensen from SuperSeed cover recent news and movements in the European tech landscape 💬Go to eu.vc to read the core take-aways.Chapters:00:06 Microsoft's Nuclear Energy Plans00:13 Energy Context in Europe00:22 UK's Energy Challenges02:34 Three Mile Island and Energy Needs06:24 UK's Energy Strategy 09:18 Amazon's Office Return Policy11:37 Chip Manufacturing in the UAE13:56 Future of AI by 203014:57 Healthcare and AI16:27 AGI and AI's Impact on Jobs18:33 Telegram's Privacy Concessions20:26 Mark Zuckerberg's Orion Glasses21:48 Neuralink and Future Interfaces25:44 Foundations Paper on UK Stagnation

In this episode of the EUVC podcast, Andreas discusses with Fatou Diagne, Founder and Managing Partner at Bootstrap Europe.Bootstrap Europe is a venture investment firm currently raising the fourth fund, aiming for €350-400M, after closing Fund III with €157M. With €250M in assets under management, Bootstrap Europe is headquartered across London, Luxembourg, and Zurich.Bootstrap Europe targets companies in the post-Series A+ or Series B stage—those with venture capital already on their cap table, solid KPIs, or valuable patents and assets in place. The firm’s sweet spot? European HQ’d companies, or those with European founders or VCs, with an upcoming allocation to support U.S. expansions. They even have 10% of their fund reserved for other exciting regions, like Africa.Bootstrap Europe specializes in geeky, transformative sectors: Deeptech, Life Sciences, Cleantech, Fintech, and SaaS, and some of their notable investments are:Scandit (Swiss Unicorn) in Machine VisionBlueprint Genetics (exited investment, Finnish tech used by Quest Diag during COVID - 1 of 2 largest labs in US)Telensa: largest installed base of smart city lighting wordlwide, bought by SignifyRecent undisclosed exciting investments in robotics, AI healthcare, foodtech, RNA techGo to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:00:03 Meet Fatou Diagne and Bootstrap Europe00:26 Bootstrap Europe's Investment Focus 01:25 Diving Deep with Fatou: Trends and Growth02:51 The Origin of Bootstrap Europe04:11 Venture Debt vs. Venture Capital11:11 The Collapse of Silicon Valley Bank20:27 The Role of Venture Debt in Europe28:29 Sector Focus: Life Sciences and AI36:45 Momentum in Business and Financing37:00 Regional Preferences in Venture Debt38:16 Germany: Cultural Challenges and Progress 39:17 Spain: A Unique Venture Debt Market40:43 Nordics and European Investment Bank47:33 Macroeconomic Influence on Venture Debt54:05 Innovative Financing Structures56:54 Future Predictions for Venture Debt01:02:09 AI's Impact on Venture Debt and Beyond

Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC podcast, where our good friends Dan Bowyer and Mads Jensen from SuperSeed, in a discussion with Monik Pham, Founding Partner at Pact, cover recent news and movements in the European tech landscape 💬Go to eu.vc to read the core take-aways.Chapters:00:05 Today's Agenda02:18 Monique's Background and PACT Ventures03:14 AI Startup 11X Moves to the US03:48 Challenges for European Startups07:44 Interest Rate Cuts in the US09:56 Impact of US Economic Policies on Europe10:56 UK's Economic Challenges and Labor's Plan12:10 Government's Role in Supporting Startups15:47 Germany's Investment in Startups20:01 EU's First Commissioner for Startups21:04 Addressing Fragmentation in the EU Market26:47 Proxies for Economic Health28:41 Opportunities in Economic Downturns29:56 The Role of AI in Business34:18 Balancing Technology and Regulation35:13 Closing Thoughts on AI Regulation36:44 Conclusion and Farewell

In this episode of the EUVC podcast, Andreas discusses how we prepared a new panel discussion with our in-house CVC expert and friend, Jeppe Høier, and his guests.Francesco Di Lorenzo is an Associate Professor of Strategy and E-ship at Copenhagen Business School (Department of Strategy and Innovation), where he is actively involved in research and teaching topics related to Corporate Venturing.Crispin Leick is the Managing Director at EnBW New Ventures, where he leads the company's corporate venture capital (CVC) efforts. Based in Germany, EnBW New Ventures focuses on investing in innovative startups that drive digital and sustainable infrastructure, with a particular emphasis on climate tech.With a committed €100M fund, they target Series A investments across Europe. Their portfolio includes notable investments in ESG and carbon-focused startups like Sunhat and Cozero and key players in the battery rollout space such as Enspired and Volytica.In today’s panel discussion, we’re exploring all things corporate venture capital (CVC)—from the best ways to engage with CVCs to how to effectively set them up and the key strategies that drive success. We’re also digging into the dynamics of collaboration between traditional venture capital, CVCs, and the corporate world.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:00:03 Meet the Guests: Francesco, Crispin, and Jeppe 04:50 Understanding Corporate Venture Capital06:02 CVC Strategies and Models09:22 Challenges and Successes in CVC13:50 The Importance of Financial Returns in CVC18:12 Setting Up a Successful CVC44:12 Measuring Startup Growth45:02 Importance of Gross Margin45:20 Investment Strategies in B2B Digital Models45:49 Challenges and Benefits of Seed Investments46:37 Strategic Corporate Investments48:01 Commercial Agreements and Conflicts of Interest53:50 Engagement Management in Corporates01:00:56 Governance Structures in CVC01:14:42 Evergreen Model in CVC01:18:14 Future Trends in CVC

In this episode of the EUVC podcast, Andreas discusses with Will Prendergast, Partner at Frontline Ventures.With ~€435M in assets under management, Frontline Ventures is a venture investment firm that operates two distinct funds:Frontline Seed: A €100M fund targeting pre-seed and seed-stage European companies with clear U.S. expansion intentions.Frontline Growth: A €100M fund focusing on Series B up to D in U.S. companies planning to expand to Europe within 12-18 months.Frontline Ventures, headquartered in Ireland, specializes in B2B SaaS and Deeptech sectors. The firm's position allows it to bridge the gap between European and U.S. markets, providing valuable support for companies looking to expand across the Atlantic in either direction.As a Partner at Frontline Ventures, Will Prendergast offers us a distinctive perspective on European and U.S. venture landscapes. His insights on early-stage investing in Europe and growth-stage opportunities for U.S. companies expanding to Europe are sure to be valuable for anyone interested in transatlantic venture capital's current state and future.Notable investments: Workvivo (acquired by Zoom), SignalAI, Finbourne, Lattice, MosaicML (acquired by Databricks), Navan.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:00:03 Meet Will Prendergast of Frontline Ventures00:06 Frontline Ventures' Dual Strategy00:51 Notable Investments and Achievements02:47 Welcoming Will Prendergast03:57 Frontline's Unique Approach to Seed and Growth04:41 The Importance of U.S. Market for European VCs05:44 Challenges and Strategies in U.S. Market Entry11:01 LP Perspectives and Fund Strategies37:25 Navigating Series A and B Funding38:09 Engaging US Investors39:16 Importance of US Customer Base39:29 Choosing the Right US City for Expansion41:37 Building a US Team 43:40 Common Mistakes in US Market Entry48:04 Impact of the Pandemic on US Expansion53:08 Differences in US and European Business Practices55:12 Remote Work Trends and Performance57:46 Personal Journey into Venture Capital

Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC podcast, where we’ll cover recent news and movements in the European tech landscape with Dan Bowyer and Mads Jensen from SuperSeed.Go to eu.vc to read the core take-aways.Chapters:00:36 Meet Andrew Scott: Investor and Community Builder01:35 The Value of Events for Investors and Founders03:20 Insights from Tech Barbecue in Copenhagen05:05 Highlights from the All In Conference06:15 Inspiration and Serendipity at Conferences11:22 The Role of Politics in Business Inspiration15:35 DeepMind's Alphaproteo: A Breakthrough in Protein Binders17:50 Implications for the European Ecosystem18:08 Future Opportunities in Biotech and AI18:40 Introduction to Investment Focus18:50 AI in Drug Discovery 20:01 Efficiency and Productivity in Health and Pharma20:18 Mario Draghi on European Competitiveness21:23 Challenges in European Innovation22:25 UK and EU Collaboration24:33 Regulatory Frameworks and Innovation27:03 Government Strategy and Short-termism34:11 AI in Healthcare and Spaceports36:48 Future of SaaS and AI Integration

In this episode of the EUVC podcast, Andreas discusses with Tzlil Kovetz, Principal at Vintage Investment Partners.With $4B in assets under management, Vintage Investment Partners is a global investment fund that focuses on three distinct strategies:A fund-to-fund play targeting early-stage VCs across Europe, the U.S., and Israel;A growth fund for early growth companies (typically Series B and beyond);A secondary fund invests in both funds and companies at various stages.Vintage Investment Partners invests across all sectors and has made notable investments in companies like Wolt, Klarna, Mirakl, SentinelOne, Monday, JFrog, Yotpo, Holidu, and many others. In the European fund investment space, they've backed top-tier firms such as Accel, Creandum, PointNine, Seedcamp, BlueYard, and others.Tzlil offers a unique perspective evaluating trends in both the European and U.S. venture markets. Her insights are sure to be valuable for anyone interested in the current state and future of VC.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:03:14 Vintage's Global Investment Perspective06:22 The European Venture Ecosystem13:51 Fund Size Evolution in European VC16:36 The State of the Venture Market in 202419:32 Impact of Geopolitical Events on VC25:07 Opportunities in Venture Capital26:09 Early Stage Gap in Europe26:56 Market Adjustments and Seed Valuations28:10 Challenges in Series A and B Rounds33:18 Exit Markets Overview35:33 European IPO Pipeline38:58 Personal Journey into Venture Capital41:00 Vintage Investment Strategies46:26 Future of FinTech in Europe51:02 Top Tips for VC Fundraising

In this episode of the EUVC podcast, Andreas discusses with Andrea Di Camillo, Founder, CEO & Managing Partner at P101.P101 is one of the most well-known players in the Italian VC landscape and has established a strong position in early-stage investing. Currently, on its third fund, which raised €250M, P101 manages a total assets under management (AUM) of €400M.Headquartered in Italy, the firm focuses primarily on Series A investments, with 70% of their portfolio in Italy and the remaining 30% spread across Europe and the United States. P101's investment strategy spans a diverse range of sectors, including enterprise software, deep tech, health tech, fintech, energy, transportation, and food tech.Notable Investments: 1000Farmacie, Casavo, Cortilia, CyberGuru, Deporvillage, FatMap, Habyt, Musixmatch, Musement, Tannico, VelascaGo to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:00:25 P101's Investment Focus and Notable Investments02:46 The Origins of P10104:57 Italy's Journey to Becoming a Global Tech Player06:12 Challenges and Opportunities in the Italian VC Ecosystem12:02 The Role of Corporates and Private Wealth in Italian VC23:40 Investment Strategies and Fund Management at P10135:28 The Media's Role in Venture Capital36:26 Challenges in Italian Venture Capital37:02 The Importance of Narrative in VC38:11 Highlighting European Venture Success41:41 The Impact of Past Investments45:59 Leveraging AI and Big Data in VC53:52 The Evolution of Venture Capital56:59 A Personal Journey in Venture Capital01:04:28 The Growth of the Italian Tech Ecosystem01:05:43 Closing Remarks and Future Prospects

Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC podcast, where we’ll cover recent news and movements in the European tech landscape with Dan Bowyer and Mads Jensen from SuperSeed.Go to eu.vc to read the core take-aways.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to European Adventure01:07 SuperSaaS Event Overview 02:10 Corporate Relationships and Communication02:51 The Value of Mission-Driven Companies03:35 Upcoming Super SAS Event 04:03 Positive Global Trends06:04 Technological Impact on Society06:39 Democracy and Technology 07:48 AI Regulation Treaty09:45 Privacy and Competitive Concerns in AI 11:20 The Future of AI Regulation15:55 Energy Revolution and AI17:24 Central Bank Digital Currency18:12 Implications of Digital Euro22:06 Founder Mode vs. Manager Mode23:25 Traits of Successful Founders25:33 Mission-Driven Leadership29:34 Immigration and Economic Growth

In this episode of the EUVC podcast, Andreas discusses with Robert Lacher, a Founding Partner of Visionaries Club. Robert's journey in VC is impressive. He was also one of the Founding Partners of La Famiglia when they launched their first fund, and he's since gone on to make waves with Visionaries Club. Let's talk numbers for a moment:Visionaries Club currently manages a total of $350 million USD$185 million seed fund$165 million early growth fundHeadquartered in both Germany and the UK, with offices in London and Berlin, Visionaries Club has strategically positioned itself at the heart of Europe's tech ecosystem. Their focus? Seed and early growth stages, particularly in the B2B and software sectors. Robert’s investments include Personio, Choco, Miro, Pigment, Tacto, and Babbel, just to name a few.Today, we'll dive deep into Robert's strategy, exploring why they've structured their funds the way they have, and getting his insights on the European VC landscape. Get ready for an enlightening conversation that will leave you with a new appreciation for the intricacies of venture capital in Europe. So, without further ado, let's welcome Robert Lacher to the show!Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:00:03 Meet Robert Lacker: Founding Partner of Visionaries Club00:14 Visionaries Club: Fund Size and Focus03:13 Robert's Journey into Venture Capital04:14 Connecting Old and New Economies08:48 The Role of Family Entrepreneurs in Innovation18:17 Visionaries Club's Unique Approach28:53 Challenges and Opportunities in European VC36:51 Introduction to S16 VC and Its Impact37:28 Upcoming Content Collaboration with S16 VC38:03 Key Learnings from the Last Decade39:04 The Ikigai Framework for Passion and Profession41:02 Overcoming Setbacks and Failures42:54 Networking and Learning in Venture Capital45:14 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs47:52 The Importance of Risk-Taking57:21 Local vs. Pan-European VC Strategies01:01:38 Manufacturing Serendipity in Venture Capital

Kicking off our efforts to further connect the European VC and Corporate world, we’re talking to our in-house CVC expert and friend Jeppe Høier, uncovering his biggest learnings in CVC, how he thinks about corporates as LPs and the key trends he thinks will impact the industry going forward.Jeppe Høier is a long-time corporate venturing specialist and former partner at Maersk Growth with more than 80 MUSD invested for a multiple of 3.6x with massive breakout Einride in the portfolio.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:00:25 Bridging the Gap Between VC and Corporate Worlds02:00 The Growing Importance of CVC02:28 Jeppe's Journey into Venture Capital03:12 Joining Maersk Growth05:00 Maersk Growth: Early Days and Challenges08:03 Strategic Shifts and Direct Investments11:10 Case Studies and Early Investments18:18 Strategic vs Financial Motives in CVC19:18 Challenges and Misconceptions in CVC25:24 Hiring Talent for CVC Teams27:47 Diligence in CVC Partnerships39:15 Corporate Climbing and Collaboration42:08 Corporate LP Investing 45:08 Trends in CVC in Europe47:28 Conclusion and Future Episodes

Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC podcast, where we’ll cover recent news and movements in the European tech landscape with Dan Bowyer and Mads Jensen from SuperSeed.Go to eu.vc to read the core take-aways.Chapters:02:45 Telegram CEO Arrested in France03:35 Debate on Free Speech and Responsibility04:07 Balancing Security and Privacy07:58 The Role of Mega Firms in VC12:36 UK Budget and Its Impact on Startups13:44 Potential Tax Changes and Their Implications15:26 Comparing Economic Strategies: UK vs. US16:50 The Need for Bold Economic Moves19:42 Cancer Vaccines and Medical Innovations21:12 AI and Personalized Medicine23:24 AI Regulation and Its Impact on Europe26:39 Germany's Economic Challenges and Renewable Energy28:17 The Future of Nuclear Energy in Germany29:58 Agentic Workflows: The Future of AI in Business31:27 Microservices and Autonomous Agents32:24 Productivity Enhancements in Corporates32:34 Closing Thoughts on AI and Business

In this episode of the EUVC podcast, Andreas discusses with Christoph Klink, a Partner at Antler.He draws on his background as a Business Angel and Partner with McKinsey & Company. Before joining Antler, he served a range of leading technology organizations, amongst others in the mobility and transportation space, on disruptive strategy and building innovative business models. Building and nurturing top-talent organizations is one of his key passions and a great source of inspiration for Christoph.Christoph is at the forefront of early-stage investing, and we're thrilled to have him share his insights with us. Christoph is investing out of Antler's first Continental European fund, which has an impressive 60M EUR AUM. What sets Antler apart is their focus on investing and supporting startups from "day zero" to Series C.In today's episode, we're diving deep into a topic that Cristoph has studied recently: The Rise of the European Technical Founder. Christoph will share some insights from their recent report, and why Antler is doubling down on this area and how it could be a game-changer for European tech.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:00:02 Meet Christophe Klink from Antler Continental Europe00:13 Antler's Investment Focus and Portfolio00:44 The Importance of Technical Founders in Europe03:12 Christophe's Recent Study on Technical Founders04:15 Challenges in Building European Tech Giants06:54 The Rise of Technical Founders in Europe21:30 Antler's Approach to Founder Team Composition26:09 The Role of Generalists and Specialists in Startups28:53 Finding the Right Co-Founder29:13 Recap of Core Learnings29:48 European Tech Giants Dilemma29:54 Rise of Technical Founders31:14 Meet Christoph: The Investor33:23 Antler's Work Ethic and Culture36:48 Challenges of Building Antler38:24 Olympic Medalists vs. Unicorn Founders40:35 Top Lessons in Venture Capital 47:16 Advice for Emerging VCs

AI is not just a buzzword; it's a force that's transforming industries across the board.This is why we have brought together Europe’s top tech minds for a roundtable discussion that will provide an inside look at the most significant trends and investment strategies, helping you stay ahead of the curve.Our guests:Sam Cash, Founding Partner, Entropy Industrial CapitalEric Truebenbach, Managing Director, Teradyne Robotics VenturesClaude Ritter, Managing Partner, Cavalry VenturesThe discussion begins with an overview of what AI in this context actually means, followed by a deep dive into whether the buzz around AI’s impact on both white-collar and blue-collar jobs is more hype or genuine reality. With insights from leading VCs, the conversation will also show how investors approach AI in these industries, showcasing notable companies and the strategic interests driving their investment decisions.Additionally, the event will discuss the European investment landscape for AI, weighing the strengths, opportunities, and challenges unique to this region, offering a clear picture of where the continent stands in the global AI race.Chapters:06:23 Defining AI in the Physical World08:20 Applications and Impact of AI in the Physical World12:48 Challenges in AI Deployment22:26 Transitioning to AI-Enabled Robotics29:13 Overcoming Obstacles in AI and Robotics33:27 Investor Landscape in Europe34:08 AI's Impact on the Physical World36:34 Challenges for Generalist Investors38:55 The Future of AI and Robotics43:13 Investment Strategies and Risks45:35 Emerging Trends in AI57:26 Europe's Position in Robotics01:04:13 Closing Thoughts and Future Outlook

The Seed: Weekly Tech & VC Roundup This week on The Seed:Featuring insights from Alex McDonald (Sequel.co), Mads Jensen (SuperSeed), and Andreas (EUVC). Join us for a deep dive into the latest in tech, startups, and venture capital.Chapters:00:00 - Intro and welcome01:14 - Launch of The Seed podcast collaboration05:14 - UK rejects EU youth mobility scheme: Missed opportunity or political maneuvering? Mads and Alex discuss the implications for talent and investment.10:02 - AI fears on the rise: 56% of US firms now see AI as a potential risk. Alex argues against heavy-handed regulation, while Mads considers the need for oversight.18:42 - California's proposed AI regulation: Discussing potential liability for model developers.23:15 - Startup shutdowns up 60%: Alex provides context, suggesting it's part of a natural cycle following increased startup formation in 2021-2022.25:33 - The "silent VC recession": Examining the recent 0.4% return in Q4 2023 after a two-year drought. Mads explains the industry's need to adjust to new realities.31:54 - The value of patience in VC: Alex shares insights on why funds optimizing for quick returns often underperform in the long run.36:22 - UK AI funding controversy: Discussing Labour's decision to scrap a £1.3B Conservative AI initiative.

We're excited to announce our investment in Silicon Roundabout Ventures, a £5 million SuperAngel Deep Tech pre/seed fund by Francesco Perticarari.Backing Silicon Roundabout Ventures is a bet on Francesco. We’ve known Francesco for three years now and following his journey, unwavering hustle and community grow has been an inspiration. Francesco brings a strong technical background as a former CTO/Lead Software Engineer at deep tech startups and the University of London and has made 15 angel investments, 12 of which are within Deep Tech/Big Data and are progressing well.We love Francesco for his community-driven approach leveraging his community of 15,000+ founders and engineers, built through more than 600 deep tech meetup events held in London since 2011. As an example of the opportunity this community presents, the 26 pitch competition winners from 2016 - 2020 have a combined enterprise value of £6.3 billion. The ecosystem Francesco has built around himself and plugged the fund into clearly provides unique access for SRV.Francesco and the team at Silicon Roundabout Ventures invest in "Next-Generation technology startups" across five categories:Technical: Leveraging in-house science and engineering expertiseInfrastructural: Solving large-scale global problems at the infrastructure levelDefensible: Building fundamental hardware or low-level software with strong IPTrend-Setting: Disrupting industries with 1B+ revenue potential in 10+ yearsGlobal Impact: Addressing key challenges in Computing, Climate, Health, and DefenseWith this investment, we cement and announce to the world that we believe Silicon Roundabout Ventures is well-positioned to build one of Europe’s new truly meaningful deep tech firms. If you'd like an intro to Francesco, don't hesitate to reach out 💌Chapters:02:32 Francesco's Journey into Venture Capital03:27 Building Silicon Roundabout Ventures05:50 Defining Deep Tech08:20 Challenges of Being a Solo GP15:58 Leveraging Community for Investment Success20:44 The Origin and Growth of the Tech Meetup Community27:06 Impact and Achievements of the Community29:02 Understanding Enterprise Value29:09 Challenges of Raising a Fund30:18 Angel Investing and Fund Commitments31:11 Evaluating Early-Stage Companies32:08 The AI Investment Landscape33:01 Sector-Specific AI Investments33:51 Fund Size and Investment Strategy36:51 Deep Tech and Emerging Sectors43:24 Fund Economics and Allocation Strategy50:11 Vision for Silicon Roundabout Ventures

In this episode of the EUVC podcast, we prepared a new panel discussion with our friend Tom McGinn, General Counsel at Northzone. We’ve been looking forward to having a conversation on this topic for a long time, especially after Generative AI gained traction. So, without too much ado, let’s dive into all things LegalTech.We are joined by:Zach Posner, Co-Founder & Managing Director at The LegalTech Fund, a dedicated investor across the globe that focuses on the legal community and companies transforming the world of law.Shruthi Ajitzaria, Partner at A&O Shearman, a former derivatives lawyer, who about seven years ago, launched Fuse, an incubator focused on LegalTech.Nnamdi Emelifeonwu, CEO & Co-Founder at Definely, a LegalTech company that provides a unified solution for lawyers by simplifying access and understanding of legal documents.The discussion centers on the evolving legal tech industry, highlighting the importance of bridging legal and tech expertise, understanding customer pain points, and creating strong user experiences. It also addresses the role of AI, particularly language models, in shaping the future of legal tech while noting the challenges posed by regulatory constraints and the differences between the European and US legal tech markets.Chapters:03:46 Defining Legal Tech04:47 Legal Tech as a Vertical vs. Horizontal08:58 The Evolution of Legal Tech10:44 Legal Tech's Growing Market11:31 Legal Tech Landscape Map16:08 Generative AI in Legal Tech17:11 Challenges and Opportunities in Legal Tech23:21 Future of Legal Tech28:57 The Ideal Legal Tech Entrepreneur29:52 Importance of Legal and Product Knowledge32:58 Challenges in Legal Tech48:09 Regulatory Constraints and Opportunities51:18 Legal Tech in Europe vs. the US57:15 The Impact of Deregulation58:32 Closing Thoughts on Legal Tech

The latest episode of Startups in Focus features Leonid Feinberg, founder of Verax, a Seedcamp-backed company that provides enterprise-grade trust solutions for generative AI. Having a strong background in security and cloud services, including a previous company acquired by Amazon, Leonid shares insights on managing AI-related risks and offers practical advice for future customers regarding AI's potential and trust management.In conversation with Seedcamp’s Managing Director Carlos Espinal, he delves into the challenges and solutions associated with deploying generative AI in production. He also explains how Verax's Control Center helps enterprises gain visibility and mitigate risks by analyzing and modifying AI responses in real-time. Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Today's Guest: Leonid Feinberg, Co-founder and CEO of Verax00:53 Leonid's Background and Journey to Founding Verax01:33 Understanding Verax: Enterprise Trust Solution for Generative AI02:48 Architectural Insights: Rolling Out LLMs in Enterprises05:02 Challenges and Best Practices in AI Deployment08:01 Future of AI and Data Management12:16 Verax's Role in Enterprise AI Trust18:39 Geopolitics and AI: Global Implications26:15 Advice for future AI Customers28:21 Conclusion

For today’s episode of the EUVC podcast, we have prepared a panel discussion on Data Driven Portfolio Modelling, and we brought together:Joel Larsson, Founding GP of Pale blue dotJon Coker, Founding GP of Eka VenturesJoe Schorge, Founding GP of Isomer CapitalAnubhav Srivastava, Founder & CEO of Tactyc.Together, we discuss portfolio modeling, fund forecasting, and portfolio construction, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a current fund forecast and making adjustments based on real-world market conditions.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:08:29 Best Practices in Portfolio Modeling10:03 Maintaining a Dynamic Fund Forecast12:05 Challenges in Portfolio Construction32:51 Debating Portfolio Concentration39:40 Sector-Specific Strategies and Risks42:24 Portfolio Construction Insights43:01 Examples of Portfolio Construction44:27 Fundraising Challenges and Realities47:23 Tracking Fund Progress49:50 Evaluating Portfolio Companies52:32 Qualitative vs Quantitative Metrics01:08:20 Scenario Analysis and Reserves01:11:00 Optimizing Reserves01:25:59 Closing Remarks and Takeaways

In this episode of the EUVC podcast, Andreas talks with Christian Dorffer, Founder and General Partner of Defiance Capital, about The Unicorn Founders DNA report that Christian and his team recently published.Defiance Capital is a €25M fund based in London focused on investments at the pre-seed stage. They invest in sectors like enterprise AI for companies based in Europe and the US. The report reveals that a significant number of unicorn founders are immigrants and women, challenging the traditional criteria used by venture capitalists to evaluate founders. The conversation also discusses the challenges faced by underrepresented founders in raising capital and the need for a more sophisticated approach to identifying and backing non-obvious founders.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:02:41 Deep Dive into the Unicorn Founders DNA Report03:08 Christian's Background and Investment Philosophy06:07 Core Findings of the DNA Report06:50 European vs. US Unicorn Founders09:09 Challenges Faced by Female Founders13:38 VCs' Approach to Diverse Teams15:45 Christian's Investment Strategy17:02 Opportunities for Non-Obvious Founders23:11 Defiant Capital's Operational Model26:38 Christian Dorfer's Personal Journey39:53 Advice for Young Entrepreneurs and VCs48:17 Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts

In this episode of the EUVC podcast, David discusses with Chris Wade, Founding Partner at Isomer Capital.David and Chris discuss the current sentiment in the European venture capital ecosystem. They touch on topics such as VC sentiment, comparisons to previous years, LP appetite, the potential IPOs of Revolut and Klarna, the rise of AI and semiconductor companies, and the geopolitical and economic uncertainties affecting the industry.Chris also reflects on the positive and negative developments in 2024 and the importance of humanity prevailing over negative forces.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:01:19 VC Sentiment in 202402:36 Comparing 2021 and 202404:01 European Venture Capital Landscape05:00 The Power Law in Venture Capital11:06 Emerging Managers and AI13:26 The Importance of Exits23:58 The Semiconductor Renaissance27:39 Global Political Climate and Its Impact30:31 Predictions and Reflections31:40 Standing by Predictions32:45 Interest Rates and M&A34:48 AI's Impact on Venture Capital38:49 Regulation and Ethics of AI46:51 Geopolitical Tensions and Defense Tech57:53 Personal Growth in 202401:01:12 The End of Mega Funds Era

This is the second of the “Startups in Focus” series, where Carlos Espinal from Seedcamp chats with Ryan Donnelly, co-founder and CEO of Enzai. Their conversation revolves around:the impact of AI as a technological revolution similar to the mobile shift, dotcom boom, and web inventionthe importance of regulations and standards in ensuring AI’s responsible use and trustworthinessthe challenges and opportunities in AI adoptionEnzai’s mission of enabling organizations to leverage AI technology effectively and responsibly, in compliance with emerging regulationsEnzai’s vision of enabling trust in AIfuture regulatory landscapes and the necessary frameworks for AI adoptionChapters:00:00 Introduction to the AI Technological Revolution00:36 Meet Ryan Donnelly: Co-founder and CEO of Enzai01:14 The Inspiration Behind Enzai02:19 Understanding Enzai’s Customers03:13 The Role of Regulations in AI05:07 The Evolution of AI Regulations10:26 The Importance of Standards in AI14:20 Enzai’s Vision for the Future15:49 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

In this episode of the EUVC podcast, Andreas discusses with Chris Wade, Founding Partner at Isomer Capital, and Travis Pittman, co-founder and CEO of TourRadar, one of the finalists in the Achievement of the Year category at this year’s European VC Awards.TourRadar is an Organized Adventure Platform, offering the world’s largest selection of multi-day adventures worldwide. TourRadar’s online platform seamlessly connects travelers and travel agents with 2,500 multi-day operators, offering 50,000 adventures in more than 160 countries globally.Travis has raised $60m of capital from Speedinvest, Hoxton Ventures, and Cherry Ventures and, in 2018, raised a C round led by Technology Crossover Ventures (TCV). Isomer Capital and LGT also joined this round. The company’s GMV grew to 9 figures in 2019, then 2020 started very well with all-time high monthly revenues until Feb 2020 when Covid hit revenues went negative as customers asked for their money back as they were unable to travel.To ensure the business's survival, they made significant cuts to their workforce and reduced salaries. Travis emphasized the importance of transparency in communication during uncertain times. Despite the difficulties, TourRadar was able to recover and is now back at a revenue level above pre-COVID levels and more profitable. They have also expanded their product offerings, particularly in the payments and affiliate networks areas.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:00:00 Introduction and Background of TourRadar10:49 Pre-COVID Success and Funding Journey15:06 Understanding and Improving Unit Economics23:50 Prioritizing Customer Support and Making Difficult Decisions26:14 Adapting and Navigating Through the Crisis36:00 Transparency and Communication in Uncertain Times40:13 Expanding Product Offerings: Payments and Affiliate Networks48:14 The Future of TourRadar: Mobile App Development and Search Experience53:44 Prioritizing Mental Health and the Role of Supportive Investors

In this episode of the EUVC podcast, Andreas discusses with - Mikhail Taver, Founder and Managing Partner of Taver Capital II, with a target fund size of $20M.Taver Capital is a fund based on Delaware, US, focused on early-stage global AI startups from the industrial sector. They have already invested in companies like Earth AI, MSQRD (acquired by Facebook), ID R&D (acquired by Mitek), and Sayana (acquired by Headspace).In this conversation, Andreas discusses with Mikhail his experience in robotics and AI investing, the potential of AI in various industries, the challenges of communication between startups and corporations, the impact of regulation on technological progress, and the importance of education and networking in fundraising. They also touch on the topic of mentors and the need for founders to find their own path.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:00:12 Tavar Capital II: Focus and Investments03:34 Passion for Robotics and AI03:53 Mikhail's Journey into Robotics and AI06:36 AI in Industry: Early Examples08:11 Earth AI: A Success Story08:47 Predictive Maintenance and More09:28 VC Metrics of Success11:07 Challenges in Industry Disruption12:09 Communication Gaps Between Startups and Corporations15:07 GP-LP Dynamics in Venture Capital18:24 Communication Gaps Between Startups and VCs21:19 Working with Generalist VCs23:04 Regulation and Technological Progress31:45 Advice for Emerging VCs and Founders

In this roundtable discussion, experts from European venture capital and innovation ecosystems share insights on empowering women in these fields. The conversation addressed the importance of female representation in venture capital, investment in women-led startups, women's challenges in these industries, and initiatives to support female entrepreneurs.The dialogue also touches on inclusive innovation policies, the impact of parental leave on careers, and strategies for long-term solutions to encourage more women to pursue careers in science, technology, and engineering.Our guests were:Ralitsa Zhekova, Executive Director at RAPIVDeepali Nangia, Partner at SpeedinvestIwona Cymerman, General Partner at FundingBox Deep Tech FundJone Vaituleviciute, General Partner at FIRSTPICKThe roundtable happened as part of the CO-INVESTIN project, an EU-funded project to connect our beautiful European investment ecosystems while strengthening transparency and inclusion across the ecosystem ✊.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:07:04 Inclusive Innovation Policies09:52 Challenges in Female Representation11:53 Breaking Barriers in Venture Capital21:47 High Churn Rates Among Women in Venture27:36 Strategies for Retaining Women in Venture30:57 Empowering Women in the Workplace31:58 Challenges Faced by Women and Ethnic Minorities32:06 Balancing Parenthood and Career in Venture Capital33:19 Parental Policies in Small vs. Large Funds34:07 Personal Experiences with Parental Leave36:35 The Reality of Parenthood in High-Level Careers40:02 Gender Roles and Societal Expectations43:56 The Importance of Open and Transparent Relationships51:15 Encouraging Women in STEM

Join us as Tom Wilson from Seedcamp and Anthony Danon from Cocoa talk to Sarah Harvey, Advisor at Tunic Pay.In this episode of the Super Angel podcast, Sarah Harvey discusses her career transition from strategy roles in both corporate and non-profit sectors to operating roles in startups, eventually starting her journey into angel investing.Sarah shares insights from her experiences with different startups, including Tough Mudder, Square, and Prodigy Finance, and highlights the importance of networking, the impact of her work in health tech during COVID-19, and her approach to angel investing. She also emphasizes the significance of diversity on cap tables and how her unique background adds value to the companies she invests in.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:02:30 Discovering Angel Investing03:03 First Steps in Angel Investing03:18 Bringing Experience to Angel Investing03:58 Memorable Deals and Investments04:37 The Value of Angel Investing05:25 Personal and Professional Growth05:48 Encouraging Female Angel Investors07:22 Transitioning to Investment Strategies07:44 Investment Focus and Portfolio09:04 Evaluating Founders10:04 Value Proposition to Founders11:07 Future Portfolio Development14:59 Collaboration and Networking16:48 Core Learnings from Angel Investing

n this episode of the EUVC podcast, Andreas discusses with Carlos Eduardo Espinal , Managing Partner at Seedcamp.Carlos Eduardo Espinal is a Managing Partner at Seedcamp, arguably, Europe's leading seed fund, first launched in 2007 to support European entrepreneurs truly compete on a global scale. With investments in over 460 companies including publicly listed Romanian-founded, UiPath, Wise and unicorns Revolut, wefox and Pleo. Carlos is a published author, fellow podcaster and has been on the Forbes Midas List as one of the most influential VCs in Europe for more or less as long as yours truly has been alive.In today’s discussion, we're talking about the third edition of the "Fundraising field guide" the latest startup founder's guide to all things fundraising launched by Carlos. This third edition captured a very interesting period in VC, marking the completion of VC market’s full fundraising cycle.The first edition of the book was written during the linear growth curve of the post-2008 era. The second during the “bubble” in valuations formed post-COVID where we saw large injections of capital into private markets leading to an exponential growth period for startups. This third edition covers the collapse of that “bubble”, and highlights common pitfalls you should avoid as an early-stage founder (such as taking too much money).Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:06:23 The Challenges of Access to Knowledge and Best Practices09:12 The Three Cycles of Carlos' Book13:09 The Success of VC as an Asset Class16:24 The Emergence of Many Unicorns26:18 Added Pressure on Founders to Tell Compelling Stories28:41 The Focus on Sustainable Business Models33:45 The Balancing Act: High-Growth Potential vs. Stable Business Models38:32 The Cyclical Nature of Venture Capital43:09 Creating Liquidity and Attractiveness for Companies46:20 Supporting Struggling Companies and Making Difficult Decisions49:47 The Challenges and Benefits of the Large Portfolio Model56:20 The Impact of Financing Terms and Structures01:13:39 Changing Attitudes to Tech Entrepreneurship and the Role of VCs

In this episode of the EUVC podcast, Andreas discusses with Sion Evans, Senior Investment Manager at VenCap, currently investing out of a $340M fund with $2.0bn in total AUM.VenCap was founded in 1987 and is one of the longest-established FoFs around. They are headquartered in the UK and are backing the leading Tier 1 firms from globally — with just 12 core relationships! They count 47 underlying unicorns with notable mentions being the likes of Google, Facebook, Airbnb, Coinbase, ByteDance, and Stripe.In today’s discussion, we're talking about manager selection and big versus small funds, a topic we're constantly debating on LinkedIn, as well as how Sion and Andreas thinks about fund sizing in Europe.Sion emphasizes that good funds outperform, regardless of their size, and whatever the strategy, manager selection is the most important factor in venture.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters00:11 Overview of VenCap's Investment Strategy03:13 Debating Big vs. Small Funds04:50 The Importance of Manager Selection05:42 Analyzing Fund Performance Data09:39 Fund Sizing in Europe14:46 VenCap's Global Investment Approach26:40 Fund Size and Investment Strategy27:58 Fund Sizes and Portfolio Construction28:35 Early Stage vs. Growth Stage Strategies29:02 Global Investment Approach30:08 Performance Consistency Across Strategies31:21 Risk and Return in Venture Capital32:31 Building and Maintaining Relationships35:14 Performance Dispersion in Venture Capital44:11 Secondary Investments and Strategy49:17 Reflections and Personal Insights

In this episode, we welcome Giulia Van Waeyenberge to the pod. Giulia is an experienced investor and judge in the European VC Awards and a Managing Director at Sofina Group, an investment holding company with more than 9 billion in AUM.Sofina Group is a global investor investing mainly in the Venture and Growth stages. Its sectors include digital, healthcare and life sciences, consumer, education, and sustainable supply chain sectors. Sofina has a direct investment strategy, investing from a series B/C until IPO and beyond. They also invest in venture and growth capital funds on a global basis. They invest from their balance sheet and take a long-term view. Sofina is also a shareholder in Vinted (a second-hand marketplace), Mistral AI, Cleo (an AI chatbot providing financial advice to young adults), and ByteDance.On the fund side, they have long-standing relationships with US managers where they have invested for several decades in firms like Sequoia, Iconiq, and Lightspeed. In Europe, they invested in several European GPs, some more emerging than others. In the seed stage, they have a partnership with Point Nine, Moonfire, Atlantic Labs, Seedcamp, Visionaries Club, Stride, and Hoxton. On the seed/series A stage they have invested in Blossom Capital, Singular, and Alven. On the platform side, they have in funds like Northzone, Balderton, Atomico, Dawn, and Felix Capital.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters05:49 Direct Investments and Partnerships06:16 Allocation and Investment Decision-making07:40 Investing from a Balance Sheet08:39 Investment Pace and Diversification09:08 Allocation to Venture and Growth10:44 Investing in Venture for Multiple Decades22:56 Views on the European Venture Ecosystem25:12 Maturity of the European Ecosystem28:37 US Investors' Perspective on Europe32:37 Venture in Eastern Europe33:37 Long-Term Orientation and Dealing with Challenges37:58 Shoutout to Ophelia Brown of Blossom39:25 Learnings from the Last 10 Years41:30 Tips for Emerging VCs in Fundraising42:44 Counterintuitive Lessons in Venture

In today’s episode, Andreas discusses the importance of ESG in the venture capital industry with our four guests:Henry Philipson, Director of Marketing and Communications at BeringeaAshley Brown, Sustainability Manager at AtomicoAntonia Whitecourt, Director at SeedcampGrace Savage, ESG Lead at Molten VenturesWe are talking about ESG in VC because ESG_VC recently published an analysis of ESG data collected from 587 startups backed by leading VC firms, including Atomico, Molten Ventures, Bringea, and Seedcamp. ESG_VC is a global network of more than 300 VC firms enabling start-ups to tackle ESG.Join us while diving into the value of ESG for startups, how VCs are working with founders to drive forward the sustainability agenda, and what the future of European ESG looks like. We also address the buzz surrounding ESG, emphasizing the need to focus on building well-governed and responsible businesses.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:00:34 Deep Dive into the ESG Report07:11 Importance of ESG in Startups07:36 Historical Context of ESG09:15 Operational vs. Strategic ESG10:19 Challenges and Opportunities in ESG11:14 Backlash and Misunderstandings of ESG12:32 Divergence in ESG Practices16:32 Future of ESG in European VC19:38 Materiality and Practical Implementation25:25 Carbon Footprint and Environmental Impact35:17 Diversity and Talent in Startups

Join us as Tom Wilson from Seedcamp and Anthony Danon from Cocoa talk to Cyril Chemla, co-founder at ProcessOut (acquired by checkout.com)In this episode of the Super Angel podcast, Cyril shares his inspiring journey from a school project in computer science to building a successful payment business that was acquired by Checkout.com.Cyril discusses the importance of resilience, the dynamics of starting a business while still a student, and the impact of support from VCs and angel investors. He emphasizes the value of networking, iterating on business ideas, and the role of imposter syndrome in continuous learning.Cyril also shares memorable experiences from his angel investing career and offers insights into his investment strategy, including the importance of evaluating founders and market potential beyond just revenue figures. The discussion also touches on the significance of collaboration and network-building in angel investing, particularly for international investments.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:01:04 Cyril's Early Days in Computer Science01:43 The Birth of ProcessArt02:15 Acquisition by Checkout.com02:37 Support from Mentors and Angel Investors03:19 Giving Back to the Ecosystem03:46 Encouraging Young Entrepreneurs04:15 The Best Times to Start a Business06:39 Memorable Angel Investments07:50 Investing in Family Connections09:20 Traveling and Bonding with Founders11:55 Lessons from Angel Investing16:19 The Importance of Grit and Determination16:48 Cyril's Investment Strategy17:56 Focus on FinTech26:03 Challenges in the FinTech Market27:36 Collaboration with Angels and VCs31:24 Key Learnings and Advice

In this episode we’re joined by one of the most honest and dynamic LPs we’ve yet met: Evan Finkel, Head of Venture Capital Investments at Integra Global Advisors. Evan’s based in the US with an Early-stage investment focus - first check to Series A in the US, Europe, Israel, and LatAm. This is a long one and covers a lot of ground from an LP’s perspective, so strap in. Big shoutout to Ophelia Cai from Tiny for the introduction 💖In this episode, Evan emphasizes the importance of accessing top-tier investment opportunities and the need for a data-informed approach as well as his perspective on the current market conditions, including the deployment slowdown and the potential for a macro TVPI adjustment. The conversation also highlights the importance of having well-defined goals and strategies as a venture capital LP, exploring the principles and considerations important when allocating to venture.We also discuss how investing in smaller funds yield a higher probability of outsize returns for LPs as well as the stages of investment that Evan believes offer the best value for money while overcoming the challenges of performance dispersion in VC.Finally, we discuss the classification of ecosystems, why Evan considers Europe an established ecosystem and how he thinks about the challenges and opportunities in different VC markets, concluding on the importance of data-informed decision-making and the importance of separating personal relationships from investment decisions.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:02:02 Meet Evan Finkel: Background and Journey05:37 Building a Global Venture Fund Strategy09:25 Market Insights and Current Trends13:08 Challenges and Opportunities in Emerging Markets17:04 Government Support and Market Distortion in Europe21:07 Deployment Slowdowns and Capital Management22:34 First Principles of VC Investment Strategy30:47 Performance Dispersion in Venture Capital38:00 European Venture Challenges40:44 The Emotional Side of VC41:47 Balancing Emotions and Investments44:18 Friends in VC: A Double-Edged Sword45:50 The Reality of Fund Management55:32 Operational Due Diligence01:05:33 Fundraising Strategies for Emerging VCs01:08:35 The Commitment of Raising a Fund01:12:07 Counterintuitive Learnings for LPs

In this episode of the EUVC podcast, Andreas discusses, with Richard Muirhead, Managing Partner at Fabric Ventures, the transformative potential of Web3 and AI.Richard shares insights into how these technologies will reshape the internet, the power dynamics between big tech and decentralized communities, and Fabric Ventures' role in this evolving landscape. They also discuss ethical considerations, the development of decentralized finance, and the challenges and opportunities facing venture capital in Europe.Fabric Ventures is a 125M EUR fund, with 250M under management, anchored in Europe around Paris & Zurich, but investing globally. They are actively investing in WEB3, which has become a global phenomenon, and they have incredible investments in their portfolio so far, such as Sorare, Ramp, Near, Immutable, Polkadot, Flashbots, and many more.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:02:30 Richard’s Journey into Venture Capital07:20 The Evolution of the Internet: Web1 to Web309:20 The Role of Blockchain and DAOs14:35 The Intersection of AI and Web322:32 Challenges and Opportunities in Web3 Adoption26:59 Disrupting Centralized Powers with Web329:20 The Future of AI and Web3 Integration33:43 AI Safety and Ethical Considerations35:28 The Case for Open Source AI37:19 Challenges of Open AI Systems37:59 Business Models in Open AI40:48 Token Economics and Incentives42:35 Decentralized Systems and Network Effects50:35 Operational Challenges in Venture Capital53:57 Building a Successful VC Firm57:34 Advice for Emerging Managers01:05:04 Concluding Thoughts on Venture Capital

In this conversation, we explore the distinction between construction tech and prop tech, with a focus on the former. Construction tech is a project-based business that optimizes supply chains, while prop-tech is an operations-based business that focuses on real estate transactions and utilization. The conversation delves into:The different segments within construction tech, including architecture, engineering, construction, and supply chain technology.The importance of outcome-based business models.The role of AI and data infrastructure in the construction industry.The conversation concludes with an analysis of the funding trajectory of construct tech and its potential for future growth. Andreas and Patric examine the waves of technology in the construction industry and the importance of data connectivity and harmonization. They also touch on the challenges of pre-manufactured housing and the fallacies in VC fund strategies. Patric shares insights on their fund model, which is vertically dedicated, global, and focused on early-stage investments. They prioritize preempting follow-on rounds and emphasize the importance of staying involved and not delegating decision-making. Patric also offers advice to young people in the industry, including thinking from a DPI perspective and finding differentiation.About the guest.Patric Hellermann, the Founding General Partner of Foundamental, an $84M EUR venture capital fund focusing on construction technology, with $100M EUR Fund III just launched.About the firm.Foundamental is led by three GPs, 1 in the US, 1 in Europe, and 1 in Pacific Asia. They are investing in AEC-Tech: 3D-design, Construction, Renovation, Supply Chain & Logistics, and Blue-Collar Work, starting from day zero up to Series A.Portoflio highlights count Infra.Market (Series A), Enter (pre-seed), Speckle (pre-seed), Rayon (pre-seed), Metalbook (pre-seed), SafeAI (seed), and Wizfreight (seed).Key facts include a 94% follow-on rate among Fund-1 companies, the vast majority of which they invested at seed, top-decile returns in both funds, incl. top-decile DPI (Fund-2 actually top 3-5% currently), circa 10 portfolio companies have achieved net-profitability.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:00:03 Meet Patric Hellemann and Foundamental00:32 ConstructTech Explained03:40 PropTech vs. ConstructTech05:40 AECS: Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Supply Chain06:58 Robotics in Construction08:51 Challenges and Opportunities in Construct Tech19:33 Data Infrastructure and AI in AECS33:07 Market Trends and Investment Insights41:06 Automating Data Connectivity42:59 The Second and Third Waves of Data Integration43:22 Consolidation in the Infrastructure Sector45:00 Challenges in Construction Robotics46:21 Onsite vs. Offsite Construction47:04 Automating Bricklaying48:36 VC Fallacies and Sector-Specific Insights01:13:05 Personal Productivity and Fund Strategy

Celebrating one of the finalists in the Newcomer of the Year category at this year’s European VC Awards, this episode dives deep with Sarah Drinkwater, solo GP at Common Magic.Common Magic is a pre-seed/seed solo GP fund investing in and supporting founders building products with community at their core across Europe and the US. As a small fund, they act like an angel:fast decisionsoperationally usefulcomfortable being the first commitmentSarah Drinkwater has been building communities in tech for over 15 years and building communities for fun for much longer. From advising protocols for Filecoin and Gitcoin on their ecosystem building to growing Campus, Google’s East London space for startups, and growing an angel investing portfolio of 36 startups, she built playbooks and networks that can help founders build powerful communities right from the start.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:00:24 Diving into Community00:53 Common Magic's Investment Focus03:07 Sarah's Journey and Achievements04:19 Understanding Community in Tech10:58 Blockchain and Community17:27 Community as an Investment Focus22:19 Fund Structure and Geography22:47 Investment Focus and Strategy23:27 Community and Market Assumptions27:30 Monetization Strategies28:29 Challenges in Community Building35:45 AI and Community Platforms38:38 AI Investment Trends42:29 Fund Status and Future Plans

Celebrating a new finalist in the Firm of The Year category at this year’s European VC Awards, this episode dives deep with Beata Klein, Principal at CREANDUM.Creandum is a leading European early-stage venture capital firm backing some of Europe’s most successful tech companies, including Spotify, Pleo, Kahoot, Depop, Trade Republic, Neo4j, and Factorial. Creandum has hubs in Stockholm, Berlin, London, and San Francisco.In this episode, we dive deep into Beata’s article “AI in B2B SaaS: Beyond Vertical and into the Horizon(tal),” which we reproduce below together with the rest of the show notes.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:01:05 Deep Dive into AI and Horizontal vs Vertical SaaS04:27 Beata's Insights on B2B SaaS and AI06:15 The Future of AI in Horizontal SaaS07:22 Challenges and Opportunities in AI Integration09:15 Exploring Legacy Systems and New Innovations20:31 Legal Tech and AI: A Disruptive Force32:39 AI First Approach: The Future of User Interfaces33:23 Revolutionizing the Internet: Human vs. Agent Interaction35:10 Blockchain and AI: A Seamless Future35:48 Tailwinds in AI: Adaptability and Data Ingestion37:28 The Power of AI in Data Ingestion41:03 AI in Compliance: Disrupting Legacy Systems42:44 Horizontal vs. Vertical AI Applications47:50 The Future of AI: European vs. US Models51:48 Work-Life Balance and Career Growth in VC59:06 Advice for Aspiring VCs: Embrace Failure and Specialize

Join us as Tom Wilson from Seedcamp and Anthony Danon from Cocoa talk to Szymon Sypniewicz, co-founder & CEO of Ramp Network.Prior to Ramp, he was an advisor for a peer-to-peer bitcoin lending platform. He has a background in law and has worked for several legal firms, including Norton Rose Fulbright.Szymon has also worked as the Director of Research at the Adrianople Group, where he conducted research on free economic zones around the world – focusing on areas in which companies are taxed very lightly or not at all to encourage economic activity. Like many leaders across the crypto space, Szymon has roots in libertarian free-market ideology, he is one of the original founders of the Libertarian Party in Poland.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:00:50 Simon's Background and Journey01:03 Founding RAMP Network01:47 Transition to Angel Investing02:39 First Angel Investment Experience02:50 Investment Strategy and Learning02:53 Focus on Complex Technologies03:57 Investment Patterns and Themes05:03 Web3 and Early Stage Investments05:42 Criteria for Selecting Founders08:49 Geographical Focus: Poland and Europe10:45 Specialization vs. Broad Knowledge14:40 Characteristics of Successful Founders23:07 Advice for Aspiring Angels27:37 The Role of Angel Investors

Celebrating a new finalist in the Firm of The Year category at this year’s European VC Awards, this episode dives deep with Xavier Lazarus, Partner at Elaia Partners.We’re very excited to have this conversation with Xavier because, as you already know, Elaia has achieved many things in +20 years of activity. Elaia is a French venture capital firm focused on European digital and deep tech startups, from early stage to growth development.Together with Xavier, we’re gonna tackle the following topics:Generative AI & how it has been shaping venture capitalFuture AI trends and what we should expect from this industryThe recent 200M round they have just participated in with H companyThe rise of Paris as a venture ecosystem and innovation hub… and some other exciting topics that we invite you to discover by yourself.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:00:44 Diving into Gen AI and H Company01:48 Xavier's Transition from Boutique to Franchise04:58 Exploring H Company's AI Innovations12:03 AI's Impact on Various Sectors15:17 Future of AI in Education and Beyond32:14 The Rise of French Tech32:26 The Impact of AI and International Investments34:02 Challenges and Strategies in Fund Modeling36:28 Portfolio Management and Risk Assessment43:52 Elia's Growth and Expansion44:50 Strategic Partnership with Lazard54:30 Personal Insights from Xavier Lazarus58:23 Reflections on VC and Entrepreneurship

Celebrating a new finalist in the Firm of The Year category at this year’s European VC Awards, this episode dives deep with Max Bautin, co-founder & Managing Partner of IQ Capital.IQ Capital is investing out of a 185 m€ Fund 4 and also has a 150 m€ Growth Opportunities fund and has an established portfolio of over 60 companies and notable investments, including Thought Machine, Paragraf, and Nyobolt.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:00:03 Meet Max Bautin of IQ Capital00:42 IQ Capital's Deep Tech Investments04:48 Deep Tech Trends and Challenges05:15 Investor Interest in Deep Tech06:33 Risks and Rewards in Deep Tech16:23 Deep Tech Funding Resilience20:24 Hardware and Materials in Deep Tech28:11 Aerospace and Defense Innovations41:00 Space as a Market: Strategy and Evolution41:49 Starlink and SpaceX: Beyond Rockets43:11 Innovations in Space Access and Manufacturing44:33 The Rise of Robotics and AI46:03 Investing in Robotics: Challenges and Opportunities50:13 AI and Robotics: Hype vs. Reality52:32 Exploring Computational Biology and Tech Bio58:42 Deep Tech Software Trends01:06:05 Managing VC Funds: Strategies and Challenges

Welcome back to a new episode of the European VC Podcast!Today, we are celebrating one of the finalists in the Exit of The Year category at this year’s European VC Awards, this episode dives deep with Marc-Olivier Luecke, General Partner at Atlantic Labs, and Christian Siewek, co-founder and MD at Vimcar.Atlantic Labs is a 110M EUR fund with 300M under management, based in Berlin, Germany. They focus on pre-seed rounds but occasionally go for seed rounds. They focus mostly on Climate & Energy, AI & Data, and European Deep Tech. Some of the most notable investments from their portfolio are: Choco, Zenjob, Wandelbots, Again, and of course Vimcar.We’re going to dive deep into the exit of Vimcar that happened in January 2023, together with Marc and Christian and make sure to touch on things like:the thesis of Atlantic Labs and why they invested in Vimcarthe challenges of building a company like Vimcarthe journey of going from pre-seed to Series B and exit to Battery Ventures… and more that we invite you to discover below.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:00:23 Overview of Atlantic Labs00:49 Vimcar's Journey and Exit04:13 Investment Thesis and Founding Story05:24 Early Challenges and Solutions08:19 Series A Fundraising Journey13:48 Series B and Expansion21:38 Reflections on VC and Founder Dynamics37:22 Investor Alignment and Ambitions40:10 Series B Funding and Expansion40:37 Challenges During the Tech Reset43:07 Strategic Decisions in 202244:02 Reflections on Growth and Sales Strategies51:14 Engaging with M&A Advisors55:53 The Acquisition Process and Challenges01:04:44 Post-Exit Integration and Leadership