AI-First Venture Capital: How InReach Finds Europe’s Best Founders Early (Roberto Bonanzinga)

In this episode of The Venture Capital Podcast (VC.fm), hosts Peter Harris and Jon Bradshaw speak with Roberto Bonanzinga, Founder of InReach Ventures and former Founding Partner at Balderton Capital, about how artificial intelligence is transforming venture capital from the inside out.

Roberto explains how InReach Ventures built a proprietary AI and machine learning platform to discover early-stage founders across Europe — often before they raise capital, build pitch decks, or even seek investors. Drawing on decades of experience backing companies like Revolut, Depop, Vivino, and Contentful, he shares why discovery is the biggest bottleneck in early-stage VC and how AI changes that equation.

The conversation explores:

• AI-first venture capital models
• Investing in founders before ideas
• Early-stage startup discovery in Europe
• GP-only venture firms and fund design
• Why pitch decks don’t predict outcomes
• The future of junior roles, analysts, and associates in VC
• How AI reshapes career paths and investing workflows

This episode is essential listening for founders, venture capitalists, LPs, and operators interested in AI, early-stage investing, and the future of venture capital.

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