EU-Startups Podcast

Robert Gaal, founder of Vesper, aims to democratize video game creation by turning stories into playable experiences. He shares his entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing the importance of product-market fit and personal growth. The discussion dives into the significance of ethical AI in gaming, stressing creator-driven narratives over automated content. Gaal highlights common pitfalls for startups and the essential role of networking. He envisions a future where storytelling through interactive games is accessible to everyone, transforming how we engage with narratives.

In this episode of the EU-Startups Podcast, Marcin Lewandowski catches up with Michael Hurnaus, CEO of Tractive, a leading GPS tracker for pets that recently achieved $100 million ARR. They discuss the journey of building Tractive, the challenges of bootstrapping, the importance of company culture, and the innovative health monitoring features of their products. Michael shares insights on market expansion, particularly in the U.S., and highlights the impact of their technology on pet owners' lives. The conversation concludes with a look at the future of PetTech and Tractive's commitment to enhancing pet health and safety. Takeaways 1.Achieving $100 million ARR is a big deal - few subscription companies even get there. 2.Bootstrapping has allowed Tractive to maintain financial independence. 3.The success with the US market was possible because of a strong foundation from Europe. 4.Tractive's culture is build with a focus on cost-efficiency and hiring is based on cultural fit and raising the team's average quality. 5.The PetTech market is still in its infancy and is way less digitized compared to human HealthTech and fitness space, which means there's a big room for growth. This podcast episode is brought to you by Scytale - making compliance super easy for startups, helping them get compliant and stay compliant with frameworks like SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, NIS 2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS and more, without breaking a sweat. Learn more at https://scytale.ai/eustartups/.

In this episode of the EU Startups Podcast, Marcin Lewandowski interviews Paulina Jansch, one of the youngest Founding Partners in Europe at Leanox Impact Capital. Paulina is a mentor at various startup organizations, NGOs, and universities. She is a voice for female empowerment and is known for her inclusive and empathic leadership style. She has been named among the TOP100 most influential women in the VC and startup scene in Europe and TOP10 investors in Germany. Marcin and Paulina talk about her journey in setting up the fund, the challenges of fundraising, and the importance of ongoing networking. Paulina shares her insights on impact investing, gender equality in the industry, and the exciting collaboration between Europe and Korea in the investment landscape. The conversation highlights the evolving nature of venture capital and the need for inclusivity and innovation in the sector. Takeaways 1.Fundraising can be an emotional roller coaster. 2.Successful fundraising requires a well-thought-out strategy. 3.Networking is crucial for opening doors in venture capital. 4.Impact investing can yield competitive returns. 5.Youthful perspectives drive innovation in investing. 6.Gender equality is essential for a balanced investment portfolio. 7.Trusting your intuition can lead to valuable opportunities. EU-Startups Podcast is brought to you by Vanta. Compliance doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, with Vanta it can be super simple. Trusted by over 7,000 companies, Vanta automates the pricey, time-consuming process of prepping for ISO 27001,SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA, and more. Learn more here: http://vanta.com/eustartups

In this episode of the EU-Startups Podcast, Marcin Lewandowski hosts Bennet Barth, Co-Founder and Managing Director of RESPOND, a leading European accelerator for climate tech entrepreneurs, focused on responsible leadership and transitioning towards a net-zero economy. They discuss the startup pitches that have inspired Bennet, the recurring blind spots in climate tech, and the importance of focusing on the human aspects of entrepreneurship. Bennet emphasizes the need for building relationships in sustainability, understanding planetary boundaries, and the role of entrepreneurs in climate action. They also touch on the myths surrounding impact investing, Europe's potential leadership in climate tech, and the lessons learned from nature through surfing and mountain climbing. The conversation concludes with a call to action for climate entrepreneurs to persevere in their efforts. Takeaways 1.Building relationships is key to aligning corporates, policymakers, and entrepreneurs on sustainability. 2.The planetary boundaries framework helps identify critical areas for action to maintain a healthy economy. 3.There is a growing mindset shift among entrepreneurs towards using business as a lever for positive impact. 4.Education and awareness are essential for scaling climate action and integrating it into everyday discussions. 5.Impact investing is often misunderstood, with a belief that it detracts from financial returns. 6.Europe is well-positioned to lead in clean tech and climate tech innovation. 7.Lessons from nature, such as humility and patience, are vital for navigating challenges in building a sustainable economy. EU-Startups Podcast is brought to you by Vanta. Compliance doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, with Vanta it can be super simple. Trusted by over 7,000 companies, Vanta automates the pricey, time-consuming process of prepping for ISO 27001,SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA, and more. Learn more here: http://vanta.com/eustartups

This special edition highlights the best moments from 100 inspiring conversations. Topics include the crucial hiring of purpose-driven talent and the urgent need for climate action. Guests share insights on innovative communication through AI and the challenges of entrepreneurship, including fundraising strategies. Personal stories illustrate the balance between profit and social impact, alongside effective product development approaches. Finally, a powerful visualization exercise emphasizes mindset for founders, concluding with excitement for future conversations.

In this episode we catch up with Jan Lozek, Founder and Managing Partner of Future Energy Ventures. Future Energy Ventures is a unique venture capital and collaboration platform that brings together corporate partners and world-class startups to shape the future energy landscape. The fund managed by Future Energy Ventures already has a volume of 110 million euros and a target size of 250 million euros. With an average initial ticket size of between €1-10 million for early-stage investments and with operational hubs in Germany, Israel and Silicon Valley, Future Energy Ventures looks for startups whose mission is to accelerate the energy transition and decarbonize society. Marcin and Jan discuss the evolution of climate tech, the challenges and misconceptions faced by startups in the energy sector, and the importance of collaboration across global ecosystems. Jan shares insights on the urgency of addressing climate change, the role of emerging technologies like AI, and the need for sustainable practices in urban planning. The conversation emphasizes the potential for innovation and investment in climate tech, as well as the importance of engaging decision-makers in the energy industry. Takeaways 1.The energy transition is now economically viable with available technologies. 2.Changing established energy systems is a complex challenge. 3.China's leading the way with its massive investment in energy transition. 4.AI will be crucial for managing future energy systems. 5.Collaboration across global ecosystems is a must to drive climate innovation. 6.Even small personal choices can significantly impact emissions reduction. 7.The future of climate tech looks promising with potential unicorns on the horizon. EU-Startups Podcast is brought to you by Vanta. Compliance doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, with Vanta it can be super simple. Trusted by over 7,000 companies, Vanta automates the pricey, time-consuming process of prepping for ISO 27001,SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA, and more. Learn more here: http://vanta.com/eustartups

In this episode, we catch up with Maya Raichoora, UK's leading mental fitness expert who's building the Nike of mental fitness to help C-suites, founders & elite athletes become the top 1% by mastering their mind and performance. Maya also has her new book "VISUALISE" coming in March 2025. She was diagnosed with Ulcerative colitis- an incurable inflammatory bowel disease. She endured crippling physical, emotional and mental pain. Visualization saved her life and now she is teaching this powerful technique to others. Maya shares her journey of discovering the transformative power of visualization in her own life. She explains the difference between mental fitness and traditional mindfulness or meditation practices. Maya discusses the common challenges faced by high-performing individuals and how Remap's techniques help overcome them. She guides listeners through a mini visualization exercise to manage emotions. Maya also talks about the impact of mental fitness live events and the importance of community and personalization in mental fitness. She debunks the myth that the brain stops changing after a certain age and highlights the key mindset shifts and practices of top performers and much more. Takeaways 1.Visualization is a powerful mental training technique that can be used to improve performance and well-being. 2.Mental fitness goes beyond traditional mindfulness or meditation practices and focuses on actively training the brain. 3.High-performing individuals often struggle with balancing high performance and well-being, as well as suppressing their emotions. 4.Visualization and self-talk are key mindset shifts and practices that set top performers apart. 5.The brain is constantly changing, and it's never too late to train and rewire it. 6.Community and personalization are crucial in making mental fitness accessible and effective. 7.Building confidence and belief in oneself is a fundamental mental fitness challenge. EU-Startups Podcast is brought to you by Vanta. Compliance doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, with Vanta it can be super simple. Trusted by over 7,000 companies, Vanta automates the pricey, time-consuming process of prepping for ISO 27001,SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA, and more. Learn more here: http://vanta.com/eustartups

In this episode, we catch up with Marcus Behrendt and Kasper Sage, Managing Directors of BMW i Ventures. BMW i Ventures has offices in San Francisco and Munich and invests in high-performance companies and helps them execute quickly by delivering agile precision ensuring real-world impact on hardware, software, sustainability across manufacturing, transportation, and services. Marcus and Kasper share insights on their successful investments and the future of mobility technology. They talk about the unique perspectives brought by their locations in Silicon Valley and Munich, the value of being affiliated with a large corporation, and the importance of sustainability in startup investments. The conversation also covers the challenges of innovation in the automotive industry, the investment decision-making process, and the differences between European and American startup ecosystems and much more. Takeaways 1.Sustainability has to become the core value in evaluating startups. 2.The automotive industry requires a unique approach to innovation. 3.Successful startups often target multiple industries for scalability. 4.Late-stage funding is a significant challenge in Europe. 5.The European startup ecosystem needs to foster a more risk-taking attitude. EU-Startups Podcast is brought to you by Vanta. Compliance doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, with Vanta it can be super simple. Trusted by over 7,000 companies, Vanta automates the pricey, time-consuming process of prepping for ISO 27001,SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA, and more. Learn more here: http://vanta.com/eustartups

In this episode, we catch up with Julia Hawkins. Julia is General Partner at LocalGlobe and Latitude, having previously set up Universal Music’s corporate venture arm, as well as being stationed at Goldman Sachs, Last.fm, and BBC Worldwide. LocalGlobe is a London-based venture capital firm that seeded impactful founders since 1999 at places like Citymapper, Improbable, Lovefilm, Moo, Wise and Zoopla. Investments that Julia has led include Oxford Nanopore, Vaccitech, YuLife, AccuRx, CoMind, Vira, Hertility and Spore Bio. Julia is on a mission to back ambitious, thoughtful and diverse founders to transform healthcare from scarcity of clinicians and appointments to ease of access through technology and to enable new and better treatments to reach patients. Julia talks about the overlooked trends in healthcare innovation, particularly drug shortages, and how personal experiences navigating healthcare with her daughter shaped her investment decisions. Julia shares insights on heath tech, the importance of building effective teams, and the challenges in healthcare procurement. She also explores the role of technology, especially AI, in transforming healthcare and the exciting intersections of health tech and deep tech. Takeaways 1.Early detection and building technology that enables it is crucial in transforming healthcare. 2.Drug shortages in healthcare are a significant issue. 3.Procurement processes in healthcare need urgent reform. 4.Successful founders excel at clearly articulating why they're building it, why they're the best people to do it, and why now. 5.Investors should practice visualization with founders about their future. EU-Startups Podcast is brought to you by Vanta. Compliance doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, with Vanta it can be super simple. Trusted by over 7,000 companies, Vanta automates the pricey, time-consuming process of prepping for ISO 27001,SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA, and more. Learn more here: http://vanta.com/eustartups

In this episode, we catch up with Sophia Velastegui, former Microsoft Chief AI Officer and Fortune 100 Executive who worked with companies like Google and Apple. Sophia was named ‘The Most Powerful Female Engineer’ from Business Insider. Additionally, her roles as Co-chair at the World Economic Forum's Global Future Council and as a board director at BlackLine, Inc. (NASDAQ: BL) highlight her engagement in shaping transformative initiatives thru strong business fundamentals. Sofia talks about her journey through major tech companies, her passion for AI, and the cultural transformation at Microsoft. She shares her insights on the challenges of AI development, the future of AI with multimodal innovations, and the differences in the European tech ecosystem compared to the US. Sophia also touches on the importance of women in tech, balancing career and family life, the value of curiosity in leadership and much more. Takeaways 1.Transforming Microsoft involved both technical and cultural shifts towards AI. 2.The future of AI lies in multimodal innovations that integrate various data types. 3.The European tech ecosystem biggest challenges are regulatory fragmentation and investment size. 4.Gen Z women are becoming the most tech-savvy group of people. 5.Curiosity and intentionality are key to a long-term career success. 6.Leaders should foster a customer-centric culture by leading by example. EU-Startups Podcast is brought to you by Vanta. Compliance doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, with Vanta it can be super simple. Trusted by over 7,000 companies, Vanta automates the pricey, time-consuming process of prepping for ISO 27001,SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA, and more. Learn more here: http://vanta.com/eustartups