EU-Startups Podcast

In this episode, we catch up with Madeline Lawrence, CBO of Aikido Security, former Partner at Peak, and one of the most colorful voices in the European tech and venture capital scene. Aikido recently raised $17M to bring “no BS” security for devs. This round comes just 6 months after they raised $5.3M in seed funding. Aikido is the get-it-done security platform for developers that centralizes all necessary code and cloud security scanners in one place and makes security simple for SMEs and doable for developers without industry jargon, red tape, and frankly, BS. Madeline discusses her journey from venture capital and making rich men richer to startup and the no-bullshit approach to security for developers. She shares her experiences in different European startup ecosystems and her love for Belgian chocolate (and beer). She also talks about what's wrong with the VC industry, the need for more transparency and what's the way forward. Madeline also mentions her side project, Outta Town, where you can find beautiful European homes to buy - or dream about. Takeaways 1.Venture Capital needs to stop making rich men richer. 2.Becoming more transparent and inclusive is a must for the VC industry. 3.GenZ (and Alpha) is the way forward for Venture Capital. This episode of 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 Joaquin Cuenca, Co-Founder and CEO of Freepik. Located in the center of the sunny Malaga, Spain, Freepik is a leading global tech company with a goal to help anyone create great designs faster by producing and distributing high-quality graphic and audiovisual resources. Freepik has over 500 employees and more than 800 freelance designers collaborators and 52,000 registered contributors. Joaquin shares the journey of building Freepik and bootstrapping the company to $300M valuation. He discusses the tough decisions made to keep growing without raising capital and emphasizes the importance of staying focused on users and providing them with a starting point for their creativity. Joaquin talks about the impact of AI on the company and the need to adapt to the changing landscape of design tools. He also shares Freepik's vision to help people create great design faster to express the power of their ideas and to make a positive impact in underrepresented regions. Takeaways 1.When bootstrapping a company being ready to make tough decisions and staying focused on user needs is a must. 2.AI has been a total game changer for enhancing creativity and improving design processes. 3.The biggest breakthrough in Freepik's history was when they changed from being a search engine for content to hosting the content themselves. This episode of 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 Martin Schilling, Managing Director of Techstars Deep Tech Berlin Accelerator; author of the book "The Builder’s Guide to the Tech Galaxy – 99 Practices to Scale Startups into Unicorn Companies"; former COO of the FinTech N26 where he scaled operations from 100 full-time employees to 900 full-time employees and scaled up an international team for 25 markets; and an organizer of Deep Tech Momentum, the #1 European bootcamp for Deep Tech founders. Martin discusses the importance of building unicorns in Europe and the challenges founders face. He shares his insights on leadership lessons learned from scaling N26, including the importance of a clear North Star, hiring AAA leaders, and focusing on functional excellence. Martin also reflects on his most expensive hiring mistake and the need for founders to prioritize certain practices to accelerate growth. He gives advice for early-stage founders approaching investors and navigating the challenges of scaling startups. Lastly, he emphasizes the importance of building alliances and friendships in the global tech ecosystem. Takeaways 1.Europe needs to build more unicorns and become the leading global Deep Tech ecosystem. 2.Founders should prioritize finding their North Star, hiring and retaining a strong leadership team, and mastering the fundraising game. 3.Investors look for qualities such as speed of execution, traction, domain expertise, product traction, and CEO sales skills when evaluating startups. 4.Early-stage Deep Tech founders should leverage grants, seek specialized Deep Tech investors, and be clear on technical milestones. 5.Building alliances and friendships in the global tech ecosystem is crucial for success and navigating geopolitical challenges. This episode of 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 Pablo Pedrejon, Partner at Seaya. Seaya has closed Seaya Andromeda, the first Article 9 climate-tech fund based in Southern Europe, at €300 million. Seaya’s new fund will invest anywhere between €7-40 million as a first cheque, and will retain capital for follow-ons. It plans to make 25 investments in total between now and the end of 2027, including around five more deals this year. Seaya raised its first funding in 2013 and currently manages over €650 million across five early-stage venture funds. Seaya’s provides startups with a global platform and its extensive network of founders, investors and multinational corporations, as well as all its experience in the global expansion of companies such as Glovo, Cabify, Wallbox (NYSE:WBX), Spotahome, Clarity AI, Clicars, Alma and RatedPower. Pedro discusses the challenges and opportunities in climate tech investing. He explains the different types of climate tech companies and the tough path to market they face. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the market and having a clear go-to-market strategy. Pablo also highlights the key traits of successful founders, such as ambition, humility, and the ability to pivot. He shares examples of how Seaya has supported startups in critical moments and helped them expand. Finally, he discusses emerging trends in climate tech and the importance of resilience and efficiency. Takeaways 1.Develop a deep understanding of your target market and craft a clear go-to-market strategy to ensure your product's success. 2.Cultivate ambition, humility, and the ability to pivot quickly in response to market changes or challenges. 3,Utilize investor guidance during critical decision-making and expansion phases to accelerate growth. 4.Capitalize on emerging trends like home electrification and industrial digitalization to stay ahead in climate tech. 5.Build resilience and efficiency into your solutions to effectively combat climate change and create lasting impact. This episode of 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 Benedikt von Schoeler, General Partner of VSquared Ventures, Europe’s leading early-stage Deep Tech fund, backing some of Europe’s most promising Deep Tech companies, including Isar Aerospace, Zama, IQM Quantum, Inbrain Neuroelectronics and The Exploration Company. Vsquared recently announced the successful closing of their latest fund, Vsquared II, which got oversubscribed at €214 million, above the initial target size of €165 million. It's the largest European early-stage Deep Tech fund to date, cementing the Deep Tech momentum in Europe. Vsquared continues their commitment to fostering a sovereign and resilient European Deep Tech ecosystem, which the fund has promoted since its inception. The closing of Vsquared II brings their assets under management to around €450 million. Benedikt discusses the Deep Tech boom in Europe and how they decide which moonshot ideas to invest in. He emphasizes the importance of market potential, technology diligence, and the right team. He also talks about the challenges of navigating regulations and the need for a more unified European market. Benedikt highlights the importance of staying curious, humble, and supporting founders through the ups and downs of their entrepreneurial journey. This episode of 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 Rob van den Heuvel, Co-founder and CEO of Sendcloud. With access to 100+ carriers, 7000+ shipping methods, and 400,000+ parcel points across Europe, Sendcloud enables online merchants of any size to own their shipping from checkout to returns. With a growing ecosystem of 60+ webshop integrations and 750+ partners, they make it easy for online shops to scale cross-border shipping and expand to new markets. Backed by Softbank and trusted by 25,000 companies and counting Sendcloud raised $200M in funding and is building the #1 platform to solve shipping globally. Rob shares his journey of building Sendcloud, including the challenges of the early days, raising funding, and scaling internationally. He emphasizes the importance of execution, hiring the right people, and maintaining a no bullshit culture. He also reflects on his biggest operational failures and the lessons learned from them. Rob shares his vision for the future of Sendcloud, including acquisitions and innovations in smart shipping. Listen to the full episode to learn more about Rob's startup journey and find out how he's building the number one platform to solve shipping globally! Takeaways 1.Execution and delivering on promises are key to building a successful business. 2.Hiring leaders is harder than hiring people who just do the job, it's important to onboard and guide them effectively. 3.Going international is like starting a new business from scratch, and personal involvement is crucial for success. 4.Maintaining a no bullshit culture requires direct communication, confronting issues, and hiring leaders who align with the culture. 5.Mistakes and failures are inevitable, but you learn the most out of them. This episode of 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 Thomas Rebaud, Co-founder and CEO of Meero. Meero has become a unicorn and the worldwide leader in AI-powered photography in 3 years. Having fundraised 300+ million euros, Thomas discusses his journey in building Meero and his new venture, Blast Angels. With Blast Angels Thomas is on a mission to build the largest pre-series A startup investment vehicle in the world in 4 years! And allow each and every one to have access to the most exclusive startups out there, from as little as 1,000 euros. Not the richest, not those with a network, not those with specific education. Everyone! Thomas wants to build the first self-funded FinTech unicorn in Europe in 4 years! Seed startups investment has been one of the most, if not the most, profitable asset class over the last 20 years. People just didn’t have access to it. It was reserved to the wealthy. To those with good schools, with a good network. To those who know. It's about to change now. Listen to the full episode to learn more! Takeaways 1.Meero experienced rapid growth and fundraising success, reaching unicorn status in three years. 2.Blast Angels aims to democratize startup investments and provide opportunities for everyone to invest in the most promising tech startups. 3.Maintaining a positive mindset as a leader is crucial for managing teams during tough times. 4.Thomas looks for the smartest and brightest founders in the world who have a reasonable burn rate. 5.Investing in a startup is the most risky investment of all kinds, but investing in many and diversifying your portfolio while having a long-term vision and perspective can mitigate the risks. This episode of 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 Dominik Angerer, Co-Founder and CEO of StoryBlock. Storyblok is a content management system (CMS) that empowers developers and marketers to create better content experiences across any digital channel. Leading brands such as Adidas, Tesla, Oatly and 200,000+ other developers and marketers love Storyblok. Dominik discusses the company's remote-first approach, their recent $80 million Series C funding round, which is one of Austria's biggest tech investments. Dominik reveals the key features of their content management system. He also shares insights on building a successful startup, maintaining a positive remote work culture, and the future of content management. Dominik and his team are currently working on a new feature called the Concept Room, which will enhance content modeling and architecture within the CMS platform. Listen to the podcast to learn why Storyblok was named the #1 CMS. Takeaways 1.StoryBlock adopted a remote-first approach from day one, which allowed them to tap into a global talent pool and access the best sales and finance professionals. 2.The $80 million Series C funding round was a result of months of hard work, preparation, and finding the right partner. There's no such thing as overnight success. 3.The future of content management lies in AI-driven analytics to ensure the quality of content and the ability to ideate and update old content effectively. 4.Exceptional customer service and personalized interactions have been key to StoryBlock's success, going above and beyond to understand and support their customers. 5.StoryBlock's CMS platform stands out due to its visual editor, component approach, and the new ideation room feature that allows for content creation and collaboration. This episode of 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 Kelly Kinnard, Operating Partner and Head of Talent at Khosla Ventures, one of the absolute top venture capital firms in the world. Headquartered in Menlo Park, Calif., Khosla Ventures was founded by Vinod Khosla, co-founder of Sun Microsystems and twenty-year veteran of Kleiner Perkins. They have $19B in AUM, 100+ M&A exits, 25 IPOs, and 35+ unicorns over Khosla Ventures' history. Khosla Ventures' portfolio includes OpenAI, Affirm, DoorDash, Instacart, Stripe, Okta, Square, and 400 other companies. They focus on a broad range of areas where technology can drive economic disruption and ​positively impact society, create new markets and serve existing ones better through radical new approaches. They invest in AI, consumer, enterprise, FinTech, healthcare, space, the future of food, manufacturing/robotics, sustainability, and frontier technologies. Kelly shares her insights on talent acquisition and building successful startup teams. She talks about the importance of finding the right fit for each company and shares her personal, practical tips on developing and managing relationships with the best and brightest people. Kelly emphasizes the need for personalization and authenticity in reaching out to candidates and building genuine, strong relationships with founders. She also highlights the significance of managing stress and prioritizing self-care in the fast-paced startup environment. Kelly looks forward to the impact of AI on the talent landscape and shares her interest in longevity and healthcare innovation. Takeaways 1.Finding the right fit for each company is an absolute must for building winning startup teams. 2.Personalization and authenticity are key in building and managing strong relationships with founders. 3.The biggest mistake you can make when reaching out to people is to be generic. Make sure to be very specific and clear on your message 4.How you manage stress and take care of your mental health is the most important factor for leaders to thrive in the fast-paced startup environment. Everyone on your team is looking at you. 5.Working with the best and brightest people who change the world changes the way you think. Skeptics never did the impossible... This episode of 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 Robert Jackle, Partner at Visionaries Club, a leading European early stage VC fund with offices in London and Berlin backed by Europe's most successful digital founders and family business entrepreneurs. Visionaries Club's founders and operators are behind companies such as UiPath, Miro, Flixbus, Mollie, Spotify, Personio, Adyen, HelloFresh or Pitch, and have only just gone through your journey themselves. Visionaries Club is divided into two funds: a €150m seed stage fund and a €200m early growth fund. Robert became a Partner at Visionaries Club at the age of 26 which makes him one of the youngest partners in VC funds in Europe. He shares his journey from intern to partner and discusses the qualities he looks for in founders. He emphasizes the importance of passion, obsession, and the ability to communicate your vision. He also highlights the potential for European companies to become category leaders and the role of Visionaries Club in supporting this transformation. Robert shares his excitement for innovations in FinTech, HR, and compliance, and the impact they can have on businesses. He concludes by discussing current projects at Visionaries Club and the continuous growth and development of the organization. Takeaways 1.Passion and obsession are key qualities to look for in founders 2.European startups have the potential to become category leaders 3.It's crucial for early-stage founders to have role models to learn from. A chance to tap into a network of over 30 unicorn founders will deliver value like no other This episode of 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