EUVC

Sebastian Pollok, founding partner of Visionaries Club, dives into the world of industrial deep tech and its potential for transformation. He explains why Europe’s innovation landscape needs specialized capital and advocates for new dynamics among investors. The conversation highlights the critical role of lab-based founders versus traditional MBAs and showcases case studies like Proxima Fusion. Pollok also discusses strategic portfolio construction and the importance of family offices in driving Europe's technological sovereignty. This insightful dialogue paints a vivid picture of the future of deep tech in Europe.

Dave Haynes, co-founder of FOV Ventures, dives into the future of human-computer interaction. He discusses how AR glasses are transforming workflows and the role of multimodal AI in daily life. The conversation highlights the significance of audio models like AI Acoustics and the innovative use of teleoperation in robotics. Dave also explores Europe's potential as a leader in this tech revolution and the challenges in convincing investors to back frontier technologies. Prepare for a fascinating look at how these advancements could redefine work as we know it!

Lomax Ward from Outsized Ventures discusses the latest on public markets and the emerging venture capital landscape. Mads Jensen of SuperSeed dives into the wind sector crisis and the implications of AI advancements. Andrew J. Scott, founding partner at 7percent Ventures, critiques the UK’s deep tech challenges and public sector failures. The dynamic conversation also explores the evolving nature of secondary markets and the competitive race between Google, OpenAI, and others, revealing insights that could shape the future of European tech.

Jon Coker, co-founder and GP at Eka Ventures, dives deep into the world of conviction-led venture capital. He explains their strategic focus on consumer health and sustainable consumption as key drivers of impact. Coker argues against the traditional index-style approach, promoting thorough diligence and a founder-first mindset. He highlights the importance of decisiveness in investment decisions and the unique traits of successful founders. The conversation also explores the challenges and potentials of early diagnostics in healthcare, balancing innovation with social value.

Fergal Mullen, Founding Partner at Highland Europe, discusses the intricacies of growth-stage investing in European tech. He emphasizes the importance of sensible growth over blitzscaling and highlights Highland's equal partnership model as vital for trust and collaboration with founders. The conversation dives into the nuances of U.S. expansion and managing capital efficiency amidst evolving market dynamics. Mullen also touches on the significance of founder dynamics, coachability, and the concept of 'tourist investing' in venture capital cycles.

Andreas Klinger, GP at Prototype Capital and former CTO at On Deck, spearheads the EU Inc. initiative to unify Europe’s fragmented startup ecosystem. He discusses his journey from Product Hunt to VC and how to standardize business practices across borders. Klinger emphasizes the need for a grassroots approach to regulatory reform, the role of media in ambition, and the importance of balancing macro-level change with micro-level support for founders. Their conversation highlights collaborative action as key to positioning Europe as an innovation leader.

In this short but insightful episode of the EUVC Podcast, we’re joined by George Robson of Sequoia and Benjamin, our trusted ambassador from Tech Barbecue, for a candid conversation on the transformative impact of AI—especially through the lens of content creation.The group touches on the disconnect between innovators and the mainstream when it comes to AI adoption. George and Benjamin reflect on the massive potential of AI, the surprisingly slow uptake among everyday users, and how those on the cutting edge are already rethinking workflows, communication, and strategy.Here’s what’s covered:05:46 Reconciling European Optimism with U.S. Skepticism17:22 U.S. Views on Europe: Misconceptions & Missed Nuance21:00 The Return of Real Venture: Deep Tech vs. SaaS24:00 Evaluating Deep Tech Founders: What Sequoia Looks For26:59 Adapting Sequoia’s Platform to Serve Technical Founders29:57 Scale-Up Capital in Europe: Reality vs. Perception32:11 AI Company Metrics: Changing Signals & Due Diligence34:56 Explosion of Founders in the AI Era: A Double-Edged Sword36:59 Why Some European Companies Don’t Scale Big Enough42:54 Foundational Principles for Building in the AI Era

Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC podcast, where Dan Bowyer and Mads Jensen of SuperSeed and Lomax from Outsized Ventures dive deep into the macro and micro of European venture, joined this week by special guest Chris Elphick, Head of Venture Capital at the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA).Together, they pull back the curtain on the real stories shaping VC—from pension reform to geopolitical shocks, blackout readiness, and the transatlantic battle for AI and aerospace dominance.Here’s what’s covered:03:15 What Really Happens at a VC Conference?07:40 Politicians Using AI: Tech Literacy or National Security Risk?12:01 UK Local Elections: Rise of Reform & Political Fragmentation18:20 Trump’s Tariffs: Recession Risk & Global Trade Realignments22:33 Heart Aerospace Flies to LA: A Blow to Europe?28:04 UK VC Fundraising Rebounds—but Where’s the LP Money?33:42 The Pension Problem: Zero UK Pensions Backing UK VC?48:58 NATO x Deeptech: Europe’s First Combat Robots?52:35 Portugal’s Great Blackout: A Warning for Renewable Grids1:03:00 Show Me the Money: Can Pension Reform Really Unlock Capital for UK VC?

In this episode, Andreas Munk Holm talks with Daniel Dippold to unpack the vision behind EWOR, a venture platform designed not as a fund but as a self-reinforcing ecosystem where LPs become builders, the community drives capital, and Europe’s boldest entrepreneurs find a launchpad.Daniel challenges the traditional LP-GP dynamic, advocating instead for an interconnected flywheel where education, storytelling, and systems-thinking empower both founders and funders. From the structural flaws in European venture to the cultural shifts needed to drive generational change, this episode is a masterclass in rethinking the venture equation from first principles.Here’s what’s covered:02:47 The Origin of Ewor: Lessons from Building Momentum07:12 Understanding the LP Journey11:25 The European LP Landscape vs. the U.S.15:33 Structuring EWOR as a Flywheel, Not a Fund21:10 Solving for LP Education and Community26:45 Why Now: The Timing Behind EWOR’s Launch30:30 LPs as Builders: Shifting the Narrative35:18 How EWOR Aims to Serve GPs42:14 Storytelling, Visibility, and the Next Chapter

In this episode, Charles Martin of Kinnevik unpacks how their evergreen investment model fuels sustainable growth—enabling long-term, hands-on support that aligns deeply with entrepreneurs through every stage. By eliminating the pressure of fixed fund lifecycles, Kinnevik can take a hands-on approach, offering support through various growth stages and aligning closely with entrepreneurs over time.Charles highlights the shift in venture capital, where today’s focus is not just on financial returns but also on building adaptable companies with strong governance and positive societal impact. Kinnevik’s approach exemplifies this broader movement toward deeper, more collaborative partnerships in driving lasting success.Here’s what’s covered:05:10 AI in the Nordics: Talent and Innovation08:56 The Importance of Operational Talent13:16 Spotting Outlier Talent and Venture Insights25:22 Evaluating Founders: Experience vs. Potential39:02 The Importance of People in Venture Capital44:53 The Future of AI and Talent