Navigating the European Pre-Seed Landscape

In this episode we're spotlighting Emerging Manager of the Year finalist Concept Ventures. Andreas talks with Reece Chowdhry, Founding Partner of Concept Ventures, about his bold approach to pre-seed: leading rounds, writing big checks early, and building founder trust from day one. Curious who else made the shortlist? Stay tuned—the big reveal’s coming soon.

Reece shares his journey into early-stage investing and explains how his approach to pre-seed funding means writing big lead checks when others hesitate, building trust and momentum with founders right from the start. He also opens up about his early experiences in tech investing, which shaped his conviction to back talented teams and innovative ideas in a maturing European ecosystem. Reece also dives into the heart of his investment philosophy, focusing on the power of a strong people process and unwavering conviction. He outlines how his team’s careful evaluation of team dynamics and growth mindset helps startups skip rounds of dilution and accelerate their progress.

Chapters:

03:02 Reece's Journey into Investing
06:35 The Evolution and Philosophy of Concept Ventures
09:44 Challenges and Strategies in the Pre-Seed Ecosystem
23:38 Collaborative Investment Strategies
25:00 The Importance of People in Venture Capital
26:25 Father-Son Partnership Dynamics
28:52 Public Markets Insight in Venture Capital