CVC | E386 | KFund’s Miguel Arias & Acrobator's Joachim Laqueur in conversation with MiLaboratories's founder

Welcome to a special episode of the EUVC podcast! This time, we’re experimenting with a new format where we bring together a founder and two of their key investors to uncover the dynamics behind building and scaling a venture-backed company.

In this episode, we’re joined by Stanislav Poslavsky, CEO and Co-Founder of MiLaboratories, a US-based biotech company founded in 2021. Focused on providing innovative solutions for genomic research, MiLaboratories operates on a B2B revenue model, catering to bioinformaticians and biologists in academic and pharmaceutical settings across the US, EU, and UK.

Joachim Laqueur, Founding Partner at Acrobator Ventures, a seed-stage investment firm with €28M in assets under management. Based in the Netherlands, Joachim specializes in backing global startups with a focus on Europe and the US, targeting B2B software and software-enabled hardware.

Miguel Arias, General Partner at KFund, €225M early growth fund, with €650M in assets under management. Based in Spain, Miguel focuses on Series A and B investments across Southern Europe and Latin America, targeting enabling technologies such as AI, IoT, and digital infrastructure.

Together, we explore how MiLaboratories secured its place in their portfolios, the process of building conviction across investment stages, and the unique challenges and opportunities of funding a biotech company in today’s landscape. Expect deep dives into deal-making dynamics, the art of company building, and even a few lighthearted moments that reveal the human side of venture capital.

Go to eu.vc to read the core take-aways.

Chapters:

01:50 Journey: Founding MiLaboratories
02:47 Joachim's Perspective: Investing in MiLaboratories
04:05 The Early Fundraising Challenges
05:30 The Role of COVID in Fundraising 
07:45 Miguel's Introduction and Perspective
10:08 Series A Fundraising Experience
15:24 Lessons Learned in Fundraising
19:46 Understanding MiLaboratories' Impact
33:02 The Duality of Business Strategy
33:13 Building a Sustainable Business
34:23 The Power of Open Source
35:48 Conviction in Venture Capital
38:03 Choosing the Right Investors
42:04 The Art of Pricing
45:57 The CEO's Many Hats
49:12 Understanding Platforma and MeXR
53:35 Challenges and Lessons Learned
57:47 The Future of MiLaboratories