Upside #39 - Lab Grown Meat Back On? Euro-Funds Swim In Cash & Why Anti-Trust Wins

🎙️ Upside Podcast: The Real Stories Behind The Headlines Affecting European Venture

Hosts: Dan Bowyer (SuperSeed), Andrew J Scott (7Percent), Mads Jensen (SuperSeed)

🔥 Episode Highlights

This week, Dan, Andrew, and Mads tackle the latest trends shaping Europe’s startup and tech ecosystem, including:

• Cash Inflows into Europe:
  Massive cash movements into European funds – but how meaningful is this trend? Could instability in the US be Europe's gain?
• Drone Regulations and the Future of Delivery:
  With new UK drone regulations expected by 2026, Andrew explores whether drone grocery delivery is realistic – and where it makes the most sense.
• Wayve’s Breakthrough in Japan:
  Mads shares insights on Wayve’s strategic entry into Japan with Nissan, how it's setting a global stage for autonomous driving, and why Europe must compete.
• Tesla’s Shifting Focus:
  Dan highlights Tesla’s Q1 struggles, Musk stepping back from DOGE, and what that could mean for Tesla’s full self-driving ambitions.
• Early Stage VC Trends:
  Key findings from Dealroom’s Q1 report: healthtech dominance, foreign capital influx, and the evolving pre-seed landscape.
• Is Europe’s Surge in Investment Patriotism or Pragmatism?
  The team debates whether Europe's increasing inflows are a flash in the pan or a sign of a long-term shift.

🥩 FoodTech & Future Farming

• Lab-Grown Meat Breakthroughs:
  Exciting developments from the University of Tokyo, Meatly, Miriam Eats, and 3DBT are pushing lab-grown meat closer to supermarket shelves. The panel discusses why cost remains the main hurdle and why agriculture as we know it could radically change within 20–30 years.
• Space-Grown Food:
  Space agencies are exploring cultivated food in low-gravity environments. Can startups tap into this cosmic opportunity?

🔍 OpenAI's Big Moves & Antitrust Drama

• OpenAI Eyeing Google’s Chrome?
  The DOJ’s antitrust actions could force Google to sell Chrome – and OpenAI is reportedly interested. Is this good for competition, or are regulators overreaching?
• The Future of Foundational Models:
  Should OpenAI stay focused on core models or build an AI-driven app store? The team unpacks what’s next for AI’s leading players.

🏥 Deal of the Week

• Skin Analytics' £15M Raise:
  Dan spotlights Skin Analytics' Series B success to advance AI-driven skin cancer diagnostics — a meaningful healthtech leap for the UK.

🛠️ Policy & Regulation Corner

• Deregulation Win:
  Mads celebrates new EU legislation easing sustainability reporting requirements — expected to save businesses €4–6 billion in administrative burden.

🌟 Bonus: Cool Startups & What's Next

• Niobolt's Ultra-Fast Charging Tech:
  Andrew showcases a Cambridge spinout promising EV battery charging in under 6 minutes — a game-changer if it scales.

Thanks for listening to Upside – where we make sense of the chaos behind Europe's venture scene.

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