EUVC
VC | E468 | Sebastian Pollok on Building Visionaries Tomorrow & Europe’s Deep Tech Renaissance
May 14, 2025
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.
53:26
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Quick takeaways
- Sebastian Pollok emphasizes the importance of purpose-built capital in deep tech to drive innovation from Europe's labs and institutes.
- The podcast highlights the necessity for strategic collaboration between industry and academia to unlock Europe's potential in deep tech.
Deep dives
The Shift in Fusion Energy Timelines
The longstanding notion that fusion energy is perpetually '30 years away' has changed dramatically, suggesting that advancements in the field are now on an accelerated timeline. The urgent need for more sustainable energy sources drives this transition, as reliance on fossil fuels ties economies to potentially adversarial nations. The emergence of new technologies, combined with more agile research and development capabilities spurred by artificial intelligence, is enabling quicker progress in deep technologies like fusion energy. This shift represents a significant evolution in the energy landscape, highlighting the necessity for a more proactive approach to innovation.
