In this engaging discussion, Paolo Pio, Co-founder and Managing Partner at Exceptional Ventures, dives into the future of human health and longevity. He reveals how his personal passions shaped a unique investment thesis focused on wellness. Paolo highlights the importance of personalized health monitoring and the four pillars of prevention, early detection, smarter care, and delivery innovation. He also discusses the need for high-volume VC investments in Europe to encourage more groundbreaking health startups, from nanobots to sleep hygiene, driving transformative change.
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insights INSIGHT
JoySpan: Longevity Plus Joy
Longevity investment should focus on increasing the years of healthy and joyful living, not just lifespan.
The concept of "JoySpan" is key, balancing longevity with enjoyment in life choices.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Prevention Maximizes Healthspan
Prioritize prevention through strong sleep hygiene, exercise, nutrition, and stress management to maximize healthspan.
Engage in fitness routines proven to extend life, such as resistance and cardiovascular training.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Matt’s Capital One Legacy
Matt, co-founder of Exceptional Ventures, was one of the original founders of Capital One Bank.
He invested early, becoming chairman and helped Capital One grow into a $70 billion market cap company.
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Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC Podcast, where we bring you the people and perspectives shaping European venture.
This week, Andreas Munk Holm sits down with Paolo Pio, co-founder and Managing Partner at Exceptional Ventures — a mission-driven early-stage fund investing in the future of human health, fitness, nutrition, and longevity.
Paolo shares how a personal obsession with sleep, metabolism, and fitness evolved into a structured thesis for investing in businesses and technologies that help us live better, longer — and how Exceptional Ventures plans to back over 200 founders across three funds to deliver returns that match the mission.
🎯 This Episode’s Themes:
Why health, fitness, and prevention are ripe for VC investment
How personalized, continuous monitoring unlocks true wellness
The 4-pillared thesis: prevention, early detection, smarter care & delivery
Lessons from Fund I: 3,600 companies reviewed → 37 investments
The case for “high-volume VC” in Europe: why more bets matter
From sleep hygiene to nanobots: the future of health innovation
Community, LPs, and morning workouts at SuperVenture
Here’s what’s covered:
01:00 | The Mission: Improving the human joy path through health & longevity
03:00 | Why Now: Obesity, metabolic health & the need for smarter prevention
05:00 | The Four Pillars: Sleep, exercise, early detection & delivery innovation
08:00 | Exceptional’s Model: Fund I learnings, Fund II targets, Fund III ambitions
10:00 | The Volume Bet: Why Europe needs funds backing 50+ startups per cycle
12:00 | Sourcing & Screening: From 3,600 companies to 37 portfolio bets
15:00 | Backing Founders on the Edge: From glucose monitoring to rural US clinics
18:00 | The Big Vision: 200+ founders backed, 30,000+ community members
21:00 | Big LP Names & Co-Investors: How the wider venture stack leans in
24:00 | Why Community Matters: The morning workouts, the events, the energy
27:00 | Longevity & Fund IV: Why the best is still ahead
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