EUVC VC | E476 | Finn Murphy on Nebular, Going Solo, and Why the Next Great VC Firm Starts with You
May 27, 2025
Finn Murphy, General Partner at Nebular, shares his journey of launching a venture fund from the ground up after the collapse of FTX. He discusses backing innovative ideas, from AI to space data centers and fossil startups. Murphy emphasizes the importance of curiosity-led investing with no strict themes, highlights the unique challenges and advantages of being a solo GP, and contrasts the entrepreneurial landscapes of Europe and the U.S. He also advocates for the vital role of tech in political discourse, urging VCs to engage actively.
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Fundraising in a VC Nuclear Winter
- Finn Murphy describes fundraising Nebular during the worst VC fundraising period in 15 years.
- Started with $7 million close, struggled, then gradually built trust and reached $30 million.
Seeing Present Over Predicting Future
- The best venture capitalists see the present clearly rather than predict the future.
- New funds must take more risks on emerging categories to find success.
Bizarre but Strategic Investments
- Finn invested in an AI companion teddy bear helping kids with language development.
- This led to investments in unusual areas like data centers in space and fossil markets.
