Billion Dollar Moves™ with Sarah Chen-Spellings | Global Venture Capital

In this episode, we dive into France's bold €54 billion climate investment plan with Raphaele Leyendecker, Managing Director of Techstars Sustainability Paris. As France positions itself as a leader in sustainable innovation, this massive initiative spans sectors from green energy to clean transportation. Raphaele unpacks how Techstars Sustainability Paris fits into this movement, the evolving role of European startups in climate tech, and the tangible ways global founders can engage with France’s green transition. With practical insights on market access, regulatory alignment, and ecosystem support, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone building for the climate era!Timestamps / Key Takeaways0:00 - Intro01:40 - Raphaele’s background & motivation to align career with meaningful sustainability work04:24 - Techstars Sustainability Paris: The launch & vision07:08 - European funding landscape: France’s €54B climate investment plan; BPI France08:42 - Software VS Hardware Clean Tech companies in Europe; Deep Tech & Hardware in Climate Innovation10:48 - European Climate Tech landscape & regulatory advantage; Techstars' role in facilitating soft landing and long-term expansion support14:34 - Growing trends in Climate and Sustainability and the challenges in European market19:00 - Profit & purpose alignment; 21:41 - The thrive of female founders in Clean Tech; how Techstars Paris is designing program around founder needs in deep tech24:51 - 3 Key takeaways from Raphaele & Billion Dollar QuestionsAbout RaphaeleRaphaele Leyendecker is the Managing Director of Techstars Sustainability Paris. Raphaele is a sustainability and digital entrepreneur, startup board member and early stage investor in over 40 startups. She is also versed in strategic innovation and venture building, working with 55+ corporations such as Engie, Suez, Schneider Electric, L’Oreal or Nespresso over the years.FOLLOW RAPHAELE:https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaeleleyendecker/-PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.comWatch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobalJoin the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmovesFOLLOW SARAH:LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobalInstagram: https://instagram.com/sarahchenglobalX/Twitter: https://x.com/sarahchenglobal

In this insightful episode, we sit down with industry leaders dive deep into the challenges and opportunities for women in the venture capital realm. From the evolving investment landscape in Europe, strategies for securing funding, and the power of diverse leadership in driving billion-dollar growth — we’ve covered it all. With firsthand accounts from these funders and founders who are driving the future, get ready for actionable insights on how to navigate the startup ecosystem, overcome biases, and how to create a more inclusive future for innovation and capital.Timestamps / Key Takeaways0:00 - Intro03:56 - Fleur Pellerin: former French minister turned investor; current state of women in venture capital and French ecosystem07:29 - Tatiana Jama: from an exited founder to SISTAFUND; data-driven insights on funding disparities and progress made12:53 - Stephanie Nenta: founder driving the future with AI; challenges faced by women founders and structural biases in investment decisions16:19 - Liz Matthews: corporate supporting diversity initiatives; why diversity in leadership is a winning strategy18:42 - Difficulties faced while diversifying portfolio; Le French Tech and incentives as solutions22:38 - The role of institutional investors & policymakers in solving the gender gap in funding26:22 - Overcoming biases: strategies for fundraising & growth29:58 - Leveraging AI and tech to drive long-term impact31:45 - Audience Q&A46:47 - Final takeaways and calls to action for funders and foundersPanelists:Fleur Pellerin Former Minister of Culture of FranceFounder & Managing Partner, Korelya CapitalStephanie Nenta MbiandaDirectrice Générale & Co-Founder, XtramileLiz Matthews Senior Vice President, Brand and Advertising, Dell TechnologiesTatiana JamaFounder & Managing Partner, SISTAFUNDModerator:Sarah Chen-SpellingsCo-Founder & Managing Partner, Beyond The BillionRead Full Recap: https://beyondthebillion.com/the-billion-dollar-brew-paris-edition/-PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.comWatch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobalJoin the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmovesFOLLOW SARAH:LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobalInstagram: https://instagram.com/sarahchenglobalX/Twitter: https://x.com/sarahchenglobal

Susan Wojcicki, the former CEO of YouTube and Google's 16th employee, shares her transformational journey in the tech world. She discusses the pivotal moments that led to YouTube's $1.65 billion acquisition and its evolution into a global platform. Wojcicki emphasizes the importance of spotting unconventional opportunities and navigating controversy with empathy. She also highlights the critical need for leadership in empowering others and balancing personal challenges with professional resilience, offering valuable insights on long-term growth strategies.

India’s startup ecosystem is at a tipping point. With unicorn valuations correcting and global VCs recalibrating their bets, what does the future hold? In this episode of Billion Dollar Moves, we sit down with Shuvi Shrivastava, Partner at Lightspeed, one of the world’s most influential venture firms, to unpack India’s rise, venture capital shifts, and the billion-dollar opportunities ahead.Whether you’re a founder, investor, or just someone tracking the next big global tech shift—this episode is packed with insights, bold plays, and lessons from the frontlines of India's venture boom.Timestamps/Key Takeaways0:00 - Intro02:00 - How Shuvi landed at Lightspeed; The evolution of india’s startup ecosystem04:47 - Privatisation in India and the cultural shifts07:17 - India’s unicorn boom and global market corrections11:47 - Lightspeed’s India strategy & forth fund at $500M16:19 - The rise of India in the global supply chain; the blooming advance engineering industries17:44 - India’s robust IPO pipeline and exit landscape19:42 - The surprising slow AI adoption in India; what makes a venture-backable company in India24:18 - Billion Dollar QuestionsAbout ShuviAt Lightspeed India Partners, Shuvi Shrivastava invests in early-stage consumer and fin-tech startups in India and Southeast Asia. In a previous role she sourced DarwinBox at its Series A and also sourced ed-tech startup Byju's which was recently valued at $8 billion. She has also worked as a consultant with Bain & Co., led business development and operations at an early-stage computer vision startup, Drishti Tech, in Silicon Valley (raised close to $15 million from Andreessen Horowitz and Emergence Cap), and ran her own startup Uttr Labs.FOLLOW SHUVI:https://x.com/shuvihttps://www.linkedin.com/in/shuvi-shrivastava/-PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.comWatch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobalJoin the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmovesFOLLOW SARAH:LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobalInstagram: https://instagram.com/sarahchenglobalTwitter: https://twitter.com/sarahchenglobal

In this episode, we take you inside Europe’s private equity pilgrimage at SuperReturn in Berlin, where the biggest names in venture capital and private equity gather to shape the future of investing.Featuring Joel Sandhu, co-founder of Top-Tier Access, a platform that connects family offices with the world’s top private equity and venture capital managers. With years of experience navigating the complexities of private markets, Joel shares his candid insights on the industry’s evolution, the changing role of family offices, and what separates the best investors from the rest.We dive into the latest trends in private capital—from market shifts and liquidity challenges to the rise of secondaries and why profitability is now king. Whether you’re an investor, founder, or just curious about how private capital really works, this episode is packed with unfiltered insights you won’t want to miss. Let’s dive in!Timestamps/Key Takeaways0:00 - Intro02:00 - The Private Equity pilgrimage in Berlin; networking and market trends06:55 - From ’20-’21 deal activity to a historical norm; performance across asset classes09:40 - Who is Joel Sandhu? The story behind co-founding Top Tier Access13:34 - The evolution of Venture Capital & Family Offices; how Family Offices think about risk, returns, and impact17:57 - Takes on impact and purposeful investment; investing in Private Equity vs. Venture Capital; growth vs. buyout funds23:20 Building a winning investment portfolio28:21 - Selecting emerging managers and the impact of diversity30:38 - What makes a good GP?34:16 - The rise of secondaries: LP-led vs. GP-led40:49 - The landscape and opportunities of Mid-Market; AI’s impact on Private Equity41:47 - Billion Dollar Questions-About Joel SandhuJoel is the founder and Managing Partner of TTA, a Brussels based fund of funds in Private Equity. TTA brings institutional grade PE to the family office and HNWI segment.FOLLOW JOEL:https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelsandhu/-PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.comWatch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobalJoin the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmoves FOLLOW SARAH:LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobalInstagram: https://instagram.com/sarahchenglobalTwitter: https://twitter.com/sarahchenglobal

In today’s world, the conversation around meritocracy and diversity remains more critical than ever. Last November at The Billion Dollar Brew (London Edition), hosted at RUSI, we tackled these pressing issues head-on with female founders and funders who are driving the future of innovation.Brought to you by Beyond The Billion, Dell Technologies and Dell Women's Entrepreneur Network (DWEN), our panel explored the financial pathways fueling women-led innovation—from venture capital and debt to non-dilutive funding and the evolving LP landscape. We dove into how emerging fund managers can navigate today’s capital environment, the rising influence of family offices, and why investing in female founders in AI, FinTech, and deep tech isn’t just about equity—it’s about smart business.Timestamps/Key Takeaways0:00 - Intro02:32 - Ella Jade (ROOBBA): AI-driven furniture business & disruptive marketing06:15 - Fatou Diagne (Bootstrap Europe): Venture debt as an alternative to equity financing08:27 - Mohadeseh Abdullahi (Molten Ventures): Investing in 81 funds to support early-stage startups & the rise of women-led funds12:33 - Wiem Gharbi (Ankar AI): Inefficiencies in AI and intellectual property & the solutions ahead15:47 - Venture debt; “Women are more risk-averse”20:44 - Ella Jade’s fundraising strategy25:03 - LP’s view: Specialised funds, rise of female GPs, & 2025 outlook28:16 - AI investment strategy; the pressure to transform into AI-driven startups32:08 - Q&A: Academia and entrepreneurship35:37 - Q&A: The Billion Dollar opportunity for female founders39:08 - Q&A: Blockchain and funding40:46 - Final takeawaysPanelistsElla JadeCEO & Co-Founder, ROOBBAMohadeseh AbdullahiInvestor, Molten VenturesFatou DiagneCo-Founder and Managing Partner, Bootstrap EuropeWiem GharbiCo-Founder, Ankar AIModerated by:Sarah Chen-SpellingsCo-Founder & Managing Partner, Beyond The BillionRead full recap here:https://beyondthebillion.com/the-billion-dollar-brew-london-edition/PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.comWatch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobalJoin the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmovesFOLLOW SARAH:LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobalInstagram: https://instagram.com/sarahchenglobalX/Twitter: https://twitter.com/sarahchenglobal

In this conversation, tennis icon and venture capitalist Serena Williams shares her journey from winning 23 Grand Slam titles to becoming a powerhouse in business. She discusses embracing authenticity and resilience while navigating the challenges of being a Black woman in sports. Serena emphasizes the significance of investing in diversity through her firm, Serena Ventures, and advocates for empowering future generations. Her insights on reclaiming joy and redefining power offer a game-changing perspective on success beyond the court.

Prasad Vanga, Founder and CEO of Anthill Ventures, specializes in speed scaling for early-stage startups, boasting a diverse portfolio with 45% female founders. He discusses India's booming economy and the need for capital flow into women-led ventures, which still receive less than 10% of total funding. Prasad reveals his innovative approach that blends corporate scalability with startup agility. He emphasizes the growing role of family offices in India and the importance of diverse leadership in reshaping the ecosystem. A must-listen for aspiring entrepreneurs!

From shaping France’s digital transformation as a government minister to leading a €750 million investment fund, Fleur Pellerin is a force to be reckoned with.In this episode, recorded in the heart of Paris, we sit down with Fleur, the founder of Korelya Capital, to explore her extraordinary journey—from her early days as an adopted child from Korea to breaking barriers in politics, tech, and venture capital.Timestamps / Key Takeaways  0:00 - Intro  01:56 - Billion Dollar Questions  03:44 - From an adopted child in Korea to a former minister of France; the influence of Fleur’s mother  07:30 - The journey from business school to politics; her impact on digital, cultural, and communications policies in France  10:22 - Three key factors behind La French Tech: Station F, policy initiatives, and ecosystem building  12:23 - The state of the French startup ecosystem today; Bpifrance and the government's role in the investment industry  15:11 - Fleur’s decision to transition into investing; building Korelya Capital  17:59 - Growing global interest in Europe, particularly from Asia  19:50 - Investment strategy: from tech to consumer brands, and backing Bolt  24:24 - The challenge of limited exits in European and Asian markets  26:48 - The role of family offices in the French investment landscape  28:38 - Emerging trends, strategies, and structures shaping the industry  30:21 - Lessons learned from mistakes and partnerships  33:56 - A message for funders and capital allocators on funding women; incentives for driving positive change  36:41 - One key takeaway for funders and founders worldwideAbout FleurFleur Pellerin is a French businesswoman, former civil servant and Socialist Party politician who served as a French government minister from 2012 to 2016CEO & Founder of Korelya Capital, European VC Fund. French Junior Minister for SMEs, Innovation and the Digital EconomyFOLLOW FLEUR:https://www.instagram.com/fleurpellerin/?hl=enhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleur_Pellerinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/fleurpellerin/-PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.comWatch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobalJoin the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmovesFOLLOW SARAH:LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobalInstagram: https://instagram.com/sarahchenglobalTwitter: https://twitter.com/sarahchenglobal

From a small Croatian village to building billion-dollar businesses, Robert Herjavec knows what it takes to turn risk into reward. In this special episode, recorded at Biban 2024 and brought to you by Monsha’at, we dive into Robert’s journey—bootstrapping his first company from his basement, making strategic exits to giants like AT&T and Nokia, and mastering the art of wealth creation.Whether you're aiming for your first million or your next billion, Robert’s insights on resilience, risk, and reinvention will leave you inspired to make your own Billion Dollar Moves.Timestamps / Key Takeaways0:00 - Intro01:46 - First impressions of Saudi Arabia’s entrepreneurial spirit; perspective on wealth02:55 - Critical strategies for Saudi Arabia entrepreneurs to succeed in Western markets04:11 - Building a $1 million versus $100 million business05:41 - The influence of Robert’s immigrant background on his leadership06:24 - How to choose an idea to double down on08:07 - Unexpected lessons learned from 21 years of Shark Tank12:32 - Investment made through Shark Tank; are those good deals?14:02 - The opportunity for women-led innovation in Saudi ArabiaAbout Robert HerjavecRobert Herjavec is a Croatian-Canadian businessman, investor, and television personality. Herjavec founded BRAK Systems, a Canadian integrator of Internet security software, and sold it to AT&T Canada in 2000 for $30.2 million.FOLLOW ROBERT:Instagram | LinkedIn | X/Twitter-PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.comWatch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobalJoin the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmovesFOLLOW SARAH:LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobalInstagram: https://instagram.com/sarahchenglobalTwitter: https://twitter.com/sarahchenglobal