TheOnePoint

You may not care about geopolitics, but geopolitics cares about you.This hit me hard during my conversation with Larsen Jensen – former Navy SEAL, 2X Olympic medalist, and now Founding GP at Harpoon Ventures.Here's what's happening RIGHT NOW that most are missing:💡 The Great Awakening: Silicon Valley is returning to its roots. We started with ARPANET, the space race, and Cold War tech. Then we moved on to SaaS and social media. Now we're back to building the hard stuff.🎯 The Perfect Storm: Three forces are converging:– Founders leaving top tech companies to build hard tech– Government budgets finally prioritizing resilience– Private capital is also filling the void⚡ Ukraine Changed Everything: This isn't just another conflict - it's "Drone War One." The rules of warfare have been rewritten faster than doctrine can adapt.🔮 The Generational Opportunity: Larsen believes this AI-driven era will be 10-100x more impactful than the dot-com boom. We're not just building software anymore - we're building the "freedom stack."The companies winning aren't just creating shareholder value - they're ensuring Western superiority for generations.🎯 What we unpacked:🔹 Why Harpoon exists: Larsen built Harpoon as a venture fund focused exclusively on technologies that uphold Western resilience — from AI and cyber to space, energy, and autonomous defense. It’s venture capital with a national security thesis.🔹 The “Freedom Stack” Thesis: AI. Rare earths. Cybersecurity. Energy. Space. Autonomy. This isn’t sci-fi. It’s a new category of venture opportunities that will define global power over the next 25 years. Harpoon calls it the “Freedom Stack” — and they’re investing early.🔹 From Zero to $1B in Government Contracts: Harpoon doesn’t just provide capital. They go into the trenches with their startups, helping them win massive government contracts. Their portfolio has secured $1B+ in revenue — before IPO or exit.🔹 The “Black Flag” Program: YC for defense tech? Pretty much. Black Flag is Harpoon’s custom-built accelerator for startups solving “impossible” problems in defense, national security, and critical infrastructure. It’s already showing serious traction.🔹 The New Venture Equation: You might not care about geopolitics. But geopolitics cares about you. Founders are waking up to this. Capital is following. Governments are modernizing. And VCs? The smart ones are moving fast.The question isn't whether you should care about defense tech, cybersecurity, and critical infrastructure.The question is: Which side of history do you want to be on?

🚀 From €10M to €1.2B+ — What It Takes to Scale a VC Firm (And What Comes Next)If you're Speedinvest, you don't just scale — you reinvent.In our latest episode of TheOnePoint Podcast, I sat down with Daniel Keiper-Knorr, founding partner at Speedinvest. What started as a boutique €10M fund in 2011 has now evolved into a €1.2B+ platform and one of the most active early-stage investors across Europe.This episode isn’t just about numbers — it’s about how you scale thoughtfully and what's next for venture capital in Europe and beyond.After publishing our Rethinking Venture Capital report, I’ve been exploring themes that often go unnoticed — and one of them is the venture fund management business itself.As we enter what we call the Venture 3.0 era, fund management is being shaped by two powerful forces: 📈 Institutionalization and 🌐 DemocratizationIt might not always steal the headlines, but it’s increasingly where the future of venture is being built.Daniel was the perfect guest to unpack this with. Having lived the full arc — from entrepreneur to investor — he brings rare clarity, sharp intuition on trends, and a candid, approachable voice.These are the kinds of conversations that remind me why I love this work.We talked about:🏗️ The structural strategy behind their growth — from fintech-only in 2011 to now 6 vertical teams covering AI, climate, deep tech, health, and more 🌍 How they built a truly pan-European footprint — and why local presence still matters 🧭 Their intentional shift toward specialized, autonomous sectoral teamsBut we also tackled the hard questions most firms avoid:🔁 What does real succession planning look like in venture? 📉 Why most liquidity plans are broken — and how Speedinvest is using secondaries and other tools like sell-side M&A to unlock real value. Speedinvest now has three full-time team members focused solely on creating liquidity for LPs. Not fundraising. Not portfolio management. Just exits. 🔗 The increasing role of consolidation — and whether Europe will see €10B VC firms emerge in the next five years (Daniel thinks we should)One venture insight from Daniel, where the industry needs a reset:💥 “VC is a marketplace — capital in, capital out. But too many GPs still see IR as a burden instead of a core function.”We wrapped with a strong call to arms:→ Europe must close its Series B/C capital gap → LPs should fund innovation the way they fund infrastructure → Founders must know: VC isn’t for everyone — and not every company needs to be a unicornThis is the playbook for Venture 3.0 — institutional, global, strategic… and deeply human.

Most VCs believe data will transform every industry… except their own.That contradiction sparked something radical.Rob Hodgkinson, MD at SignalRank, isn’t just another investor. He’s part of a quiet revolution—one that's rewriting how we pick winners in venture capital.📈 Instead of betting on founders or decks, they bet on investor track records.👀 Instead of chasing hype, they eliminate zeros through an algorithm that mimics the logic of hedge funds.And just like that, a radically new approach to venture capital reveals itself—high precision, low recall investing at Series B.💸 LPs get index-like exposure with vintage diversification. 🌍 Seed investors get pro-rata access they otherwise couldn't afford. 📈 The SignalRank Index may one day be listed like a public ETF. It’s a new paradigm. An entirely different way to be in venture.The age of artisanal investing is giving way to systematic precision.And, they have gained ground rapidly. SignalRank sees 60% of the Series B market and invests in the top 5%.And in 2 short years, they’ve become the second most active Series B investor globally, right behind a16z.Ask yourself: If 50%+ of public assets are indexed… why is venture still hand-crafted?🚀 This is Venture 3.0. Are you ready?And this is all that we discussed:Pro-Rata Rights as an Access StrategyThe Philosophical Divide in Venture: Craft vs. SystemBuilding a Publicly Tradable Venture Product Scaling Through SPV InfrastructureVintage Diversification as a Structural Advantageand so much more…If you're a seed investor looking to defend your winners, or an LP tired of inaccessible managers, SignalRank is building the bridge between exclusivity and access.

🚀 Consumer tech is riding the wave. Industrial tech is building the next ocean.While consumer tech saturates, a trillion-dollar opportunity is hiding in plain sight — and it’s in the factories, warehouses, and robotics labs of Europe.In my latest episode of TheOnePoint Podcast, I spoke with Sagar Chandna, Senior Partner at Runway FBU — one of the few VCs boldly focused on deep tech and industrial transformation.** Disclaimer: Transcript is AI-generated. ** Correction: Sagar is among the top 100 data-driven VCs globally.This isn’t just another startup conversation. This is about:🔹 Why industrial tech is still a blue ocean — untouched, underserved, and ripe for massive innovation🔹 How their portfolio startups like  WSense (subsea wireless) and Sonair (ultrasound navigation) are quietly revolutionizing robotics🔹 What the next trillion-dollar companies could look like — and why they won’t be mobile apps🔹 Why Europe needs to stop depending on legacy supply chains and start building resilient, tech-forward industryWe also go deep on the VC side:💡 What investors really look for in industrial founders💡 Why most founders pitch wrong (and how to fix it)💡 How to create investor trust — the right wayTop takeaways:❌ Don’t pitch your tech — pitch your company as a VC product❌ Don’t talk to “any” investor — know your ICP❌ Don’t be transactional — be strategic and consistent🔥 Best part? Sagar’s framework for fundraising:“Regular Updates + Excitement + FOMO = Investment.”📉 If you think industrial startups are boring or too slow... this conversation might change your mind.Where you can Sagar:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sagarchandna/Where you can find Rohit:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohityadav23/Newsletter: https://yadavrohit.substack.com/

🧠 “Humanoid robots? Overhyped. AI-powered cobots? Quietly making waves around the world.”That’s just one of the sharp takes from my latest episode of The One Point Podcast, featuring Oliver Kahl from MIG Capital — one of Europe’s leading DeepTech investors.We unpacked the industrial robotics revolution — not the flashy headlines, but the real innovation happening behind the scenes in factories, logistics hubs, and startup labs.Here’s a taste of what we covered:🤖 Humanoid Hype vs. Reality:“It looks amazing on YouTube, but the reality? We’re 10-20 years away from viable humanoids.”Power consumption, mechanics, and AI limitations still make real-world deployment a massive hurdle.⚙️ AI Is the Game-Changer:“AI is making robots finally see the way humans do.”From pallet picking to dynamic part detection, AI is enabling robots to work in chaotic, real-world settings without perfect conditions. That’s why they also invested in Inbolt led by Albane at Seed stage.💸 Investor Clarity:"Scalability. Exit potential. Team. That’s what we really look for."Oliver broke down what makes a robotics startup venture-backable — and where most pitches fall flat.📉 The Harsh Truth About Late-Stage Funding in Europe:"There’s a scale-up gap in European deep tech funding.”If you’re raising a €50M+ round in robotics — chances are you’re looking at the U.S. or Asia.🔥 We also covered:The real cost of robot deployment (hint: it’s not the robot)Why integration and ease-of-use will define the next robotics waveWhat Europe needs to fix in its capital marketsTactical advice for founders (especially from academic backgrounds) trying to raise in industrial tech🎙️This one’s for:✔️ Startup founders in robotics, AI, or hardware✔️ Operators and engineers building the future of automationIt’s an inside look at how robotics sector is evolving in Europe — and where the real opportunities lie.Where you can Oliver:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-kahl/Where you can find Rohit:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohityadav23/Newsletter: https://yadavrohit.substack.com/

🚨Venture capital isn’t broken. But emerging managers need to rethink their playbook.🎙️ I had a deep, no-BS conversation with Matt Curtolo, a seasoned LP and venture allocator, about the brutal reality of raising a first or second venture fund today — and what emerged was a masterclass in navigating the current VC landscape.💥 Key truths Matt shared:👉 LPs aren’t allergic to seed/pre-seed. They’re just choosing familiar faces over new ones.👉 The “flight to quality” = Andreessen, General Catalyst, and other platforms scooping up 50%+ of VC dollars.👉 Emerging managers need to stop pitching mismatched LPs and start owning their narrative.🏛️ The LP playbook has changed.LPs aren't risk-on anymore. They want process over promises. The default answer is “no” — and you need a crystal-clear reason for them to say “yes.”🎯 Fundraising is no longer about just a deck and a track record. It’s about: ✅ Clear GP-thesis fit✅ Repeatable investment process✅ A differentiated (or better) story✅ Knowing your ideal LP avatarYet there’s hope:🔹 LPs are showing renewed optimism.🔹 Innovation doesn’t care about interest rates.🔹 Seed-stage opportunity is still wide open—if you show why you belong.🔥 If you’re an emerging manager trying to raise in 2025, this episode is your playbook.Where you can Matt:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-curtolo-caia/Where you can find Rohit:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohityadav23/Newsletter: https://yadavrohit.substack.com/

🚀 From University Halls to Leading the Robotics Revolution 🎙️ Just wrapped up an amazing podcast episode with Albane Dersy, co-founder of Inbolt, and I’m still buzzing from the insights.When most people think of robotics, they think hardware. But Albane flipped the narrative: 👉 “Robotics is not just hardware anymore — it’s software and technology.”Inbolt is giving industrial robots eyes and a brain, using AI and 3D vision to help them adapt in real-time to the environment — no more rigid jigs or reprogramming production lines.They didn't follow the usual path. They built everything from the ground up, with the beginnings like- ❌ No deep industry network. ❌ No prior factory experience. ✅ Just sheer hustle, customer obsession, and a clear mission.Her secret sauce?🚀 “We’ve been relentlessly customer-focused — that drives everything else.”Huge congrats to her for being named one of the 10 Women Shaping the Future of Robotics in 2025 by the International Federation of Robotics 🔥Albane shared how they: 🔹 Pivoted from worker-assist tools to full robotic guidance 🔹 Landed customers like Stellantis 🔹 Raised $15M in Series A funding (supported by existing investors MIG Capital - Oliver Kahl) 🔹 Moved to the U.S. to meet global demand 🔹 Navigated the boom in humanoid robotics and AI 🔹 Leveraged European grants AND startup competitions to keep goingMy favorite takeaway: 💡 “It only takes one yes. You don’t need 100 investors. Just the right one.”If you're building in deep tech, hardware, or robotics — listen to this episode. It’s packed with unfiltered advice on scaling, pivoting, and fundraising.And if you’re just starting out? 📚 Read Fanatical Prospecting — the book that helped Albane become the sales powerhouse she is today.Where to find Albane:LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/albanedersy/Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.inbolt.com/Where to find Rohit Yadav:LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohityadav23/⁠⁠Newsletter: ⁠All Things VC⁠ (⁠⁠https://yadavrohit.substack.com/⁠⁠)

🚀 Building the Future of Fashion, One Shipping Container at a Time 🌍👕Imagine a world where clothes are manufactured anywhere, anytime, in the exact amount we need—eliminating waste, reducing carbon emissions, and revolutionizing the industry. This isn’t just a dream. This is Rodinia Generation.I recently spoke with Trine Young, Founder & CEO of Rodinia Generation, and her story blew me away. Frustrated with the inefficiencies of global fashion supply chains, she asked a simple but radical question:💡 “Why are 60% of clothes made on the other side of the planet from where they are consumed?”Rodinia Generation’s answer?🚢 An entire automated apparel manufacturing system in a shipping container.💚 Potential impact? Saving 42 billion liters of water and 1 million tons of CO2 annually, all while building a multi-billion-dollar business.But Trine’s journey hasn’t been easy. She’s tackled:🔹 The challenges of fundraising for hard tech & climate tech🔹 Convincing investors that hybrid (hardware + software) solutions are the future🔹 Navigating bias in investment circles (yes, she was once told to “find a male co-founder” 🤯)Her biggest lesson? Fundraising is like speed dating—you meet 100+ investors and need to choose wisely. Not all money is good money.🔥 Her advice to founders:✅ Master the storytelling of your business—the best idea in the world won’t get funded if no one understands it.✅ Get clear on your numbers—especially if you have upfront hardware costs.✅ Do your due diligence on investors too—talk to their portfolio founders before signing the deal.Rodinia Generation is redefining what sustainable, local, and scalable apparel production can look like. And the best part? They’re just getting started.Where to find Trine:LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/trineyoungchangeiscoming/Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.rodiniageneration.io/Where to find Rohit Yadav:LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohityadav23/⁠⁠Newsletter: ⁠All Things VC⁠ (⁠⁠https://yadavrohit.substack.com/⁠⁠)

From an idea 💡to a thriving community💪🏼Playfair Capital’s remarkable journey with the Female Founders Office Hours (FFOH) initiative showcases what's possible in today's venture landscape. 🚀In December '24, I wrapped an incredible conversation with Clare Zhang on TheOnePoint podcast, where she shared the vision driving the FFOH initiative, how they're reshaping opportunities for female entrepreneurs, and their innovative project that is making waves in our ecosystem.The scale of the initiative is massive. Some statistics on the 12th version of the FFOH initiative that was completed in Q4 2024:310 founders210 investorsOver 1200 meetings in three hoursListen in to hear how one mission evolved into a movement.🎙️Clare is an investor at Playfair Capital, a London-based pre-seed fund. Previously, she was a Founder's Associate at fintech startup Liveflow and worked in driver ops at Uber, focusing on engagement and acquisition.Our conversation touched on a range of topics– Success of their recent 12th version of the FFOH initiative– Process of running the FFOH initiative– How should founders approach initiatives like FFOH… and so much moreWhere to find Clare:• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarevzhang/• Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://playfair.vc/Where to find Rohit Yadav:• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohityadav23/⁠⁠• Newsletter: ⁠All Things VC⁠ (⁠⁠https://yadavrohit.substack.com/⁠⁠)Topics that we covered in the podcast:(00:00) Podcast intro(00:53) Intro: Clare Zhang (01:43) Tell us about the recent 12th version of the FFOH initiative (02:45) Motivation behind starting FFOH(04:33) Why did Playfair focus on FFOF rather than other initiatives(05:50) How did the collaboration process look with other investors for this initiative(08:14) Process of running FFOH initiative (11:02) What are the founder’s benefits of participating in events like FFOH(13:29) How should founders approach initiatives like FFOH(17:25) The Biggest challenge of running the FFOH initiative(16:38) Challenges faced by diverse founders (23:29) One interesting stat from the ecosystemTune in and enjoy.

🎯 The Hidden Engine Behind Top VC Funds: Research-First InvestingJust wrapped up a fascinating conversation withLawrence, Partner Research atLunar Ventures, about what truly powers successful venture investing.Key insights that surprised me:Is being a researcher a personality trait? Turns out it's both inherent and acquirableResearch-led funds are creating a new category in VC - and it's workingHow Lunar Ventures built their "State of Future" project (fascinating approach!)Research vs. Data: They're not the same thing (and why it matters)AI in research: It's changing everything but not killing the research function💡Most interesting take: The best VCs are quietly building research powerhouses that go way beyond traditional due diligence.🔮My prediction: The next wave of venture outperformers won't just have the biggest checkbooks - they'll have the deepest research engines.Transforming venture capital from pattern matching to deep insight mining.What's your take? Are research-first VCs the future?Where to find Lawrence:• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrence-lundy-bryan/• Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.lunar.vc/Where to find Rohit Yadav:• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohityadav23/⁠⁠• Newsletter: ⁠All Things VC⁠ (⁠⁠https://yadavrohit.substack.com/⁠⁠)Topics that we covered in our discussion:(00:00) - Episode intro (04:54) - Being a researcher: Is it a personality trait, or is it teachable?(06:47) - Understanding Lunar Ventures and its focus(09:52) - Creating differentiation in the VC world based on the research function(11:14) - Research-led funds in the market and segmentation of VC funds based on research function(12:45) - Building a research-driven investment methodology (15:00) - Research could be a differentiating function as VC funds grow(16:11) - Daily life and research at Lunar Ventures (State of Future project, Deep dives, Core themes)(22:18) - Role of research in investment due diligence in venture capital (24:06) - Growth of VC asset class and role of research function (plus difference bw. Research and Data)(30:18) - The Big Debate: Is Research critical, or should we trust in the Founders(32:58) - Advent of AI in the Research Function: Supportive or Disruptive(36:56) - What skills are valuable for someone to build a career in Research function(39:14) - An interesting thought on the Tech worldEnjoy listening