TheOnePoint

🧠 “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

Research: The Hidden Superpower in Venture Investing 🔥🚀 In any investment process, research is the cornerstone. It’s the critical tool that drives informed, strategic, and profitable decisions. ✅ Minimizes uncertainty ✅ Enhances strategic planning ✅ Builds resilient portfolios While the role of research is well-established in equities, it often flies under the radar in the venture capital space. Yet, in a world that’s increasingly dynamic, leveraging research in venture can offer investors a serious competitive advantage. To explore this vital topic, we’re thrilled to have an exceptional guest with us: Santosh Rao from Manhattan Venture Partners. Let me introduce you to Santosh: 💼 25+ years of financial services experience 📈 20 years as an equity analyst 🏦 Began his career at Prudential Securities and held roles at top investment banks 📚 Double undergraduate degrees + MBA in Finance (U.S.) 📰 Frequently cited in financial journals 🎥 Regular appearances on CNBC, Bloomberg, CNN, and more Santosh is currently the Head of Research/Partner at Manhattan Venture Partners, and his expertise in research-backed investment strategies is second to none. Stay tuned for an insightful conversation as we shine a spotlight on why research matters now more than ever in venture capital. Where to find Santosh: • LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/santosh-rao-9544292/ • Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.mvp.vc/team/santosh-rao Where to find Rohit Yadav: • Web: ⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/rohityadav⁠⁠⁠ • LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohityadav23/⁠⁠  • Newsletter: ⁠All Things VC⁠  (⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7081921640367808512/⁠⁠) We talked about: (00:00) Episode intro (01:48) Santosh’s investment research journey: From 1991 till now (04:18) Seeing the Dot-com bubble (05:54) Growth of the private markets and his move (11:54) Research is pivotal to private markets (14:35) Explaining Manhattan Venture Partner’s (MVP’s) business (17:48) Santosh’s role at MVP (22:24) How does a typical day look like in research business (27:08) research is not just about the consumption of knowledge, it’s also about the output (31:53) Difference between public vs. private market research (34:39) Research function within the venture capital ecosystem (40:21) Venture is a conviction game and research builds conviction (41:44) Skills required to build research function (45:39) Advice for newcomers in the Research function (49:11) Staying motivated in Research (51:04) Secondaries are the new IPOs

Valuations topic is confusing and sometimes outright stressful for founders. That’s why I invited Dan Gray, Head of insights of the Equidam platform for this episode of TheOnePoint. And not just for founders. Many investors also don’t have the perfect grip on the topic. Due to their fund strategy setup, many investors might be valuation takers and not valuation setters. And honestly, the whole practical aspect of the valuations is influenced by many factors, including supply-demand of capital from investors who may or may not be too focused on this KPI alone to do deals. So, in a nutshell - Valuation as a topic has its worshipers and non-believers. Though whichever side you are on - it never hurts to understand the nuances. Dan was the perfect guest as he has 15 years of experience in and around tech startups. He is a regular contributor to Crunchbase and writes about venture capital, startup fundraising, and valuation. I’m sure the founders will enjoy this episode. As it’s January and fund-raising for startups is just beginning, I’m sure founders will gain a ton of insights from the episode. Where to find Dan: • LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/dangjr/ • Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.equidam.com/ Where to find Rohit Yadav: • Web: ⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/rohityadav⁠⁠⁠ • LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohityadav23/⁠⁠  • Newsletter: ⁠All Things VC⁠  (⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7081921640367808512/⁠⁠) We talked about (00:00) Episode intro (00:58) Intro: Dan Gray (01:35) Intro: Equidam platform (03:40) Experience as Head of Insights @Equidam (04:53) What’s the vision for the Equidam platform (07:36) Different valuation methodologies (09:24) Scorecard based valuation methodology (11:44) Sample valuation outcome from the Equidam platform (13:14) The question of higher or lower valuations (15:54) How should founders think when VCs allocate low valuation to their startup (20:05) How should founders think when VCs allocate higher valuation to their startup (21:35) Investor’s incentive on giving lower vs higher valuation (22:39) Valuations in the context of larger VC funds (25:19) Price vs valuation (26:34) Startups are art, valuations are science and price is both (28:09) Most common questions from founders regarding valuations (32:33) How venture capital uses or abuses multiples (35:25) Where does multiples-valuation methodology have its place (39:53) Valuation trends in the last 2-4 years (42:51) Starting up: Timing and macro conditions (46:13) Cross-border investment: European founders and U.S. investors (49:08) VC investor and LP insights on valuations (53:35) Valuations in the context of secondary markets (57:32) Dan’s book recommendation: Paper Belt on Fire

Success stories from the venture ecosystem and the inspiring Female Foundry community deserve to shine—and Agata’s story is a standout example. 💪 In just 3 short years, Agata has built an incredible 6,000+ member community of investors, founders, advisers, and venture players, all united by a powerful mission: backing more female entrepreneurs. 👩‍💼🌍💡 Her journey is extraordinary, and her impact speaks volumes about the power of collaboration and purpose-driven leadership. 🙌✨ They also launched the Female Innovation Index to understand the funnel of female entrepreneurship and the investment landscape in the European ecosystem, analyzing 650K+ companies. No small feat! Recently Female Foundry also launched an AI incubator in collaboration with Google Cloud with a focus on equipping startups with transformative AI tools and thinking to accelerate their growth Where to find Agata: • LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/agata-nowicka/ • Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.femalefoundry.co/ Where to find Rohit Yadav: • Web: ⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/rohityadav⁠⁠⁠ • LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohityadav23/⁠⁠  • Newsletter: ⁠All Things VC⁠  (⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7081921640367808512/⁠⁠) In this episode of TheOnePoint, we discussed (00:36) Intro: Agata (01:22) Intro: Female Foundry Community (05:30) Experience building the Female Foundry community (09:14) Vision for the Future: Female Foundry (19:43) Comparing US and European ecosystems (22:26) Diversity-Focused funds vs Generalist Funds (27:15) One reason why we haven’t seen meaningful progress w.r.t diversity (34:22) Maximising opportunities in the local ecosystem (40:52) Preparing for investor pitches (48:41) Exciting times for AI

How to successfully fundraise for a ClimateTech startup in India!? Get ready to uncover the answers to this key topic and explore many other insights in this episode of TheOnePoint podcast with Parithi Govindaraju from Okulo Aerospace. ClimateTech startups are tackling challenges essential for humanity's survival. But for founders in this space, the road is anything but easy. From the struggles of early-stage fundraising to the unique challenges of innovating in a field driven by physical solutions (Atoms) rather than just digital ones (Bits), ClimateTech founders often face a steep learning curve. Okulo Aerospace raised their pre-seed round in 2023 with 1 million led by Ideaspring Capital with participation from Java Capital Where to find Parithi Govindaraju: • LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/parithig/ • Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.okuloaerospace.com/⁠ Where to find Rohit Yadav: • Web: ⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/rohityadav⁠⁠⁠ • LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohityadav23/⁠⁠  • Newsletter: ⁠All Things VC⁠  (⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7081921640367808512/⁠⁠) In this episode, we dive into what it really takes to secure investment in this critical space and how founders can navigate the complexities of building a ClimateTech startup. Topics covered - (00:00) Intro: Podcast (00:59) Intro: Parithi Govindaraju (01:29) Intro: Okulo Aerospace (03:04) Ovule Aerospace: Vision and Innovations  (05:26) Market focus and expansion plans (06:37) ClimateTech market in India (09:15) Personal View: One hot ClimateTech area in India (11:05) Fundraising Journey: From Idea to Pre-Seed Funding (25:19) Treating the fundraising journey as a series of steps (26:50) Mindset for fundraising success (29:03) Strategies for effective fundraising (31:44) Navigating Grant opportunities  (35:10) The role of mentors and advisors (38:17) Maintaining motivation during challenges (40:48) Hiring for fit-over talent (42:39) The concept of adjacent possible innovations