EUVC

Joe Schorge, founder of Isomer Capital, dives into the evolving landscape of European venture capital. He discusses the new proactive approach to secondaries and what true liquidity means today. Joe reflects on the influence of macroeconomic factors on exit timelines and the rising importance of diversification for long-term portfolio health. He emphasizes that while growth persists, predicting market movements is an illusion. Aspiring LPs are offered invaluable insights into navigating this complex ecosystem with wisdom and a sprinkle of humor.

Matthew Spence, Global Head of Venture Capital Banking at Barclays, discusses the revival of defense tech and the surprising strength of the IPO market. With experience at the White House and the Pentagon, he offers insights into how Europe can capitalize on defense innovation. Spence emphasizes the importance of preparing for exits, the dual-use potential of technology, and the need for Europe to leapfrog in innovation rather than lag behind. He also reflects on the return to deep tech, merging hardware and software as venture capital circles back to its roots.

Mads Jensen from SuperSeed and Lomax Ward from Outsized Ventures delve into the shifting landscape of European tech and venture capital. They discuss the resurgence of defense spending due to geopolitical tensions involving Iran and Israel, while exploring the complexities of investing in defense tech. The conversation also highlights Europe's ambitions in space and the urgent need for strategic autonomy. Additionally, they analyze the booming IPO market in the US and its implications for European firms, alongside recent breakthroughs in surgical robotics and AI-driven healthcare.

In this discussion, Christophe Jurczak, Managing Partner at Quantonation, dives deep into the transformative potential of quantum technologies across health, energy, and security. He highlights the real-world applications, such as advanced quantum drug discovery and the creation of resilient quantum internet infrastructures. Jurczak emphasizes the critical talent mix of physicists and computer scientists for startup success and addresses Europe's funding challenges in the quantum race. His insights reveal a promising future, provided that courage and capital converge at the right time.

Tim Bertrand, President of HAProxy and a seasoned three-time GTM leader, shares his journey from scaling startups to market dominance. He dives into the essentials of building effective sales teams, emphasizing adaptability and the importance of hiring practices that match the company's growth stage. Tim also discusses best practices for onboarding, creating urgency in sales, and aligning product strategy with market needs. His insights on value-based pricing and the impact of open source software provide actionable takeaways for founders.

Nicole LeBlanc, a Partner at Woven Capital, shares her insights on corporate venture capital's role in driving innovation. She discusses the strategic relationship with Toyota, emphasizing alignment between corporate goals and startup independence. LeBlanc explains the function of Woven's Portfolio Success team in fostering collaboration and the unique cultural challenges faced in global markets. From investments in hydrogen to lunar rovers, she highlights the importance of nurturing startups to create mutual value and empower sustainable advancements.

Dario de Wet, Founding Partner of LTV Capital—a fund-of-funds innovating in the venture capital space—shares his insights on the evolving LP-GP dynamics. He discusses the unique challenges faced by emerging fund managers, particularly in Europe and underserved markets. Dario explores the impact of narrative on investment success and contrasts US and European GP strategies. The conversation also emphasizes the importance of education, relationship-building, and adaptability in the competitive venture landscape.

Will McQuillan, Partner at Frontline Ventures, challenges the notion that Europe should decouple from the U.S. He emphasizes the power of global collaboration, urging VCs and founders to resist isolationist thinking. McQuillan presents historical examples, such as undersea cables, to highlight the interconnectedness of European and U.S. tech ecosystems. He argues that shared ambition leads to stronger innovation and warns that European startups must seek international expansion to thrive. His insights drive home the idea that success crosses borders.

Join a lively conversation as the hosts tackle pressing topics like the rising threat of cybercrime and its implications for businesses and investors. They explore Europe's energy fragility and the urgent need for a coherent strategy amidst advancing AI technology. Dive into the competitive landscape of autonomous vehicles, highlighted by Tesla's robo-taxi vision. Discover insights on Europe's capital gap and the cultural dynamics driving startup success, alongside groundbreaking funding rounds in quantum computing, which are reshaping the tech landscape.

In this episode, is joined by and , General Partners at , a £1B investment firm focused on consumer and retail, to explore how AI transforms how consumer businesses are built, scaled, and experienced.They unpack why consumer AI is more than a buzzword - it's unlocking entirely new market categories, reshaping broken UX flows, and expanding the definition of addressable markets. From agentic software and hyper-personalized health stacks to defensibility through data, brand, and workflow, this episode offers a deep dive into how to build and invest at the intersection of frontier tech and human behavior.Here’s what’s covered:07:27 Exploring Consumer AI Innovations14:47 Challenges and Opportunities in Consumer AI20:27 The Path to Agentic Business Models25:27 Building Optionality in AI Products26:23 Case Study: Superhuman's Agentic Email System28:10 The Velocity of AI Announcements31:10 Defensibility in Consumer AI39:15 AI's Impact on Consumer Company Operations43:07 The Disruption of Incumbents by AI Startups