EUVC

Mads Jensen, a key contributor to the European tech scene and SuperSeed, joins Dan Bowyer for an engaging discussion. They dive into the importance of mission-driven companies and the role of effective communication in startup success. Mads shares insights on the transformative potential of Central Bank Digital Currencies, specifically the digital euro, while addressing privacy concerns. They also tackle the dynamics between founders and managers, emphasizing how successful leaders adapt their strategies amidst evolving technological landscapes and immigration's impact on economic growth.

Robert Lacher, Founding Partner of Visionaries Club and a venture capital expert, discusses bridging the gap between traditional family businesses and the innovative European startup ecosystem. He highlights the importance of family firms in driving innovation and their collaboration with modern startups. Lacher also contrasts the European and US VC landscapes, advocating for a more risk-taking investment culture. The conversation emphasizes the significance of strategic networking and building strong foundations for emerging companies in Europe.

Kicking off our efforts to further connect the European VC and Corporate world, we’re talking to our in-house CVC expert and friend Jeppe Høier, uncovering his biggest learnings in CVC, how he thinks about corporates as LPs and the key trends he thinks will impact the industry going forward.Jeppe Høier is a long-time corporate venturing specialist and former partner at Maersk Growth with more than 80 MUSD invested for a multiple of 3.6x with massive breakout Einride in the portfolio.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:00:25 Bridging the Gap Between VC and Corporate Worlds02:00 The Growing Importance of CVC02:28 Jeppe's Journey into Venture Capital03:12 Joining Maersk Growth05:00 Maersk Growth: Early Days and Challenges08:03 Strategic Shifts and Direct Investments11:10 Case Studies and Early Investments18:18 Strategic vs Financial Motives in CVC19:18 Challenges and Misconceptions in CVC25:24 Hiring Talent for CVC Teams27:47 Diligence in CVC Partnerships39:15 Corporate Climbing and Collaboration42:08 Corporate LP Investing 45:08 Trends in CVC in Europe47:28 Conclusion and Future Episodes

Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC podcast, where we’ll cover recent news and movements in the European tech landscape with Dan Bowyer and Mads Jensen from SuperSeed.Go to eu.vc to read the core take-aways.Chapters:02:45 Telegram CEO Arrested in France03:35 Debate on Free Speech and Responsibility04:07 Balancing Security and Privacy07:58 The Role of Mega Firms in VC12:36 UK Budget and Its Impact on Startups13:44 Potential Tax Changes and Their Implications15:26 Comparing Economic Strategies: UK vs. US16:50 The Need for Bold Economic Moves19:42 Cancer Vaccines and Medical Innovations21:12 AI and Personalized Medicine23:24 AI Regulation and Its Impact on Europe26:39 Germany's Economic Challenges and Renewable Energy28:17 The Future of Nuclear Energy in Germany29:58 Agentic Workflows: The Future of AI in Business31:27 Microservices and Autonomous Agents32:24 Productivity Enhancements in Corporates32:34 Closing Thoughts on AI and Business

Christoph Klink, a Partner at Antler and former consultant at McKinsey, shares his expertise on the importance of technical founders in Europe. He discusses a significant rise in technical founders, noting that over half of new unicorns are led by those with technical expertise. Christoph emphasizes the need for diverse skill sets in founding teams and the challenges that European tech giants face. Insights from a recent study highlight the critical role technical skills play in startup success and the importance of supporting entrepreneurs on their journeys.

Sam Cash, a founding partner at Entropy Industrial Capital, Eric Truebenbach, the managing director at Teradyne Robotics Ventures, and Claude Ritter, managing partner at Cavalry Ventures, dive deep into AI's real-world impact. They explore AI's transformative role across industries like healthcare and agriculture, prioritizing customer-driven innovation. The trio discusses Europe's unique investment landscape, emerging challenges in deploying AI technologies, and the promising future of robotics. Expect insights on navigating innovation and the burgeoning role of London in robotics.

In this engaging discussion, venture capitalists Alex McDonald and Mads Jensen, along with European VC expert Andreas, tackle pressing issues in the tech landscape. They explore the implications of the UK's rejection of a youth mobility scheme for talent and investment. The group debates rising AI fears, arguing the need for a balanced regulatory approach. They also delve into the rising number of startup shutdowns, linking it to a natural cycle, and discuss the 'silent recession' in VC, emphasizing the importance of a patient investment strategy.

Francesco Perticarari, a former CTO and Lead Software Engineer with deep roots in tech startups, shares his journey in establishing Silicon Roundabout Ventures. He discusses the significance of community in deep tech investments, highlighting his impressive network of over 15,000 founders and engineers. Francesco dives into the intricacies of managing a £5 million fund, the importance of transparency, and the unique opportunities within AI and emerging technologies. His vision aims to drive innovation while addressing global challenges through strategic investments.

Tom McGinn, General Counsel at Northzone, and Zach Posner, Co-Founder & Managing Director at The LegalTech Fund, dive into the exciting world of legal tech and its intersection with AI. They discuss how generative AI is reshaping the legal landscape and emphasize the need for law firms to adapt to new tools cautiously. The conversation highlights client pain points and the importance of user experience in tech solutions, while also tackling the unique challenges of innovation in a traditionally risk-averse industry.

The latest episode of Startups in Focus features Leonid Feinberg, founder of Verax, a Seedcamp-backed company that provides enterprise-grade trust solutions for generative AI. Having a strong background in security and cloud services, including a previous company acquired by Amazon, Leonid shares insights on managing AI-related risks and offers practical advice for future customers regarding AI's potential and trust management.In conversation with Seedcamp’s Managing Director Carlos Espinal, he delves into the challenges and solutions associated with deploying generative AI in production. He also explains how Verax's Control Center helps enterprises gain visibility and mitigate risks by analyzing and modifying AI responses in real-time. Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Today's Guest: Leonid Feinberg, Co-founder and CEO of Verax00:53 Leonid's Background and Journey to Founding Verax01:33 Understanding Verax: Enterprise Trust Solution for Generative AI02:48 Architectural Insights: Rolling Out LLMs in Enterprises05:02 Challenges and Best Practices in AI Deployment08:01 Future of AI and Data Management12:16 Verax's Role in Enterprise AI Trust18:39 Geopolitics and AI: Global Implications26:15 Advice for future AI Customers28:21 Conclusion