EUVC

Joel Larsson, Founding GP of Pale blue dot, Jon Coker from Eka Ventures, Joe Schorge of Isomer Capital, and Anubhav Srivastava, CEO of Tactyc, dive into the nuances of data-driven portfolio modeling. They discuss best practices in portfolio management, the importance of dynamic fund forecasting, and challenges linked to portfolio construction. Topics like portfolio concentration, evaluating companies, and the significance of both qualitative and quantitative metrics are explored, offering valuable insights for navigating the venture capital landscape.

Christian Dorffer is the Founder and General Partner of Defiance Capital, a €25M fund specializing in pre-seed investment. He discusses the groundbreaking Unicorn Founders DNA report, revealing that many successful entrepreneurs are immigrants and women. Dorffer highlights the challenges faced by underrepresented founders in securing funding amid systemic biases. He advocates for a fresh approach to identifying non-traditional talent and shares insights on nurturing diverse teams in the venture capital landscape.

Chris Wade, Founding Partner at Isomer Capital, discusses VC sentiment in Europe, comparing 2024 to previous years. Topics include AI, semiconductor companies, IPOs of Revolut and Klarna, geopolitical uncertainties, and the importance of humanity. They touch on exits, global political climate, AI impact, regulation, and personal growth in 2024.

This is the second of the “Startups in Focus” series, where Carlos Espinal from Seedcamp chats with Ryan Donnelly, co-founder and CEO of Enzai. Their conversation revolves around:the impact of AI as a technological revolution similar to the mobile shift, dotcom boom, and web inventionthe importance of regulations and standards in ensuring AI’s responsible use and trustworthinessthe challenges and opportunities in AI adoptionEnzai’s mission of enabling organizations to leverage AI technology effectively and responsibly, in compliance with emerging regulationsEnzai’s vision of enabling trust in AIfuture regulatory landscapes and the necessary frameworks for AI adoptionChapters:00:00 Introduction to the AI Technological Revolution00:36 Meet Ryan Donnelly: Co-founder and CEO of Enzai01:14 The Inspiration Behind Enzai02:19 Understanding Enzai’s Customers03:13 The Role of Regulations in AI05:07 The Evolution of AI Regulations10:26 The Importance of Standards in AI14:20 Enzai’s Vision for the Future15:49 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

In this episode of the EUVC podcast, Andreas discusses with Chris Wade, Founding Partner at Isomer Capital, and Travis Pittman, co-founder and CEO of TourRadar, one of the finalists in the Achievement of the Year category at this year’s European VC Awards.TourRadar is an Organized Adventure Platform, offering the world’s largest selection of multi-day adventures worldwide. TourRadar’s online platform seamlessly connects travelers and travel agents with 2,500 multi-day operators, offering 50,000 adventures in more than 160 countries globally.Travis has raised $60m of capital from Speedinvest, Hoxton Ventures, and Cherry Ventures and, in 2018, raised a C round led by Technology Crossover Ventures (TCV). Isomer Capital and LGT also joined this round. The company’s GMV grew to 9 figures in 2019, then 2020 started very well with all-time high monthly revenues until Feb 2020 when Covid hit revenues went negative as customers asked for their money back as they were unable to travel.To ensure the business's survival, they made significant cuts to their workforce and reduced salaries. Travis emphasized the importance of transparency in communication during uncertain times. Despite the difficulties, TourRadar was able to recover and is now back at a revenue level above pre-COVID levels and more profitable. They have also expanded their product offerings, particularly in the payments and affiliate networks areas.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:00:00 Introduction and Background of TourRadar10:49 Pre-COVID Success and Funding Journey15:06 Understanding and Improving Unit Economics23:50 Prioritizing Customer Support and Making Difficult Decisions26:14 Adapting and Navigating Through the Crisis36:00 Transparency and Communication in Uncertain Times40:13 Expanding Product Offerings: Payments and Affiliate Networks48:14 The Future of TourRadar: Mobile App Development and Search Experience53:44 Prioritizing Mental Health and the Role of Supportive Investors

In this episode of the EUVC podcast, Andreas discusses with - Mikhail Taver, Founder and Managing Partner of Taver Capital II, with a target fund size of $20M.Taver Capital is a fund based on Delaware, US, focused on early-stage global AI startups from the industrial sector. They have already invested in companies like Earth AI, MSQRD (acquired by Facebook), ID R&D (acquired by Mitek), and Sayana (acquired by Headspace).In this conversation, Andreas discusses with Mikhail his experience in robotics and AI investing, the potential of AI in various industries, the challenges of communication between startups and corporations, the impact of regulation on technological progress, and the importance of education and networking in fundraising. They also touch on the topic of mentors and the need for founders to find their own path.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:00:12 Tavar Capital II: Focus and Investments03:34 Passion for Robotics and AI03:53 Mikhail's Journey into Robotics and AI06:36 AI in Industry: Early Examples08:11 Earth AI: A Success Story08:47 Predictive Maintenance and More09:28 VC Metrics of Success11:07 Challenges in Industry Disruption12:09 Communication Gaps Between Startups and Corporations15:07 GP-LP Dynamics in Venture Capital18:24 Communication Gaps Between Startups and VCs21:19 Working with Generalist VCs23:04 Regulation and Technological Progress31:45 Advice for Emerging VCs and Founders

Experts discuss empowering women in European venture capital by addressing challenges, inclusive policies, retaining women in VC, and balancing parenthood with careers. Insights on female representation, investment in women-led startups, and strategies for long-term solutions to encourage women in science, technology, and engineering.

Experienced professional Sarah Harvey shares insights on transitioning to angel investing, her work in health tech during COVID-19, the importance of diversity on cap tables, and her approach to evaluating founders. She highlights her journey from strategy roles to startups and emphasizes personal growth in the industry.

Carlos Espinal, Managing Partner at Seedcamp, discusses the latest startup founder's fundraising guide. He highlights the pitfalls to avoid as an early-stage founder, the evolution of VC market cycles, and the challenges in navigating investor expectations. The podcast also dives into the impact of competitive capital on valuations, strategic approaches to fundraising, and changing perspectives in tech entrepreneurship and VC culture.

Sion Evans, Senior Investment Manager at VenCap, discusses the debate on big versus small funds in venture capital, highlighting the importance of manager selection and fund sizing. They emphasize the significance of performance data analysis, global investment approaches, and building strong relationships with core managers. The conversation explores portfolio construction, risk management, and the consistency of fund performance across different strategies.