EUVC

In today’s episode of our CVC series, Andreas and our CVC in-house expert, Jeppe Høier, sit down with Nicolas Sauvage, President of TDK Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of TDK Corporation, a global leader in electronics and materials technology. With $350 million in AUM across three funds, TDK Ventures focuses on hard tech, deep tech, and energy transformation. It invests between $250K and $10 million per deal while balancing strategic alignment with venture-scale returns.Since founding TDK Ventures in 2019, Nicolas has built one of the market's most disciplined and entrepreneur-friendly CVCs, backing startups in sustainability, mobility, and advanced materials. Under his leadership, the firm has pioneered a unique "Diverse Advocate" investment process, ensuring rigorous due diligence and a first-principles approach to deep tech investing. In this conversation, Nicolas shares how TDK Ventures bridges the gap between startups and a global corporate parent, the power of patience in CVC, and why he believes nuclear fusion will be the defining energy source of the future.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀

Tom Wehmeier, Head of Intelligence at Atomico, dives into the evolving landscape of European tech. He discusses the current confidence crisis and how regulation influences growth. Key insights from the latest State of European Tech report shed light on capital gaps and market fragmentation. Tom emphasizes the importance of a unified approach in navigating public market challenges while recognizing AI's potential in Europe. He also advocates for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors to drive deep tech innovation.

Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC podcast, where our good friends Dan Bowyer and Mads Jensen from SuperSeed in a discussion with Andrew J. Scott, Founding Partner at 7percent Ventures and Lomax Ward, General Partner at Outsized Ventures, cover recent news and movements in the European tech landscape 💬

In today’s episode, Andreas talks with Miki Yokoyama, Managing Director of Aurum Impact, the impact investment arm of the Goldbeck family office. Unlike most family offices that operate behind closed doors, Aurum Impact is taking a public stance—sharing its journey, investment strategy, and vision to inspire other families to engage in venture and impact investing.Since launching in February 2023, Aurum Impact has made seven direct startup investments in companies like Paebbl, The Landbanking Group, Voltfang, UNDO, CleanHub, and Cyclize, alongside ten venture funds, including Planet A, Systemiq, Revent, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, and Counteract. With a mission to invest in four to five startups and four to five funds annually, their approach is both strategic and deeply rooted in creating environmental and social impact.Miki and Andreas dive into the challenges of family office investing, the lack of transparency in the space, and the role of family wealth in shaping venture capital’s future. They also explore best practices for VCs fundraising from family offices, why many funds struggle to differentiate themselves, and how emerging fund managers can stand out in today’s competitive landscape.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀

In today’s episode of the EUVC Podcast, Andreas talks with Juliet Bailin, Partner at General Catalyst, to explore the firm’s expansion in Europe, investment philosophy, and unique approach to venture capital. General Catalyst, known for backing companies like Stripe, Samsara, Livongo, and Mistral, operates with a global mindset while maintaining a deep commitment to early-stage investing.Juliet, who focuses on infrastructure and applied AI, shares how her history background shapes her perspective on venture, why truth-seeking is fundamental to being a great investor, and how General Catalyst’s collaborative culture enables them to operate as one unified firm across geographies. She also dives into the firm’s recent rebrand and refreshed core values, including playing the long game, serving others, and shaping ambiguity.In the second part of the conversation, we tackle an honest discussion on why venture needs a self-awareness reset. Juliet calls out common bad investor behaviors, from ghosting founders to exploding term sheets, and explains why overvaluing companies for ego reasons ultimately hurts founders the most. She also shares how General Catalyst ensures transparency in decision-making and why long-term relationships—not just transactional networks—are key to success.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀

Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC podcast, where our good friends Dan Bowyer and Mads Jensen from SuperSeed have a discussion with Lomax Ward, General Partner at Outsized Ventures, to cover recent news and movements in the European tech landscape. 💬Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀

Join industry veterans Alvaro Alvarez del Rio, Andre Retterath, John Frankel, and Steven Greenberg as they delve into the game-changing role of AI in venture capital. They discuss how AI enhances portfolio management by uncovering trends and ensuring data-driven decision-making. The conversation highlights the balance of AI and human insight, addressing ethical considerations in AI-driven investment models. Listen as they explore the future of VCs adapting to technological advancements while maintaining personal creativity and relationships.

Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC podcast, where our good friends Dan Bowyer and Mads Jensen from SuperSeed in a discussion with Andrew J. Scott, Founding Partner at 7percent Ventures and Lomax Ward, General Partner at Outsized Ventures, cover recent news and movements in the European tech landscape 💬Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀

Today, we are joined by Savitri Tan in a conversation with Maria Rotilu, Founding Partner at OpenseedVC.Maria Rotilu is the founder and general partner of OpenSeed VC, a £10M venture fund that invests in experienced operators transitioning into founders. With a unique thesis focused on zero-to-one founders, OpenSeed aims to be the first check for those building in commerce, health, and work across Europe and Africa. Maria’s journey has included scaling Uber in emerging markets, managing the Oxford Seed Fund during her MBA, and working at Octopus First Cheque before launching her fund.With a focus on early-stage investing, Maria leverages her operating background to provide empathy and actionable insights to founders navigating the challenging zero-to-one stage. OpenSeed’s strategy also involves a disciplined focus on the UK and four key African markets—Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Egypt—ensuring deep expertise in these geographies.Together, they explore Maria’s approach to venture investing, her belief in the power of operator-led insights, and the challenges of building a solo GP fund in a volatile market. Maria also shares her thoughts on the importance of saying no with kindness and clarity, staying disciplined, and her vision for creating a long-lasting institution that partners with founders for decades to come.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀

In today’s episode of our CVC series, Andreas and our CVC in-house expert, Jeppe Høier, talk with Alokik Advani, Managing Partner at Fidelity’s Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) arm, a strategic investment group focused on early-stage FinTech. Operating globally from London, Fidelity’s CVC targets opportunities in asset and wealth management, investing between $3–$10 million per deal and maintaining a disciplined approach to achieving both financial returns and strategic alignment.With over six years of experience leading Fidelity’s CVC strategy, Alokik has spearheaded investments in companies like Moneybox, Moonfare, and 73 Strings. He shares insights into the unique challenges and opportunities of combining venture capital expertise with the strategic goals of a global asset manager. The conversation explores Fidelity’s thematic investment framework, the evolving CVC landscape, and the pivotal role of AI and sustainability in shaping the future of financial services.