EUVC

Welcome back to EUVC Live at Malmö, where we bring you unfiltered conversations with the voices shaping Europe’s venture ecosystem.In this episode, Rokas Pečiulaitis, Founder & Managing Partner at Contrarian Ventures, joins Andreas on stage to unpack one of the most fundamental questions in climate and deep tech: why the technology of today becomes the infrastructure of tomorrow.Rokas takes us from Rockefeller’s Standard Oil to today’s climate transition, explaining how every technological revolution ends in infrastructure and why venture capital must evolve to bridge the gap between innovation and deployment.From energy transitions and the rise of China’s solar dominance to why investors must learn to fund the “missing middle” between venture and project finance, Rokas lays out a vision for Europe’s climate future — and a roadmap for how to fund it.🎧 Here’s what’s covered:00:30 Standard Oil & the Tech-to-Infra ThesisHow Rockefeller’s oil refinement monopoly explains why technology success always ends in infrastructure dominance.03:00 From Fossil Fuels to ElectronsWhy the next 150 years of global growth will be powered by electrons — and why infrastructure, not IP, will capture the value.04:30 Bridging Venture and InfraWhy 80% of capital in climate tech will flow into infrastructure — and how founders and VCs must learn to speak both venture and project finance.05:10 Risk Discipline: Product or Market — Not BothRokas’ hard-learned rule for climate investing: if you take both technology and market risk, you end up “in the cemetery.”06:00 The Wedge StrategyHow to enter consolidated industries like pulp & paper or agriculture — solve one problem, give the solution away, and monetize through embedded transactions.07:40 Vertical Integration WinsFrom Amazon to climate tech: why owning the full stack from technology to infrastructure creates the real moat.09:00 From Rockefeller to GoogleWhy today’s tech giants mirror Standard Oil — accumulating monopoly power until the system forces a break-up.10:30 The Missing Middle in Climate CapitalWhy Europe doesn’t have a “growth gap,” but an “emerging infra gap” — and how to fill it with blended venture and project finance.13:00 China’s Lesson in ScaleHow China captured solar’s value by building, not inventing — and what Europe must learn about owning deployment.14:30 Long Cycles, Real ImpactWhy true infrastructure transitions take decades — and why those who get it right redefine economies and history itself.

Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC podcast, where our good friends Dan Bowyer and Lomax Ward from Outsized Ventures in a discussion with Andrew J. Scott, Founding Partner at 7percent Ventures, cover recent news and movements in the European tech landscape 💬They debate whether governments should backstop industrial giants, what Germany’s lithium find really means for European sovereignty, and how the venture model itself is being reimagined with AI, secondaries, and multi-product funds.🎧 Here’s what’s covered:00:10 Welcome & Quick NewsUS government shutdown symbolism, Labour’s fading momentum, Apple’s backdoor standoff, OpenAI’s half-trillion valuation, and EF’s pivot to the US.09:45 Entrepreneur First’s US ShiftWhy EF’s consolidation westward feels emotional for Europe — and why Lomax calls it validation of stronger European founders who still need US DNA early.15:30 Germany’s Lithium FindA 43-million-ton discovery worth an estimated $600B could cover 50 years of EU demand — if energy costs, extraction tech, and permitting don’t stall it.22:20 London’s IPO CrisisThe UK drops to #23 globally — behind Mexico, Singapore, and Oman. How pensions, regulation, and lack of tech listings hollowed out the market, and what real fixes look like.30:20 Governments, Bailouts & Moral HazardJLR’s £1.5B loan guarantee and Germany’s €500B stimulus spark debate: when should governments step in, and how to ensure taxpayers get upside and discipline in return.40:15 Reinventing VentureDan’s bugbear topic: are new VC models emerging? RIAs, revenue-share hybrids, AI pickers, and Europe’s path to multi-product platforms.50:00 Deals of the WeekFrom Periodic Labs’ $300M seed to Cusp AI, legal tech’s boom, and a surge of defense and deep-tech capital — including Black Forest Labs’ $4B valuation rumor.57:30 Defense MomentumInside London’s Resilience Conference: NATO’s new funds, European urgency gaps, and why founders must think faster to keep pace with US counterparts.

Welcome back to the EUCVC Summit Talks, where we bring you candid conversations with Europe’s leading founders, corporate leaders, and investors shaping the future of venture collaboration.In this episode, Andreas Munk Holm sits down with Simon Boas Hoffmeyer, Global Head of Sustainability & ESG at Carlsberg, and Kasper Hulthin, serial entrepreneur and investor at Future Five (co-founder of Peakon, Podio, and more).With ESG facing political backlash, accusations of greenwashing, and shifting investor sentiment, the question looms: is ESG still a lever for real change—or does it need a reset? Simon and Kasper explore what’s broken, what still works, and how corporates and startups can embed sustainability into real business value.🎧 Here’s what’s covered00:10 ESG under fire — political pushback, greenwashing, and regulatory flip-flops.01:00 Carlsberg’s take: facts, faith, and fear as the drivers of sustainability.02:00 Why startups must reframe ESG as financial return, not a premium add-on.03:00 Culture vs. compliance — how corporates integrate ESG into decision-making.05:00 Born-green startups vs. legacy corporates: different pressures, same imperatives.06:00 Where opportunities lie: inputs for future food systems, alternative coffee and chocolate.07:00 From “sustainability” funds to “energy transition” — reframing the narrative.08:00 Partnerships in practice: pilots, off-take agreements, and startup collaborations.09:00 The investment paradox — more money into NFTs than climate at ESG’s peak.

Welcome back to the EUCVC Summit Talks, where we bring you candid conversations with Europe’s leading founders, corporate leaders, and investors shaping the future of venture collaboration.In this episode, Andreas Munk Holm sits down with Hampus Jakobsson, General Partner at Pale Blue Dot, one of Europe’s leading climate-focused funds. With shifting U.S. politics, renewed uncertainty around climate policy, and growing skepticism of “green hype,” Hampus shares why he defines climate investing as simply “not dumb investing.”From Donald Trump’s return to the White House to Europe’s resilience, China’s role, and the gritty reality of scaling “boring but effective” solutions, this conversation is a masterclass in how investors, corporates, and founders can navigate climate risks — and seize opportunities.🎧 Here’s what’s covered:00:10 Political whiplash — Trump, vibes, and the stress test for climate policy.02:41 Why Europe must stop looking to the U.S. and start managing risk at home.04:55 Climate investing = not dumb investing — the overlooked opportunities in obvious inefficiencies.06:50 Case study: last-mile delivery — why disruption often comes from solving “boring” problems.08:15 Advice to corporates — how CFOs should think about risk and resilience.09:30 Advice to founders — why no more free pilots, and how forward-deployed engineering wins.

Welcome back to EUVC Live powered by Woven Capital at The Drop, where we bring you unfiltered conversations with the voices shaping Europe’s venture ecosystem.In this episode, Alex Bakir, founding partner at Norrsken Evolve, takes the stage fresh off his latest fund close — but instead of talking about fundraising, Alex dives into the bigger picture: how competition, climate, and chaos are reshaping the world we invest in.From the cycles of history and the rise of populism to the structural shocks of climate change, Alex challenges us to rethink Europe’s role, its vulnerabilities, and why rebuilding around cleantech and climate tech isn’t just optional — it’s inevitable.🎧 Here’s what’s covered:00:30 Competition at every level — from startups chasing scarce resources to nation states fighting for security.01:30 The age of AI: why superintelligence could solve everything — or sharpen competition.02:30 Populism’s return: when economics and expectations don’t align, and why inequality fuels discontent.03:30 Comparative advantage & free trade: why the “end of history” never arrived.04:30 Wealth concentration and the broken promise of the nation state.05:30 Cycles of history: Ray Dalio, Harvard sociologists, and why we’re at the realist end of an 80–100 year cycle.06:30 Climate crisis as self-organized criticality — when stress tips systems into avalanches and floods.07:30 Europe’s long decline since 1900 — and why reliance on external manufacturing is now a liability.08:30 Why Europe must rebuild industry on cleantech and climate tech foundations.09:00 Populism isn’t a blip — it’s a decade-long cycle that requires addressing lived realities.10:00 Final call: in a world of shocks, AI, and climate, people and collaboration matter more than ever.

Welcome back to EUVC Live powered by Woven Capital at The Drop, where we bring you the candid conversations with the investors shaping Europe’s venture ecosystem.In this episode, Nicole LeBlanc, Partner at Woven Capital, joins us on stage in Malmö to share why Toyota’s $800M global fund is doubling down on Europe. From talent pools and global mindsets to climate tech leadership, Nicole explains why Europe is the testbed for scaling climate, mobility, and automation solutions worldwide.🎧 Here’s what’s covered:00:30 Why Europe matters: 15% of global VC and growing deal sizes.01:00 Diversification — why global funds can’t rely on just one market.01:30 Talent in Europe: strong engineering pools and founders thinking global from day one.02:30 Climate tech in Europe’s DNA — regulation, partnerships, and net-zero by 2050.03:30 Inside Woven Capital: Toyota’s $800M LPGP fund, financial-first approach, and global mandate.04:30 Toyota Open Labs: Europe-exclusive program giving startups structured access to Toyota.05:30 Portfolio spotlight: Corvus, zero-emission shipping with batteries + hydrogen.06:30 What’s next: circularity, advanced materials, and figuring out AI.

Welcome back to the EUCVC Summit Talks, where we bring you candid conversations with Europe’s leading founders, corporate leaders, and investors shaping the future of venture collaboration.In this session, Mette Hoberg Tønnesen, CEO of The Link, joins Jeppe Høier, EUVC Corporates, for a candid conversation moderated by Andreas Munk Holm. Together they explore how corporate venture networks can outlive the 3.7-year average lifespan of CVCs, bridge the gap between startups and corporates, and unlock Europe’s full potential as an alternative to US and Chinese capital.From translating corporate complexity for startups to tackling “startup theater” and making CVCs real value creators, this is a roadmap for corporates who want to build networks that actually last.🎧 Here’s what’s covered00:00 Why most CVCs only last 3.7 years — and how networks can change that.01:00 The Link’s mission: making startups scale faster by bridging silos and translating corporate-speak.02:00 Where corporates fumble: unclear pilots, wasted startup time, and overbearing “strategic” investors.04:00 The classic value-adds — brand, expertise, assets, customers, data — and why most corporates should start small.05:00 Venture = high school: why networks and rubbing shoulders matter more than PowerPoints.06:00 Corporates must show up — at TechBBQ and startup events, not just closed-door investor tracks.07:00 Early-stage CVC is hard: why late-stage corporates can wait, but seed/A needs sweat and trust.08:00 Europe’s opportunity: corporates stepping up to keep startups from exiting to the US.09:00 LP investing as a gateway: why corporates should back funds to tap networks and learn the game.

Welcome back to the EUCVC Summit Talks, where we bring you candid conversations with Europe’s leading founders, corporate leaders, and investors shaping the future of venture collaboration.In this session, Jeppe Høier sits down with Mike Smeed, Managing Director of InMotion Ventures (the venture arm of Jaguar Land Rover), and Ida Christine Brun, Partner at Maersk Growth. Together, they dive into how two global giants—one in mobility and one in logistics—approach corporate venturing, what they’ve learned about balancing financial returns with strategic purpose, and how they decide where to play in a fast-changing landscape.From decarbonization and electrification to supply chain innovation and customer-centric business models, Mike and Ida share firsthand lessons on what works, what doesn’t, and how corporates can create real value in venture.🎧 Here’s what’s covered00:10 Why corporates must venture beyond the core — InMotion and Maersk Growth’s mandates.01:00 Balancing financial return with strategic alignment — why both guests insist on “financial first.”03:00 The big themes: decarbonization, electrification, and digital supply chains.05:00 What corporates can offer startups that VCs can’t — customer access, distribution, and industrial know-how .06:00 Avoiding “tourist investing” — the discipline corporates need to compete with top-tier VCs .07:00 Building trust with founders — transparency, aligned incentives, and patient capital .08:00 Lessons learned: when corporate bureaucracy kills speed, and how to prevent it .09:00 Looking forward: why corporate venturing will be central to Europe’s green and digital transitions .

Welcome back to EUVC Live powered by Woven Capital at The Drop, where we bring you raw and unfiltered insights from Europe’s venture ecosystem.In this episode, Hampus Jakobsson - serial founder, angel investor, and one of the driving forces behind The Drop - takes the stage to share two big themes: his hard-earned lessons on corporate venturing, and how AI is set to reshape both energy demand and climate solutions.From scars of failed CVC deals to the epiphany that corporates must be at the table, and from the risks of AI’s off-grid energy needs to its potential as “a thousand free interns” in old industries, Hampus delivers a candid, fast-paced perspective you won’t want to miss.🎧 Here’s what’s covered:00:30 Why Hampus once banned CVCs from The Drop — scars from 150+ angel investments and failed corporate deals.01:30 The epiphany: corporates aren’t optional — they’re core to scaling industries like construction, mobility, and climate.02:30 Why we need a clearer language to explain the full spectrum of corporate venture — from balance sheet strategics to spun-out financial-first funds.03:30 Case study: Motorola’s smart deal structure with Hampus’s first company, aligning incentives without blocking other partnerships.05:00 Enterprise sales realities: 18-month sales cycles and €7M average contracts — why corporates matter most for scaling.06:30 Transition to AI: how Hampus’s background in AI shapes his view of its role in climate.07:00 The challenge: AI’s energy demand could reach 10–50% of global consumption, forcing off-grid solutions.08:00 The opportunity: AI as “a thousand free interns” — driving efficiency in old industries from waste management to construction.09:30 Why AI isn’t magic — it’s about practical applications, compilers for design, and tools that boost margins in unsexy industries.10:30 Closing thoughts: solving off-grid energy production and deploying AI where it can have real impact.

Welcome back to another EUVC Podcast, where we gather Europe’s venture family to share the stories, insights, and lessons that drive our ecosystem forward.Today, we dive into the announcement of Ventech’s Fund VI, which has closed at €175M — the firm’s largest fund yet, with an impressive 95% LP re-up rate. To unpack it all, Andreas Munk Holm sits down with Stephan Wirries, General Partner at Ventech. From AI and industrial software to European sovereignty and late-stage capital markets, Stephan shares how Ventech is positioning itself for the next decade — and why Europe still has structural gaps to fix if it wants to scale globally.🎧 Here’s what’s covered:01:00 Announcing Fund VI: €175M close, Ventech’s largest ever, with 95% LP re-up.03:00 What LPs are telling us: trust in the model and appetite for AI.04:00 Ventech’s pan-European footprint: Paris, Munich, Berlin, Helsinki, Stockholm.06:00 Why 50% of capital is aimed at AI, with cross-pollination into health, cyber, and industry.08:00 AI inside VC itself: sourcing, diligence, and portfolio support.09:30 Sovereignty & cybersecurity as Fund VI’s core theme.12:00 Industrial software & robotics: Europe’s edge in automation and “physical AI.”15:00 Lessons from the dot-com crash to today’s AI wave.18:00 Why Ventech avoids foundational LLMs but backs applied AI.20:00 Strategic European bets: Mistral, ASML, and deep tech leadership.22:00 The road ahead: growth capital, IPO markets, and pension reform.