VC | 462 | George Robson on Scaling Global Ambitions, Deep Tech, and the European VC Landscape

EUVC

In this short but insightful episode of the EUVC Podcast, we’re joined by George Robson of Sequoia and Benjamin, our trusted ambassador from Tech Barbecue, for a candid conversation on the transformative impact of AI—especially through the lens of content creation.The group touches on the disconnect between innovators and the mainstream when it comes to AI adoption. George and Benjamin reflect on the massive potential of AI, the surprisingly slow uptake among everyday users, and how those on the cutting edge are already rethinking workflows, communication, and strategy.
Here’s what’s covered:

• 05:46 Reconciling European Optimism with U.S. Skepticism
• 17:22 U.S. Views on Europe: Misconceptions & Missed Nuance
• 21:00 The Return of Real Venture: Deep Tech vs. SaaS
• 24:00 Evaluating Deep Tech Founders: What Sequoia Looks For
• 26:59 Adapting Sequoia’s Platform to Serve Technical Founders
• 29:57 Scale-Up Capital in Europe: Reality vs. Perception
• 32:11 AI Company Metrics: Changing Signals & Due Diligence
• 34:56 Explosion of Founders in the AI Era: A Double-Edged Sword
• 36:59 Why Some European Companies Don’t Scale Big Enough
• 42:54 Foundational Principles for Building in the AI Era