SV | E501 | Matthew Spence, Barclays — Why Defense Tech Is Back, IPOs Are “Sneaky Good” & The Return to Deep Tech

EUVC

#Trading #Business #Entrepreneur #News #Tech News #European VC #Early Stage

33:58

On June 25th 2025, in collaboration with Open Folk, we presented our first ever live interview event in Los Angeles. As Open Folk put it: "In These Lines is a live event where three artists each bring one song — not just to perform, but to explore. They sit down with Sofia Loporcaro, host of Before The Chorus, to talk about where the song came from, what it meant to write it, and what it still holds. Then they play it. Just the song, and the truth behind it." Find Open Folk on Instagram: @openfolkla Find Gaby on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0K9pSmFx0kWESA9jqx8aCW?si=Wz4RUP88Qlm_RKs7QTLvWQ On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/gaby-moreno/472697737 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gaby_moreno/ Find Lily on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0p0ksmwMDQlAM24TWKu4Ua?si=Bmdg-uIUTHu-zRUc_dqL3g On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/lily-kershaw/526884610 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilykershaw/ Find James on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3u50TPoLvMBXNT1KrLa3iT?si=OoLoq7ZTRZyUiytQcz0FsQ On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/james-spaite/905076868 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesspaite/ Subscribe: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up for our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.beforethechorus.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@beforethechoruspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@soundslikesofia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus , where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them. Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT. Hosted by award-winning interviewer Sofia Loporcaro, Before the Chorus explores the genuine human experiences behind the music. Sofia’s deep knowledge of music and personal journey with mental health help her connect with artists on a meaningful level. This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love. About the host: Sofia Loporcaro is an award-winning interviewer and radio host who’s spent over 8 years helping musicians share their stories. She’s hosted shows for Amazing Radio, and Transmission Roundhouse. Now on Before the Chorus, she’s had the chance to host guests like Glass Animals, Feist, Madison Cunningham, Mick Jenkins, & Ru Paul's Drag Race winner Shea Couleé. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

28 days ago 19:25

MP3•Episode home

In this episode, David Cruz e Silva sits down with Matthew Spence, Barclays’ Global Head of Venture Capital Banking, to talk about the state of exits, dual-use tech, and how Europe can seize the next defense innovation wave. With a background spanning the White House, Pentagon, and a16z, Matt shares a unique view from the intersection of global power, technology, and venture.
Who should listen:

GPs working with later-stage companies or exit-readiness
LPs and allocators curious about dual-use and defense opportunities
Policymakers and ecosystem builders across Europe
Anyone wondering how venture intersects with geopolitics

Here’s what’s covered:

00:00 Meet Matt Spence & why Barclays is doubling down on venture
01:00 SuperVenture 2025: Why Berlin matters to a Silicon Valley banker
01:39 “Sneaky good”: The IPO market is back—but not how you expect
03:00 How GPs can prep for exits—before they’re even on the table
04:00 Barclays as an LP: What their private bank is looking for
05:10 Defense tech: From bombs to AI & cloud for the battlefield
07:00 “The government is a terrible customer”—but that’s changing
08:30 Dual-use: Why it’s not code for defense and shouldn’t be
10:00 The real opportunity for Europe: leapfrog, don’t lag
12:30 A wake-up call for Brussels and national leaders
15:00 The return to deep tech: hardware + software, redux
16:45 Why this isn't just a new trend—it's a venture returning to its roots

529 episodes

SV | E501 | Matthew Spence, Barclays — Why Defense Tech Is Back, IPOs Are “Sneaky Good” & The Return to Deep Tech

EUVC

published 28 days ago

MP3•Episode home

GPs working with later-stage companies or exit-readiness
LPs and allocators curious about dual-use and defense opportunities
Policymakers and ecosystem builders across Europe
Anyone wondering how venture intersects with geopolitics

Here’s what’s covered:

00:00 Meet Matt Spence & why Barclays is doubling down on venture
01:00 SuperVenture 2025: Why Berlin matters to a Silicon Valley banker
01:39 “Sneaky good”: The IPO market is back—but not how you expect
03:00 How GPs can prep for exits—before they’re even on the table
04:00 Barclays as an LP: What their private bank is looking for
05:10 Defense tech: From bombs to AI & cloud for the battlefield
07:00 “The government is a terrible customer”—but that’s changing
08:30 Dual-use: Why it’s not code for defense and shouldn’t be
10:00 The real opportunity for Europe: leapfrog, don’t lag
12:30 A wake-up call for Brussels and national leaders
15:00 The return to deep tech: hardware + software, redux
16:45 Why this isn't just a new trend—it's a venture returning to its roots

529 episodes

#Trading #Business #Entrepreneur #News #Tech News #European VC #Early Stage

All episodes

1
CVC | E528 | Reinventing with Venture: How Corporates Can Actually Innovate 39:47

12 hours ago39:47

39:47

In this episode, Andreas Munk Holm and Jeppe Høier sit down with Florian Noell , PwC’s Global Venturing & EMEA Startups & Scale-ups Leader. Florian draws on his rare blend of experience as a founder, ecosystem advocate, and now corporate innovator to unpack the evolution—and missed opportunities—of corporate venture capital across Europe. They delve deeply into what distinguishes enduring CVCs from the 3.7-year average lifespan, how to avoid wasting money as a corporate angel, and the structural shifts needed to transition from optics to outcomes. With both realism and optimism, this is a masterclass on corporate-startup collaboration done right—and wrong. This one’s for ecosystem builders, corporate strategists, and VCs looking to make CVC work in the long term. Here’s what’s covered: 02:10 | Two Hats, One Mission: How Florian Took His Founder Lens to PwC 05:50 | What Great Corporate-Startup Collaboration Looks Like 08:30 | Why CVCs Die After 3.7 Years—and How to Beat the Odds 11:20 | Structuring for Success: The 10 Building Blocks to a Lasting CVC 14:00 | Venture Clienting vs. Venture Investing 17:40 | The Case for Later-Stage Investing—If You Can Afford It 21:15 | LP Investing as a Smart Starting Point 25:50 | Policy’s Role: Useful, But Not the Magic Fix 30:00 | Changing the Corporate Mindset 34:00 | Why Corporates Don’t Reinvent Themselves—And What to Do About It…

1
VC | E527 | This Week in European Tech with Dan, Mads & Lomax 57:11

1 day ago57:11

57:11

1
VC | E526 | Path to Market: Adapting Sales Strategies for Startups and Enterprise with Fanny Talagrand of Stripe 40:40

2 days ago40:40

40:40

In the latest episode of “Path to Market,” Natasha and Micah are joined by Fanny Talagrand , Head of EMEA sales for startups and SMBs at Stripe to discuss key sales strategies from startups to enterprises. Drawing from her extensive experience in global tech companies like Google Cloud and Stripe, Fanny emphasizes the importance of understanding user needs and journeys, leveraging user feedback, and the different dynamics between selling to startups versus enterprises. She also provides advice for hiring the first sales reps, highlighting the need for candidates to be smart, driven, and coachable. She stresses the significance of onboarding processes and embedding new hires with users early on. Additionally, she explores how to balance product-led growth with enterprise sales and shares metrics to optimize sales performance. Tune in to learn about: how to align sales strategies with the needs and journeys of different types of users; how PLG and enterprise motions can coexist with careful planning and differentiation in user journeys; why as companies grow, including a sales team becomes vital to extend market reach and support users who require more comprehensive solutions; and more practical strategies for founders looking to enhance their sales operations and build successful teams. Here’s what’s covered: 00:00 Introduction to Fannie Talegrand 00:46 Fannie’s Career Journey 03:11 Comparing Sales Strategies at Google Cloud and Stripe 09:02 Product-Led vs. Enterprise Motion 12:13 Sales Metrics and Funnel Optimization 15:14 Differences in Selling to Startups vs. Enterprises 22:50 Hiring the Right Sales Leader 33:11 Onboarding New Sales Hires 38:51 Conclusion and Final Thoughts…

1
VC | E525 | Jean Schmitt & Rob Blackie on the State of RNA in Europe & the TechBio Opportunity 56:56

3 days ago56:56

56:56

In this week's podcast, Andreas Munk Holm is joined by Jean Schmitt at Jolt Capital and Rob Blackie at Crampton Blackie to explore one of the most consequential deep tech opportunities Europe faces: RNA. With roots in foundational biology and applications from cancer therapy to precision agriculture, RNA is both a symbol and a stress test of Europe’s capacity to scale science into sovereignty. The conversation is based on their Landmark 2025 Report on the State of RNA in Europe, a data-rich, in-depth analysis of patents, funding flows, regulatory bottlenecks, and startup activity across the continent. Here’s what’s covered: 03:05 The State of RNA in Europe 05:59 Challenges in Commercialization and Investment 09:09 The Landscape of RNA Companies in Europe 15:02 Regulatory Challenges in RNA Development 17:58 The Future of RNA in Europe 26:54 Navigating Regulatory Challenges in Biocontrol Products 30:46 The Impact of European Policies on Innovation 32:41 Learning from Global Regulatory Practices 40:34 The Exodus of Talent and Innovation from Europe 45:59 Funding Challenges for RNA Companies in Europe…

1
VC | E524 | Carlos Trenchs on Spain’s Emerging Fund Manager Wave & The Return of the Founder-Backer 34:03

4 days ago34:03

34:03

In this episode, Andreas Munk Holm talks with Carlos Trenchs — early-stage investor — about the new wave of entrepreneurs in Spain: those who’ve exited, raised again, and are now backing the next wave. They dive into the rise of Spain’s emerging managers, the structural limitations new fund managers face when fundraising, and how institutional platforms can solve them. Carlos shares insights on how his team is designing a new type of investment structure — one that serves both fund-of-fund limited partners (LPs) and those deeply committed to ecosystem development. From syndicate-style collaboration to collective capital and US micro-fund inspiration, Carlos unpacks the anatomy of the new European seed scene. Whether you’re building a micro fund, exploring Spain’s founder-led evolution, or curious about how fund design is adapting to new LP profiles — this one’s for you. Here’s what’s covered: 00:00 The Rise of Repeat Founders: From Glovo to Preval and beyond 03:15 Why Founders Become Emerging Managers 05:42 The Fundraising Gap for New Managers 08:10 Co-investing and Scouting for Ecosystem Development 11:35 Challenges of Hybrid Investment Models 14:00 Case Study: Transcend — A $1.5M EdTech Concept Fund 17:20 Collective Capital: When LPs Roll Up Their Sleeves 19:45 Closing Thoughts & Invitation to Meet in Barcelona…

1
VC | E523 | Why Solo GPs Are Europe’s Secret Weapon 1:00:38

6 days ago1:00:38

1:00:38

Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC Podcast, where we bring you the people and perspectives shaping European venture. This week, Andreas Munk Holm is joined by Sarah Drinkwater , Founding Partner at Common Magic , and Anthony Danon , Founder at Rerail , for a deep dive into the rise of solo GPs and micro funds in Europe. Together, they unpack the forces driving this new wave of intentional, nimble VC—why it’s working, how it's evolving, and what it takes to win. It’s a conversation that builds on their stage debate at the EUVC Summit—this time going deeper into headless rounds, syndication dynamics, the next generation of angel investors, and the very real personal decisions behind going solo. 🎯 This Episode’s Themes: Why the solo GP model fits today’s best founders The rise of “headless rounds” and what makes them work The art (and risk) of conviction without consensus The future of angels, from weekend warriors to fund managers What’s next for micro funds in Europe—and why some won’t make it Here’s what’s covered: 00:22 | Solo Love: The magic of being founder-picked and founder-aligned 01:30 | Angel Roots: Why Sarah and Anthony bet small before going big 04:00 | Market Dynamics: The squeeze between seed giants and multistage platforms 06:30 | Why Small Wins: Flexibility, focus, and belief in outlier founders 09:00 | Micro Syndication: Why solo GPs are finally co-leading in Europe 13:00 | The Reserve Question: What happens when founders need more capital? 16:00 | Conviction Building: The difference between borrowing belief and earning it 20:00 | Headless Rounds: The founder-led raise and its pros and cons 24:30 | Next Round Realities: Why leads don’t always do the heavy lifting 27:00 | Angel Competition: How to win without bidding wars 31:00 | Angel Education: Power law, concentration risk & the need for fresh blood 38:00 | Going Solo: The case for building your own lemonade stand 44:00 | The Big Firm Tradeoff: Coordination, politics, and the limits of scale 47:00 | Looking Ahead: What’s next for Europe’s micro fund wave…

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VC | E522 | Venture Beyond: Coaching Founders, VCs & the Inner Work of Building Well 1:00:41

7 days ago1:00:41

1:00:41

In this episode, Andreas Munk Holm is joined by Colin Knight, a leading coach in the startup ecosystem, and Mike Reiner , co-founder of 432 Legacy , to dive deep into the emotional and relational dynamics that power — and often derail — the venture journey. This conversation is part of the Venture Beyond initiative: a space to reflect on the human side of venture, supporting founders and investors in building intentional teams, resilient cultures, and sustainable energy for the long game. Here’s what’s covered: 02:15 – What is Venture Beyond? (feat. 432 Legacy & Stride VC) 05:00 – “Peeling the Onion”: Relationships → Team → Role → Self 10:30 – Power dynamics and pitching: resetting the foundation 22:00 – The myth of pleasing and the power of check-ins 29:00 – Why VC firms struggle as teams 38:00 – Role transitions: letting go of identity and control 44:00 – The “Colin Column”: Why am I doing this? 47:00 – The Self: Paying the price of transformation 49:00 – Outcome addiction vs. joy in the journey 55:00 – Energy is everything: what drains you, what fuels you 57:30 – Finding your inner peace in a mad world…

1
VC | E521 | This Week in European Tech with Dan, Mads & Lomax 1:02:34

8 days ago1:02:34

1:02:34

Welcome back to another episode of the EUVC Podcast, your trusted inside track on the people, deals, and dynamics shaping European venture. This week, Dan Bowyer and Mads Jensen of SuperSeed and Lomax from Outsized Ventures , gather to unpack the macro forces and micro signals shaping European tech and venture. They unpack the defense boom powering Europe’s deep tech surge — and ask whether startups should rush in or sit this wave out. They break down OpenAI’s next big product moves, the battle for browser dominance, and whether we’re already at peak LLM. They ask if working from home quietly kills startup culture (and what actually keeps it alive). And they check in on Trump’s tariffs, Europe’s big tech fines, and the resilience playbook that’s pulling startups deeper into geopolitics. If you’re investing, building, or just trying to make sense of where Europe’s venture scene goes next — this one’s for you. Here’s what’s covered 02:00 | The defense boom: Europe’s rearmament moment How Germany has overtaken the UK in startup funding for the first time — and why defense, dual-use, and resilience are fueling the deep tech wave. 04:50 | Moral lines: should you build in defense? Mads, Lomax and Andrew debate whether there’s an ethical red line — and if Europe’s founders should follow the money or sit this one out. 08:40 | Peak LLM? OpenAI launches a browser Is OpenAI eating Google’s lunch? Mads explains why a new browser isn’t just a gimmick — it’s a data moat and a massive ad market play. 12:00 | The new search wars & what founders should do Lomax breaks down how SEO is dead — GEO (generative engine optimization) is in. Why this shift is reshaping startup distribution playbooks. 15:30 | Grok 4, Elon & the next frontier Mads explains how Musk’s Grok leapfrogged benchmarks — and why the next LLM battle is all about compute, data quality, and Nvidia’s $4T edge. 18:50 | Does working from home kill culture? Are great companies built on Slack or in person? The crew unpacks why strong culture is more than values on a wall — and why the best teams come together. 25:00 | Trump’s tariffs: a real threat or priced in? Why markets barely shrug at Trump’s latest trade threats — and what selective escalation could mean for European startups this autumn. 29:00 | UK startup stats: steady but small Eight billion raised, a handful of unicorns minted — but the US is still 20x bigger. Why the same structural issues keep the UK from scaling like Silicon Valley. 33:15 | Big Tech vs Europe: do the fines matter? From DMA penalties to encrypted chat backdoors, the team debates whether Brussels’ big fines work — and who really pays the price. 38:10 | Deal of the Week: Eutelsat’s €1.35B resilience play Why Europe’s sovereign satellite champion matters — and why Lomax wants them to rebrand fast.…

1
VC | E520 | I am only in venture, because I'm doing defense. I'm not in defense because I'm in venture 46:43

9 days ago46:43

46:43

Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC Podcast, where we bring you the people and perspectives shaping European venture. This week, Andreas Munk Holm sits down with Nicholas Nelson , founding GP of Archangel , the new defense-first fund going all in on the blunt reality of European strategic autonomy. Nicholas is no newcomer to this. From advising governments to serving in Afghanistan, launching syndicates, or building dual-use bridges when few wanted to touch defense, he’s stayed on the same mission while the market shifted all around him. In this episode, Nicholas breaks down why Europe needs unapologetic defense-first investing, why dual-use alone won’t cut it, and what founders, LPs, and co-investors must face up to if they’re serious about Europe’s sovereignty. Here’s what’s covered: 00:00 | Nicholas Nelson’s journey: from service to syndicates to Archangel 02:00 | Two decades of doing defense before it was cool 04:00 | Why now? Why real defense? Why not just dual-use? 07:00 | The war tech shift: tanks out, rapid iteration in 10:00 | Ukraine’s ‘hourly sprints’—why on-the-ground matters 13:00 | Deterrence, lethality & Europe’s strategic gap 16:00 | When dual-use brands muddy the water (and why that’s risky) 19:00 | The bullets & bombs dilemma: investing when LPs say no 22:00 | Primes, vendor lock & the truth about the military industrial complex 26:00 | ESG tensions: Europe’s extra layer of complexity 30:00 | The pan-European Anduril myth—why it doesn’t map 34:00 | Local vs. pan-European scaling: what’s realistic 37:00 | Exit routes & why the big growth rounds go abroad 40:00 | The flywheel we didn’t get to—coming in part two…

1
CVC | E519 | Building Europe's Corporate VC Playbook (episode with Francesco Di Lorenzo) 30:36

11 days ago30:36

30:36

Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC Podcast, where we bring you the people and perspectives shaping European venture. This time, we flip the mic: Jeppe Høier , normally the host, steps into the hot seat in a conversation with Francesco Di Lorenzo , Associate Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at CBS and an expert on entrepreneurial and innovation strategy. In this episode, you’ll get the full backstory on Jeppe—from PwC to CFO at a pan-European fund, Heartcore Capital , to building Maersk’ s CVC arm, and now shaping Europe’s corporate VC landscape through the EU CVC podcast, newsletter, and summit. They dive deep into how corporate venture works (and fails), why the immune system metaphor holds true, and what’s needed to build an ecosystem across Europe that actually delivers. 🎯 This Podcast’s Themes: From finance to strategy: Jeppe’s journey into venture Why CVC is more organ transplant than M&A How to survive 3 CEOs—and why you must Fund of funds vs. direct investing: what’s trending in corporate venture Building Europe’s corporate VC community: podcast, masterclasses, summits Here’s what’s covered: 00:00 | From Interviews to the Interviewee: Jeppe in the spotlight 02:00 | Auditor Turned VC: From PwC to CFO of a pan-European fund 04:30 | The Maersk Years: Strategy, innovation, and the “immune system” 07:00 | Organ Transplant Theory: Why CVCs often get rejected 10:00 | Newsletter to Podcast: Building the EU CVC platform 12:00 | The European Vision: A fragmented but collaborative ecosystem 14:00 | Strategic vs Financial Tension: Why most corporates are confused 16:00 | Global Case Studies: TDK Ventures, Woven Capital, Maersk Growth 21:00 | The Pivot Playbook: Survive, evolve, stay relevant 23:30 | How to Do CVC Right: From metrics to mindset 25:00 | Fund of Funds 101: What corporates need to know 27:00 | Advice to MBAs: Learn the craft, love the long game Watch it here or add it to your episodes on Apple or Spotify 🎧. Chapters for easy navigation are available on the Spotify/Apple episode.…

1
VC | E518 | Julia Binder, Manuel Braun & Enrique Molina on Circularity as Strategy, Not Sustainability 44:01

12 days ago44:01

44:01

In this episode, Andreas Munk Holm sits down with Julia Binder (IMD), Manuel Braun (Impact Hub), and Enrique Molina (CircularCo) to unpack the evolving world of circular venture. They dive into why circularity should be viewed as a horizontal investment lens — not a niche — and how startups across materials, manufacturing, and infrastructure are already proving out scalable models. From textile dyeing to resale logistics and digital product passports, the group highlights how circularity intersects with every vertical and why now is the time for more GPs and LPs to get involved. Here’s what’s covered: 00:50 – “We don’t invest in dumb things”: The Pale Blue Dot mindset 02:30 – Why current supply chains reward harm — and how venture can reverse it 04:30 – Startups vs. corporates: Who’s best positioned to drive change? 07:40 – 5 monetizable circular business model archetypes 12:10 – What infra is needed to scale circularity? 15:00 – Real-world startups & back-end enablers in resale, reuse & track-and-trace 18:00 – Circularity: Horizontal lens or vertical category? 23:00 – Where capital is flowing: Startups, funds & LPs getting serious 26:00 – Hype cycles: AI ascendant, circularity under the radar 28:00 – Building ecosystems: Infrastructure, co-opetition, and collective voice 31:00 – Final call: Why everyone — from founders to family offices — must engage…

1
VC | E517 | Jacqueline van den Ende & Dougie Sloan on rewiring capital for climate impact and making everyday investors part of the solution 55:40

13 days ago55:40

55:40

Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC Impact Highlight, where we bring you the people and perspectives pushing the boundaries of purpose-driven venture. This week, August Solliv sits down with Dougie Sloan , Managing Director, Impact Venture at Better Society Capital , and Jacqueline van den Ende , Co-founder & CEO of Carbon Equity , to explore how we unlock billions for climate action by rethinking the very architecture of venture capital. Together, they dive into how Carbon Equity is turning everyday citizens into climate LPs, why “retail” doesn’t mean amateur, and how tech, transparency, and trust can finally bring impact investing to scale. This episode’s themes: Why climate finance is stuck—and how we build new pipes Reimagining access: giving more people a seat at the capital table The rise of the prosumer LP: conviction, education, and agency Bridging alpha and impact without trade-offs Redesigning private markets for participation at scale Here’s what’s covered: 00:30 Jacqueline’s journey: from traditional VC to climate capital rebel 02:15 The climate capital gap: why only 2% of VC goes to climate tech 03:45 Institutional capital vs. bold innovation: the trust mismatch 05:30 Rethinking “retail”: building for a sophisticated next-gen LP 07:00 Tech as an enabler: onboarding, transparency, and scale 08:45 What private market investors need (and don’t get today) 10:00 Productizing the LP experience: clarity, ownership, conviction 11:45 How Carbon Equity builds education into capital deployment 13:00 The vision: mobilizing the masses without dumbing things down 14:30 Impact with returns: challenging the trade-off fallacy 16:00 What’s next: tokenisation, retail regulation, and unlocking access…

1
VC | E516 | Founding with Focus: Why Italy’s VC Moment Is Now 1:00:23

14 days ago1:00:23

1:00:23

Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC podcast, where we connect and champion the voices shaping European venture. Today, we spotlight Lorenzo Franzi , Founding Partner at the Italian Founders Fund , to explore how a new generation of fund managers is reshaping Italy's startup landscape—and why deep empathy, focused strategy, and intentional market building are the foundation. Lorenzo opens up about his journey from angel investor to institutional VC, shares insights on navigating Italy’s regulatory landscape, and explains why now is the time to believe in the Italian opportunity. Here's what's covered: 02:00 Why Fund Strategy Starts With Empathy: How Lorenzo’s unique experience grounds his founder-first approach 05:15 The Thesis of Italian Founders Fund: A triad of Italy, diaspora, and inbound startups 08:10 Why There Are No Small Funds in Italy: Structural barriers and the missing middle 12:44 Data-Driven Support at Scale: Building productized VC operations 16:02 Market Maturation: Applying Foundamental's venture framework to Italy 19:00 Building an Edge through Focus: A concentrated portfolio with proximity-driven value 22:30 From Angels to Institutions: What the Italian startup scene needs next 25:50 Forget Unicorn Chasing: Why the alpha strategy matters more at pre-seed 28:40 Is Now the Time to Back Italy? Lorenzo’s bet and what makes it different 30:18 Ecosystem Building Through Visibility: Why global VCs must come meet local founders…

1
VC | E515 | This Week in European Tech with Dan, Mads & Lomax 1:09:30

15 days ago1:09:30

1:09:30

Welcome back to another episode of the EUVC Podcast, your trusted inside track on the people, deals, and dynamics shaping European venture. This week, Dan Bowyer and Mads Jensen of SuperSeed and Lomax from Outsized Ventures , gather to unpack the macro forces and micro signals shaping European tech and venture. They sit down to break down the two sides of the IPO market: the soaring optimism behind Figma’s public debut — and the deep freeze that’s hit London listings harder than at any time since before the dot-com crash. They also unpack what Figma’s $730M paper loss means, how vertical AI is the next generation of SaaS, and what the UK must fix to stand a chance in the global listings race. If you’re investing, building, or just trying to make sense of the markets this summer — this one’s for you. Here’s what’s covered 02:30 | AI infra’s moment & CoreWeave hype Why infra plays like CoreWeave and Circle have the market buzzing — but vertical AI is where the next SaaS returns lie. 04:50 | Figma’s $730M paper loss explained Mad breaks down the headline figure, the failed Adobe deal, the FTC veto, and why this IPO is about fundamentals — not hype. 08:20 | Tender offer drama & employee morale How Figma’s $20B exit fizzled — and the May 2024 tender to keep teams motivated ahead of listing. 12:00 | Figma as a bellwether for design & vertical AI Why product-led SaaS is shifting toward deep vertical AI workflows — and what that means for investors. 15:45 | London: the slowest IPO H1 in nearly 30 years Counter to the US’s $9B+ haul in 12 deals, London managed just $160M across five listings. A brutal gap. 18:10 | Worse than dot-com. Worse than ‘08. Dan & Mad put the numbers in perspective: this is the weakest stretch since before many listeners were born. 26:15 | Dual-class shares & free float: too little too late? Why tweaking share classes & float minimums is more copy-paste than innovation — and not the real fix. 35:20 | The ESG paradox & listing tension Where does London’s ESG edge help — and where does it push big companies abroad? 40:15 | US vs UK capital markets: talent, trust & scale Why founders and funds still flock to New York — and the structural advantages London must address. 44:30 | Can London fight back? What would it actually take to make London relevant again for growth listings? Dan’s realist take. 50:00 | Lessons from Figma for founders Why strong fundamentals still matter — and how the tender saga shows the cost of employee trust. 55:00 | The vertical AI playbook: Europe’s edge? Where Europe’s sector expertise might win if it can get capital markets working again.…

1
VC | E514 | Exceptional Ventures’ Matt Cooper & Paolo Pio on Fixing HealthTech’s Hype Problem 51:15

16 days ago51:15