VC | E519 | Building Europe's Corporate VC Playbook (episode with Francesco Di Lorenzo)

EUVC

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.