Europe’s changing in the right direction: A video interview with Keith Sequeira

The EIC Scaling Club Podcast on European Deep Tech

#Tech #Entrepreneur #Business #EIC Scaling Club #EIC #Deep Tech #Deeptech #European Deep Tech #Europe Deep Tech #European Innovation Council #Entrepreneurship #Technology #Technology Business #Startup #Scaleups #Scale

35:02

The healing power of fitness goes far beyond physical benefits—for today’s guest, it’s a form of self-expression and a celebration of what the body can do. In this episode, host Nora McInerny sits down with fitness personality Ivylis Rivera, who shares her deeply personal journey of navigating life with Chronic Migraine while holding onto her passion for movement. Ivylis opens up about the struggle of staying active while facing the fear of triggering a headache or migraine attack and the resilience it takes to keep pushing forward—a resilience that carried her through the challenging journey of finding a Chronic Migraine treatment plan that worked for her. Join Nora and Ivylis as they explore the concept of “soft living,” a philosophy Ivylis embraces—staying active, listening to your body, and building trust in oneself. Click here for Product Information, including Boxed Warning and Medication Guide, or visit https://abbv.ie/prescribing_info See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

about a year ago 5:08

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In this episode, we sit down with Keith Sequeira, Head of the European Innovation Council Unit at the European Commission, during the Scale 100 Forum in Athens, Greece. Keith shares insights into the challenges and opportunities for European scale-ups, highlighting the role of the EIC Scaling Club in closing the scale-up gap. He discusses Europe's strengths as a scaling environment, the rise of promising sectors like quantum technology, and the exciting introduction of the first-ever EU Commissioner for Startups. Tune in to explore how Europe is evolving in the right direction to create global leaders and address major societal challenges.

40 episodes

Europe’s changing in the right direction: A video interview with Keith Sequeira

The EIC Scaling Club Podcast on European Deep Tech

published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

40 episodes

All episodes

1
Interview with Torbjørn Blom Hagen, CFO of N2 Applied 8:01

10 days ago8:01

8:01

In this interview, Torbjørn Blom-Hagen, CFO of N2 Applied, shares how the Norwegian agri-tech company is revolutionizing fertilizer production using plasma technology to create on-site, near-zero-emission fertilizers from air and organic waste. Tackling inefficiencies in a $200B fossil-fueled industry, N2 Applied’s system delivers close to 100% nitrogen efficiency compared to the standard 40%, while also significantly reducing carbon emissions and ammonia pollution. Backed by extensive field trials, a strategic partnership with GEA Group, and recognition through EIC funding, the company is scaling up globally to offer a holistic solution for sustainable agriculture.…

1
Interview with Nick Kanopoulos, CEO of Brite Hellas S.A. 7:36

10 days ago7:36

7:36

In this interview, Nick Kanopoulos, Founder and CEO of Brite Solar, introduces the company’s breakthrough AgriPV technology—semi-transparent, nano-coated solar panels designed specifically for agricultural applications. Headquartered in Thessaloniki, Greece, Brite Solar enables the triple use of farmland: crop protection, water management, and clean energy generation, without sacrificing yield. Their patented nanomaterials convert harmful UV light into photosynthetically active light, increasing crop productivity while reducing water usage by up to 40%. With a globally unique manufacturing line, a growing international team, and a recent €9M Series A round backed by EIC blended finance, Brite Solar is scaling fast to address the global food-energy-water nexus.…

1
Interview with Bostjan Bozic, COO of Trapview Unlisted 4:42

10 days ago4:42

4:42

In this interview, Bostjan Bozic, representing Trapview, shares how the Slovenian company is leading the way in automated pest monitoring and forecasting to help reduce pesticide use and grow healthier food. Operating in over 60 countries with thousands of smart traps deployed across virtually every crop type, Trapview combines AI-powered image analysis and machine learning to forecast pest development and help farmers apply crop protection only when and where it's needed. With a diverse, multidisciplinary team, the world’s largest pest image database, and five international subsidiaries, Trapview is scaling up to become a global agri-tech leader.…

1
Interview with Aina Hegrestad, CFO of Nordic Electrofuel AS 8:46

10 days ago8:46

8:46

In this interview, Aina Hegrestad, CFO of Nordic Electrofuel AS, shares how the company is advancing green aviation with its innovative electro-based sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF). Headquartered in Norway, Nordic Electrofuel is developing a patented reactor technology that converts water, CO₂, and renewable electricity into drop-in compatible jet fuel, meaning it can be used in today’s aircraft without new infrastructure. With €15M raised, a €40M EU Innovation Fund grant, and 100% off take agreements already secured for its first commercial-scale pilot plant, the company is on track to begin fuel production by late 2027. As it prepares for global expansion, Nordic Electrofuel sees the EIC Scaling Club as key to increasing visibility, connecting with investors, and reinforcing its position as a European leader in clean aviation fuel.…

1
Interview with Nis Benn, Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Hyme Energy 9:53

20 days ago9:53

9:53

In this interview, Nis Benn, Co-Founder and CCO of Hyme Energy, discusses how the Danish company is tackling one of the biggest decarbonization challenges: industrial process heat, which accounts for nearly 30% of global energy use, 90% of which is still fossil-fueled. Hyme Energy has developed an innovative molten salt-based thermal energy storage system that captures low-cost renewable energy and dispatches it as heat on demand, enabling industries to shift away from fossil fuels. With proprietary corrosion-resistant storage media, a growing international team, and a fully commissioned technology demonstrator, Hyme is now scaling up operations and raising new capital. As part of the EIC Scaling Club, they’re building connections with investors and peers while working toward making clean, reliable, and competitive industrial energy a European strength.…

1
Interview with David Pistoni, CEO and Co-Founder of Zeleros 4:51

23 days ago4:51

4:51

In this interview, David Pistoni, CEO of Zeleros, shares how the Spanish startup is leading the charge in developing Hyperloop technology—a high-speed, low-energy, and sustainable 5th mode of transportation. Originating from wins at Elon Musk's Hyperloop competition, Zeleros has since evolved into a major player, backed by €150 million in investment and partners like Capgemini, EIT InnoEnergy, and Aena. With multiple patents, tested prototypes, and expansion into electric mobility and battery systems, Zeleros is bridging long-term Hyperloop goals with short-term industrial applications. As a member of the EIC Scaling Club, the company is engaging with fellow deep tech innovators, investors, and policymakers to advance Europe’s leadership in next-gen transportation.…

1
Interview with Stephan van Sint Fiet, CEO of Vivici 5:02

5 weeks ago5:02

5:02

In this interview, Stephan van Sint Fiet, CEO of Vivici, shares how the Dutch startup produces real dairy proteins without animals through precision fermentation. Headquartered in Delft, Vivici has taken its lab-developed whey protein, beta-lactoglobulin, to full industrial food-grade scale, now commercially available in the United States. Backed by a seasoned leadership team and now raising a Series A round, Vivici aims to scale globally and secure regulatory approvals in Europe and Asia. With a focus on nutrition, sustainability, and functionality, Vivici is redefining how the world consumes protein no cows, no compromises.…

1
Interview with Olivier Le Port, CFO of Agriodor 9:28

6 weeks ago9:28

9:28

In this interview, recorded on October 21, 2024, Olivier Lebeau, CFO of Agriodor, shares how the company is pioneering biocontrol solutions to protect crops without pesticides, offering farmers a sustainable way to combat insect pests while preserving biodiversity and human health. Using biomimicry and patented scent-based repellents, Agriodor develops customized blends that push harmful insects away from fields, providing a safe, effective alternative to chemical pesticides. With a major distribution deal for sugar beet crops launching in 2025, Agriodor is scaling its impact in Europe, the US, and Brazil, despite regulatory hurdles slowing down biocontrol adoption in Europe. Backed by strong investor confidence, the company is working to accelerate market adoption and regulatory change for a greener future in agriculture.…

1
Interview with Ivar Kruusenberg, CEO and Founder of Power Up Energy Technologies 5:16

10 weeks ago5:16

5:16

In this interview, Ivar Kruusenberg, CEO and founder of PowerUP Energy Technologies, explains how their hydrogen fuel cell and battery-based hybrid energy solutions are addressing one of the biggest challenges of our time energy resiliency. Headquartered in Estonia, with offices across Europe and the US, PowerUP designs lightweight, efficient, and scalable power systems to replace outdated grids and diesel generators. With partnerships including the European Space Agency and a presence in the defense sector, PowerUP’s technology offers silent, low-heat, clean energy, even in the most demanding environments. Backed by an experienced team and a certified product ready for mass production, PowerUP is on a mission to help the world move beyond the 19th-century energy systems into a clean, digitalized future.…

1
Interview with Alberto Bucci, CTO of Joltech Solutions, S.L. 7:31

11 weeks ago7:31

7:31

In this interview, Alberto Bucci, CEO of Jolt Solutions, shares how the company is revolutionizing green hydrogen production with advanced electrochemical coatings for electrolyzers. Based in Spain, Jolt Solutions has developed a scalable, cost-effective, and highly durable coating technology that improves stability, efficiency, and mass production for electrolyzers—key to unlocking the future of clean hydrogen. With a €6.5M Series A investment, the company has built a pilot production line capable of producing 20,000 square meters of electrodes, making it one of the few companies in the world with such capabilities. Now scaling towards TRL 9, Jolt is seeking strategic partnerships and industry synergies to expand its applications beyond hydrogen.…

1
Interview with Mattijs Slee, CEO and Co-Founder of Battolyser Systems 8:53

12 weeks ago8:53

8:53

In this interview, Matthijs Soede, CEO and Co-Founder of Battolyser Systems, explains how their unique hybrid electrolyzer-battery technology is revolutionizing the clean hydrogen and energy storage industry. Combining iron-nickel battery chemistry with hydrogen production, Battolyser enables renewable energy storage and on-demand hydrogen generation, making it a game-changer for the energy transition. With a megawatt-scale demonstration unit launching in Rotterdam, and a new product generation in development, the company is scaling fast to help Europe achieve energy independence and decarbonization. Backed by venture debt from the European Investment Bank, Battolyser is on a mission to create an integrated clean energy system for a sustainable, low-cost future.…

1
Interview with Julie Sufana, Chief Marketing Officer of Contextflow 9:11

12 weeks ago9:11

9:11

In this interview, Julie Sufana, CMO of ContextFlow, shares how the company is revolutionizing radiology AI to improve the early detection of lung cancer, interstitial lung diseases, and COPD. A spinoff from the Medical University of Vienna, ContextFlow uses comprehensive AI to assist radiologists by reducing workload, improving reporting accuracy, and detecting lung cancer up to one year earlier. With €17M in funding, regulatory approval under Europe’s new MDR framework, and a potential reimbursement code in Germany, ContextFlow is leading the way in scaling AI for medical imaging.…

1
Interview with Julian Melchiorri, CEO of Arborea 5:03

15 weeks ago5:03

5:03

In this interview, Julian Melchiorri, CEO and founder of Arborea, shares how his company is transforming food production with biosolar leaf technology. This breakthrough converts sunlight and CO₂ into high-quality protein without using land or water-intensive resources. 150 times more protein-efficient than soy, Arborea’s net-zero, nature-positive ingredients are already being integrated by the world’s largest food corporations, offering a sustainable, scalable, and affordable alternative to traditional protein sources. With $20M in funding and a new Series B round launching, Arborea is poised to revolutionize the future of food.…

1
Interview with Mathieu Schmitt, Head of Partnerships of Sakowin 4:39

15 weeks ago4:39

4:39

In this Tech.eu interview, Matthew Schmidt, Head of Partnerships at Sakowin, discusses how the company is pioneering methane plasmalysis to produce clean hydrogen and solid carbon, offering an energy-efficient alternative to electrolysis. With five times the energy efficiency and zero CO2 emissions, Sakowin is helping industries decarbonize at scale. Having raised €11M+ in funding and now opening a €25M round, the company is expanding across Europe and the US, securing pilot projects and regulatory support. As a participant in the EIC Scaling Club, Sakowin is focused on connecting with investors, navigating regulatory frameworks, and attracting top talent to accelerate its mission.…

1
Interview with Benjamin Laga, CEO and Founder of Protealis 6:03

15 weeks ago6:03

6:03

In this interview, Benjamin Lager, CEO of Protealis, shares how his company is revolutionizing sustainable protein production in Europe. With a mission to localize soybean cultivation, Protealis tackles major global challenges—sustainability, farmer resilience, plant-based food security, and Europe’s protein import dependency. By developing climate-adapted soybean varieties and microbial inoculants for nitrogen fixation, the company is making soybean cultivation viable in European climates while reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers. With six soybean varieties already on the market, Protealis is now transitioning from an R&D-driven company to a commercial scale-up, aiming to disrupt the protein supply chain with high-tech breeding solutions.…

1
Interview with Maxime Lemiere, Head of Corporate Development of Cailabs 8:25

16 weeks ago8:25

8:25

In this interview, Maxime Lemiere, Head of Corporate Development at Cailabs, explores how optical ground stations are solving critical challenges in satellite communications, including spectrum congestion, security threats, and low data rates as satellite numbers surge. He explains how Cailabs’ advanced laser technology enables high-speed, highly secure data transmission by mitigating atmospheric turbulence, ensuring reliable satellite-to-ground communication. Maxime shares insights into Cailabs’ recent breakthroughs, such as a world-first stable optical link demonstration in collaboration with the French Defense Innovation Agency, and discusses the company’s strategic vision for growth.…

1
Interview with Fabio Rosa, Co-Founder and Head of Research of Asgard Therapeutics 12:33

16 weeks ago12:33

12:33

In this interview, Fabio Rosa , Co-Founder and Head of Research at Asgard Therapeutics , discusses their groundbreaking cancer therapy, AT108 , which reprograms cancer cells into immune cells. Asgard has raised €30 million in Series A funding and is preparing for clinical trials by 2027 . With strong scientific validation and key publications, the company is now focused on partnerships, production scaling, and investor relations to drive its innovative therapy forward.…

1
Interview with Hendrik Lambert & Ofir Arad, Leaders at Anaconda Biomed 5:08

16 weeks ago5:08

5:08

Introducing one of the EIC Scaling Club Cardiovascular Therapies group members – Anaconda Biomed, a Barcelona-based scale-up revolutionizing stroke treatment with its cutting-edge technology. Their mission statement is ambitious yet simple: to provide the best thrombectomy system to health care professionals. And since its foundation, Anaconda Biomed has been on track to accomplish just that. Listen to the interview with the company's Co-Founder and Managing Director, Dr Ofir Arad, and Chief Medical Officer, Hendrik Lambert.…

1
Europe’s changing in the right direction: A video interview with Keith Sequeira 5:08

22 weeks ago5:08

5:08

In this episode, we sit down with Keith Sequeira , Head of the European Innovation Council Unit at the European Commission, during the Scale 100 Forum in Athens, Greece . Keith shares insights into the challenges and opportunities for European scale-ups, highlighting the role of the EIC Scaling Club in closing the scale-up gap. He discusses Europe's strengths as a scaling environment, the rise of promising sectors like quantum technology, and the exciting introduction of the first-ever EU Commissioner for Startups . Tune in to explore how Europe is evolving in the right direction to create global leaders and address major societal challenges.…

1
Interview: EISMEA Director Jean-David Malo takes stock of the EIC's achievements to date, and challenges ahead 17:28

1 year ago17:28

17:28

At the recent EIC Summit , we caught up with Jean-David Malo , Director of EISMEA , the European Commission’s executive agency for the European Innovation Council and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It was a timely encounter, coinciding with the release of the EIC Impact Report 2023 , which highlighted that the total value of the overall portfolio of EIC-supported companies has now reached almost €70 billion ( download the PDF here ) and our own unveiling of the first 48 deep tech scale-ups to be supported by the EIC Scaling Club from earlier this week. We asked him about the purpose of the annual EIC event, which was part of the fifth edition of the European Research and Innovation Days . and some of the key take-aways for him both in terms of the impact report and the learnings from meeting several hundreds of stakeholders on-site in Brussels. Malo didn't shy away from highlighting the things that can be improved and accelerated within the EIC itself, while also taking stock of the achievements to date. Of course, we couldn't resist asking him about the EIC Scaling Club as well, to give more colour on why this initiative fits into the overall E(I)C plans. Enjoy!…

1
Accelerating computer vision on edge devices as a 'small, fast-growing Nvidia': Interview with Fabrizio Del Maffeo from Axelera AI 9:11

1 year ago9:11

9:11

The EIC Scaling Club team sat down with Fabrizio Del Maffeo on the sidelines of the recent Tech Tour Growth 50 Europe event in Paris. As the co-founder and CEO of Axelera AI , Del Maffeo kicked off the interview pitching his company as a 'small, fast-growing Nvidia'. That's intriguing enough on its own, but the entrepreneur of course told us a bit more about the backstory of Axelera AI, and what the team is busy building over in its HQ in Eindhoven and its many other offices located all across Europe. In essence, Axelera AI is developing a powerful and efficient AI-native hardware and software platform to accelerate computer vision on edge devices (such as cars, computers, medical devices and whatnot). As a capital-intensive business, the company has raised close to $65 million in funding according to Dealroom , and is also backed by the European Innovation Council through the EIC Accelerator program . Del Maffeo also talked about the importance of the EIC (and the EIC Scaling Club) for the European (deep) tech ecosystems, the ability to find enough talent to hire in Europe, events that bring innovators and investors together in person, and what keeps him up at night. Enjoy the interview!…

1
The Earlybird gets the interview: A chat with seasoned VC investor Christian Nagel 10:59

1 year ago10:59

10:59

Dr. Christian Nagel is a co-founder and partner of Earlybird , a technology investment powerhouse with more than €2 billion under management. Founded in 1997, Earlybird invests in all development and growth phases of tech companies, and has nestled itself among the largest and most experienced venture investors operating in Europe today. We caught up with Christian at the recent Tech Tour Growth50 Europe event in Paris, to gain some more insights into the firm's investment strategy and hypotheses. Aside from that 'VC elevator pitch', we delved into a number of topics, including what's hot in deep tech today, particularly attractive sectors (and geographies) for Earlybird, the ongoing pressure on the market, what is holding Europe back at the moment, and whether today is a good time to start a new company or not. Enjoy!…

1
Veteran investor Anne Glover (Amadeus Capital) on Europe's chance to shine in deep tech 11:13

1 year ago11:13

11:13

Amadeus Capital Partners has been investing in technology-enabled products and services for nearly three decades. Founded by Anne Glover and Hermann Hauser in 1997, Amadeus has backed more than 190 companies and raised over $1 billion for investment to date. When we had a chance to sit down with Anne on the sidelines of the recent Tech Tour Growth 50 Europe event, we seized the opportunity to ask her some questions about the state of the European deep tech entrepreneurship and investment ecosystem(s). After sharing some facts and figures about Amadeus Capital, we talked about how to navigate the current investment downturn (and use it to your advantage as a founder), the ongoing maturation of the European tech scene, the issue with the late-stage funding gap in these parts and the political reality sometimes hindering growth. On top of that, we discussed where deep tech innovation tends to happen in Europe, the availability of relevant talent and capital clusters and network, what the European tech ecosystem(s) needs to reach the next level, skills development both on the company and the investor side, and much more.…

1
The present and future of the EIT: An interview with longtime director Martin Kern 12:32

1 year ago12:32

12:32

At the recent EIT Summit in Brussels, we sat down with the organisation's Director, Martin Kern , to discuss what's cooking over at the European Institute of Innovation & Technology . Kern, who's been part of the EIT leadership for almost a decade after a long career stint at the European Commission, told us more about the EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities (the so-called KICs), which are essentially Europe-wide networks centered around addressing a specific societal challenge, from sustainable energy to climate change, healthy food and green transport. Keen observers will have noted that this is not dissimilar to our approach in defining 10 market sector opportunities in the deep tech space. In the 14 years since it was started, the EIT has supported and helped grow more than 8,000 startups, and built up an innovation network with more than 2,400 partners from top business, research and education organisations across Europe. Kern discusses the work the EIT is doing in more detail. In the interview, we cover more ground, including the EIT Deep Tech Talent initiative that aims to train 1 million people in various deep tech areas, the European Solar Academy that was launched at the event, and the EIT's evolving relationship (and the difference) with the European Innovation Council (EIC). Also make sure to check out our interview with EIT Urban Mobility CEO Maria Tsavachidis !…

1
Changing the fate of Europe through deep tech investments: Q&A with Jolt Capital's Jean Schmitt 7:05

1 year ago7:05

7:05

On the sidelines of the recent Tech Tour Growth 50 Europe event, we caught up with Jean Schmitt , Managing Partner at Jolt Capital , a growth capital investor in European B2B deep tech companies. Having been part of the predecessor programme of the EIC Scaling Club, Jean shared his views on the evolving deep tech scale-up creation and financing landscape in this part of the world, which barriers he considers are holding back the European tech ecosystem(s), and how they could potentially be overcome. Enjoy the listen!…

1
A deep dive into the future with Exponential View's Azeem Azhar 20:56

1 year ago20:56

20:56

Azeem Azhar has had a rich career as a journalist, entrepreneur, author, speaker, analyst, consultant, but now bills himself as an 'independent academic'. These days, he's perhaps best known for Exponential View , which offers weekly deep dives on AI and breakthrough technologies to a vast audience of investors, C-suite execs and global leaders who like to be challenged on thinking about the future. More than a newsletter, Exponential View has become a platform and community for those who are keen to learn about the exponential technologies that are shaping tomorrow. We caught up with Azeem on the sidelines of the recent DLD Conference in Munich, where he delivered a fast-paced talk on how to better understand the past, present and future of the digital transformation. For a summary of Azeem's presentation, and some additional insights on deep tech and the current technological transition we're in, have a listen to the interview and make sure to sign up for the Exponential View newsletter for much more of this! And while you're at it, you should subscribe to our monthly newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn and X if you aren't already.…

1
Moving on up: EIT Urban Mobility CEO Maria Tsavachidis on how to make cities more liveable thanks to sustainable mobility 17:09

1 year ago17:09

17:09

We recently attend the EIT Summit in Brussels, where we had a chance to catch up with Maria Tsavachidis , CEO of EIT Urban Mobility , one of the organisation's so-called KICs. What is a KIC, you ask? As the EIT explains on its website , the acronym stands for "Knowledge and Innovation Communities" and they are essentially Europe-wide networks centred around addressing a specific societal challenge; from sustainable energy to climate change to healthy food and green transport. EIT Urban Mobility is among the earliest such communities, started in January 2019 to "encourage positive changes in the way people move around cities in order to make them more liveable places". EIT, which is a body of the European Union, provided co-funding of up to €400 million for the period 2020 to 2026 to make some moves (pun intended). In the interview, Tsavachidis provides some further background on EIT Urban Mobility and its raison d'être , the size of the problem that needs tackling and the three main initiatives that it's outlined to do so, examples of interesting startups and partners it's working with, and much more!…

1
Making clean, scalable fusion power plants a reality: An interview with Proxima co-founder and CEO Francesco Sciortino 13:37

1 year ago13:37

13:37

We had a very interesting conversation with the co-founder and CEO of clean energy scale-up Proxima Fusion at the recent DLD Conference in Munich, and fortunately for you we recorded it! Have a listen to this interview with Francesco Sciortino , whose deep tech company aims to build an entirely new generation of fusion power plants, using QI stellarators. Proxima Fusion is the first-ever spin-out company from the Max Planck Society Institute for Plasma Physics, which happens to have built and operates the most advanced stellarator on the planet, W7-X. Research over the past decade or so has now set the stage for the Munich scale-up to leverage modern optimisation tools and design capabilities, and accelerate fusion. To achieve that, Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Tesla and Google X scientists and engineers have already joined the Germany-based company, and Proxima Fusion last year raised €7.5 million in a round led by Plural and UVC Partners and joined by High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) and the Wilbe Group. Have a listen to the interview to learn more about why Germany is fertile ground for innovation in the field of stellarators, how the design of a new generation of - continuous - fusion power plants could (and should) be accelerated in the current and next decade, and how the technology can be scaled in (and for) the future. Sciortino also talks about the need to build an ecosystem around fusion power, why Proxima has recently applied to receive funding from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator, his insights on the public and private funding landscape in Europe and on the availability of and access to key talent in this part of the world.…

1
Making media moves: Insights from The Innovator founder (and EIC Scaling Club Council Member) Jennifer Schenker 6:47

1 year ago6:47

6:47

On the sidelines of the recent Tech Tour Growth 50 event in Paris, we recorded a short but sweet interview with Jennifer Schenker , founder and editor-in-chief of The Innovator , which she describes as a "pan-European publication with global aspirations". Having covered the European technology sector for 30+ years, the veteran journalist started The Innovator in late 2016 to cover digital transformation and sustainability, educating its readers - mostly senior executives at large corporates and SMEs - on how tech will impact their businesses. In the interview, Schenker notes that she's always been impressed with Europe's scientific and technological excellence, but frustrated at how little of that gets commercialised and turned into scale-ups, let alone global tech leaders. Acknowledging the progress that has been made of late by deep tech-focused accelerators and programs, the EU institutions and how universities are starting to work with startups and scale-ups, Schenker posits that the growing funding gap is an enormous issue hampering further growth. Schenker recently joined the EIC Scaling Club as Council Member to make an active contribution to levelling up the European tech ecosystem(s), and discusses in the interview how media companies can add value to our programme as stakeholder members. Do you also want to be part of the EIC Scaling Club? Express your interest in becoming a member , or sign up as a mentor (before 13 March).…

1
The next step in immersive computing: An interview with Timo Toikkanen, CEO of Finnish mixed-reality scale-up Varjo 11:47

1 year ago11:47

11:47

On the sidelines of the recent Tech Tour Growth 50 Europe event in Paris, we had a chance to sit down with Timo Toikkanen , an early investor and advisor to, and these days chief executive officer of Finland-based professional mixed reality company Varjo . Toikannen talks about the origins and early, R&D-focussed years of the deep tech scale-up, lessons learned on the road to commercialisation, and the ongoing transition into a period of finding solid product-market fit and scaling the business in various verticals. Varjo's CEO also talks about making contrarian technology and business choices that turned out to be the right ones, the heated competition with giants like Apple and Meta through focus and specialisation. Keep listening after that, though, because Toikannen also talks about Europe's potential to build global, category-leading deep tech companies. Spoiler alert: he is skeptical about it. Enjoy the listen!…

The EIC Scaling Club Podcast on European Deep Tech

1
The key to Europe levelling up its game, and insights on the Swiss (deep) tech ecosystem: An interview with Jennifer Webb (Swisscom Ventures) 7:07

1 year ago7:07

7:07

We jumped at the opportunity to sit down with Jennifer Webb , an Investment Director at Swisscom Ventures who leads investments in sustainable technologies. She joined from LGT Lightrock in London where she spent five years building the innovative sustainable technology investment vehicle with investments in B2B SaaS, healthcare and education. On the sidelines of the recent Tech Tour Growth 50 event in Paris, we recorded a quick interview with Jennifer in which she shared how Swisscom Ventures originally came about and what it has since become, insights in the Swiss (deep) tech ecosystem, why she made the move from London to Zürich, why she believes Europe needs more capital to generate scale-ups in the deep tech sector and other issues hindering the ecosystem(s) to level up. Take note, European Innovation Council, as Jennifer and Swisscom Ventures would love to build stronger relationships with the EIC and learn more about its programs!…

The EIC Scaling Club Podcast on European Deep Tech

1
Interview: reducing workplace injuries with smart deep tech (Matthew Hart, founder of Soter Analytics) 10:53

1 year ago10:53

10:53

Deep tech company Soter Analytics was started in 2016 to reduce workplace ergonomic injuries in warehouses and factories, drive-down claims costs, boost productivity and improve worker retention using smart safety wearables and AI-driven technologies. At the most recent OTB Ventures Summit, we caught up with the company's CEO, Matthew Hart , who explained what the company is building - and why it matters. Soter Analytics serves customers globally in the warehousing, manufacturing and logistics sector, but also has clients in the healthcare, construction, mining and oil & fas industries. The London, UK-headquartered safety tech company sells hardware devices at a low cost, but the majority of its revenue comes from subscriptions. With Soter Analytics' solutions, the company claims customers can get up to 86% of reduction in back and shoulder injuries, and achieve up to 67% of reduction in workers compensation costs. Hart also talks about how injuries can affect workers' personal lives, which is a big part of the reason why Soter Analytics aims to create a safer, healthier, and more productive work environment. In the interview, Hart also commented on the availability and quality of deep tech talent in Europe, and Eastern Europe in particular.…

The EIC Scaling Club Podcast on European Deep Tech

1
Building (and funding) real European deep tech champions: An interview with EIF deputy chief Roger Havenith 22:28

1 year ago22:28

22:28

Managed by the European Investment Fund , the European Tech Champions Initiative ( ETCI ) has allocated nearly €1 billion to four strategic funds in its first year, including Atomico and Keensight Capital, in an effort to propel forward the EU tech sector with potential leverage of up to €6 billion. The ETCI fund-of-funds was inaugurated in February 2023 with an initial pledge of €3.75 billion from the European Investment Bank Group and five EU member states (Spain, Germany, France, Italy and Belgium). The ETCI aims to bolster the European Union’s digital transformation and assist leading-edge scale-ups by focusing investments on deep tech firms in their late-stage growth phases, especially those seeking to raise over €50 million. Earlier this week in Brussels, the EIF gave an update on the initiative, and we had a chance to sit down with its deputy chief executive, Roger Havenith , to talk about the announcements, future plans, and its relationship with the EIC (Fund).…

The EIC Scaling Club Podcast on European Deep Tech

1
Shaping light as a service - A chat with Jean-François Morizur, CEO of French photonics scale-up Cailabs 28:17

1 year ago28:17

28:17

France-based deep tech company Cailabs is a global leader when it comes to designing, manufacturing and selling specialised photonics solutions for free-space transmission, industrial lasers, local area networks and telecommunications, among other use cases. An innovator in the world of 'complex light shaping', the high tech scale-up recently closed a €26 million financing round with the European Innovation Council, Bpifrance (DGA), NewSpace Capital and other investors. We recently sat down with Cailabs co-founder and CEO Jean-François Morizur for a dive into the company's technology offering and rather particular expertise, its decade+ (quite R&D-heavy) history and recent business growth trajectory. Morizur also discussed why the company decided to set up shop in Brittany's capital city of Rennes, its multiple interactions with the EIC (Accelerator), and much more!…

The EIC Scaling Club Podcast on European Deep Tech

1
"Europe cannot become lazy": Catching up with IQM co-founder and CEO (and EIC Scaling Club Council member) Jan Goetz 13:48

1 year ago13:48

13:48

We sat down with Jan Goetz , a quantum physicist and co-founding CEO of IQM Quantum Computers , building next-generation quantum computers right here in Europe. Goetz, who also served as an EIC Board Member in the past and recently - and graciously - accepted to become an EIC Scaling Club Council member , was kind enough to take time out of his day at the DLD Conference in Munich. The affable entrepreneur and executive talked about IQM's raison d'être , the history and future potential of quantum technology, how far along the company is in commercialising its own tech, in which fields quantum tech will be particularly impactful, and Europe's place in the world when it comes to scaling up deep tech companies (including the many challenges that come with it). Aside from trying to create a better world with IQM Quantum Computers, Goetz also discussed why he dedicates part of his personal time to help level up the European deep tech industry, by working with fellow founders who also face difficulties in scaling their businesses, and why he's agreed to become an EIC Scaling Club Council member. You can also check out this interview on the EIC Scaling Club website .…

The EIC Scaling Club Podcast on European Deep Tech

1
On a mission to make space sustainable: A chat with ClearSpace co-founder and CEO Luc Piguet 9:38

1 year ago9:38

9:38

In recent times, the issue of space traffic has become a priority for the European Space Agency because of the threat posed by the increasing amount of debris orbiting the Earth. Decommissioned or abandoned satellites, parts of rocket boosters and solar panels, and even simple nuts and bolts are orbiting hundreds of kilometres above our planet and moving at speeds of up to 28,000 kilometres per hour, posing an increasingly high risk to current and future space missions. This is the problem being addressed by ClearSpace , a Switzerland-based deep tech company that's on a mission to make space - and particularly Earth's orbit - vastly more sustainable. We recently caught up with Luc Piguet , co-founder and CEO of ClearSpace, to describe in more detail the nature of the challenge, and what it takes to remove junk from space , and its ambitious plans for the future. You can also find the interview on the EIC Scaling Club website .…

The EIC Scaling Club Podcast on European Deep Tech

1
Insights on a truly global scale: An interview with Rafal Modrzewski, co-founder and CEO of micro-satellite maker ICEYE 8:59

1 year ago8:59

8:59

We interviewed Rafal Modrzewski, co-founder and CEO of ICEYE, a Finland-based micro-satellite manufacturer, at the recent OTB Ventures Summit in Poland. Founded in 2014 and backed by the EIC along the way, ICEYE essentially provides persistent monitoring capabilities for any location on earth (even at night and when it's cloudy). Owning the world’s largest synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation, the company enable objective, data-driven decisions for customers in sectors such as insurance, natural catastrophe response and recovery, security, maritime monitoring and finance, among others. The 'new space' tech scale-up has raised over $300 million in funding to date.…

The EIC Scaling Club Podcast on European Deep Tech

1
Investing in deep tech in the CEE region: Insights from OTB Ventures partner Adam Niewinski 11:02

2 years ago11:02

11:02

We caught up with Adam Niewinski , a partner at OTB Ventures , a Poland-based investment firm that backs deep tech startups and scale-ups from across Europe, particularly in the CEE region. The VC firm is investing primarily in four sectors, namely AI and automation, space tech, fintech infrastructure and cybersecurity. Check out our interview to learn more about OTB's investments thesis, the state of the CEE (and broader European) deep tech ecosystems from Adam's point from view, and much more. OTB Ventures is an early member of the EIC Scaling Club, and will join the curated community to connect with leading deep tech entrepreneurs, fellow investors and other industry stakeholders to grow the ecosystem(s) together. Want to join as well? Express your interest now ! PS: in case you're wondering, 'OTB' stands for 'outside the box' ;-)…

The EIC Scaling Club Podcast on European Deep Tech

1
Interview: Ana Maiques, co-founder and CEO of Neuroelectrics, which aims to reinvent brain health 21:05

2 years ago21:05

21:05

The EIC Scaling Club team had a great chat with Ana Maiques, co-founder and CEO of Neuroelectrics a Barcelona-based deep tech company that produces devices to stimulate and treat the brain. Founded in 2011, it is a spin-off of Starlab Neuroscience Research which was established in 2000. Ana was nominated by IESE as one of the most influential entrepreneurs under 40 in Spain in 2010. She received the EU Prize for Women Innovators from the European Commission EC in 2014. As an early member of the European Innovation Council Advisory Board, she assisted in advising the European Commission on the EIC pilot and provided guidance on designing a fully-fledged EIC for the next European research and innovation framework programme. Watch the interview to learn how her company Neuroelectrics aims to reinvent brain health and therapy.…

The EIC Scaling Club Podcast on European Deep Tech

1
Interview: Svilen Rangelov, co-founder and CEO of Dronamics, the world's first cargo drone airline 32:54

2 years ago32:54