EU-Startups Podcast

EU-Startups Podcast

By Thomas OhrBusinessEntrepreneurshipTechnologyInvesting
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EU-Startups Podcast episodes

  • Turning Research Into Billion-Dollar Startups
    Prof. Benjamin Tee, Vice President at NUSX

    Key points:

    • Entrepreneurship teaches lessons that academia can't - insights that only come from trying to turn ideas into companies
    • Deciding whether breakthrough research should stay in the lab or become a real company is a skill in itself, and one that can be learned
    • The journey from lab to market for first-time founders can be structured and supported
    • The biggest opportunities in physical AI sit at the intersection of AI, robotics and the physical world over the next few years
    • Working at the frontier of research on technologies like electronic skin reveals just how long DeepTech really takes to reach the market
    • University spin-outs rarely fail because of weak science - scaling globally requires doing things differently, from ecosystem support to commercial ambition
      • 28 min
    • From Google Glass to Dementia Care
      Dr. Babak Parviz, CEO and founder of NewDays.ai

      Key points:

      • After building everything from Google Glass to healthcare businesses at Amazon, dementia represented a deep, human problem worth building a company around
      • AI can already make a meaningful difference for dementia patients and their families, but the real goal is improving lives, not impressive demos
      • Europe and Asia's ageing populations at scale make them especially important testing grounds for new models of dementia care
      • Small companies can do things in healthcare that tech giants sometimes cannot
      • Cautious approach to health data and AI regulation may not just slow innovation - it could help build better and more trusted products
        • 21 min
      • How to Win the Global AI Race
        Dr. Orna Berry, Technical Director, Google Cloud

        Key points:

        • Working across government, venture capital, large technology companies and national research programmes reveals what truly makes an innovation ecosystem function
        • The biggest bottleneck in AI today often lies not in the models themselves, but in the slower-moving underlying systems of compute, infrastructure, data and talent
        • The "talent supply chain" has weak links, and understanding them is essential for national competitiveness in AI
        • Building specialised expertise in AI, biotech and quantum domestically is only part of the answer — the strongest ecosystems increasingly depend on attracting global talent
          • 22 min
        • Can Singapore Build Global Tech Giants?
          Dr. Tan Sian Wee, Senior Vice President (Innovation & Enterprise) at NUS

          Key points:

          • Success for NUS's innovation and enterprise ambitions goes far beyond the headline billion-dollar goal and A5X vision
          • The biggest gap between university research and real-world impact lies in the journey from lab to market, where most brilliant ideas fail to scale
          • Singapore offers DeepTech founders from Europe and the US strategic advantages as a launchpad into Asia that are often underestimated
          • Nova, NUSX's new full-stack AI platform, aims to transform how universities discover which ideas are worth building companies around
          • For Singapore to become a place where world-leading DeepTech companies are born and built - not just funded - deliberate steps are needed over the next five to ten years
            • 21 min
          • Why Ukraine is Europe's DefenceTech Lab
            Andreas Flodström, co-founder, Varangians

            Key Points:

            • The story behind the Varangians name and its connection between Sweden and Ukraine..
            • How building Beetroot shaped Andreas Flodström’s relationship with Ukraine..
            • Why Ukraine has become an important centre for DefenceTech innovation..
            • The balance between pure DefenceTech and dual-use technologies..
            • What Europe can learn from Ukraine about drones, electronic warfare and rapid innovation..
            • How investors evaluate technology, teams, governance and risk..
            • Whether today’s DefenceTech investment surge marks the beginning of a new European industrial era.

            37 min
          • The Shopify of Venture Capital
            Patrick Ryan, co-founder of Odin

            Key Points:

            • The moment of realisation that traditional investment systems are unnecessarily complex and ripe for disruption.
            • The practical meaning of Odin’s "VC in your pocket" approach for users worldwide.
            • The diverse target audience for Odin, from first-time fund managers to seasoned angel syndicates.
            • How Odin is challenging and redefining the traditional venture capital model.
            • The cultural and ideological nuances of investing in the US versus Europe.

            42 min
          • How Europe is Helping Startups Succeed
            Momchil Sabev, Director of the EIC and EISMEA

            Key Points:

            • EISMEA’s role in fostering a cohesive and inclusive startup ecosystem across Europe
            • Addressing the fragmentation that limits startups’ ability to scale beyond their local markets
            • The EIC’s potential to empower DeepTech founders through targeted support and resources
            • Non-financial assistance - mentorship, partnerships, and expertise - as critical drivers of startup success
              • 37 min
            • Meet the World's Tallest Autonomous Robots
              Oana Jinga, co-founder at Dexory

              Key Points

              • Insights from Oana’s career at Telefónica and Google that continue to shape Dexory’s growth and commercial strategy.
              • The evolution of Dexory’s mission, from its original goals to its current focus on scalable, AI-driven warehouse solutions.
              • Addressing concerns about job replacement and how robotics can complement rather than replace human work.
              • The balance between human responsibility and machine automation in modern warehouses.
              • Ethical considerations in robotics and AI, including the industry’s blind spots and the need for unbiased systems.
                • 37 min
              • Can Bacteria Solve Fashion's Pollution Problem?
                Karin Fleck, CEO and founder of Vienna Textile Lab

                Key Points

                • The motivation behind transitioning from oil and energy to sustainable textile innovation.
                • The process of transforming cultivated microorganisms into usable pigments for fabrics.
                • The areas where bio-based pigments deliver the most significant environmental and social impact.
                • The current state of industrial adoption and the challenges that remain.
                • The primary concerns manufacturers have when evaluating new pigments.

                  • Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

                  The Women TechEU scheme is an EU-funded project supporting women leading deep tech startup companies from Europe. As part of the consortium team implementing the programme, our mission is to foster inclusive innovation by supporting women-led startups, including under-represented deep tech sectors and European regions. We believe that diversity drives innovation, and we are here to provide women in deep tech with more opportunities, resources, and support in order to build market-shaping companies at global level.

                  Between 2026-2028, the current project consortium will run a continuous open call with 4 cut-off dates. Following a rigorous evaluation process, 160 total beneficiaries will be selected. Each beneficiary will receive €75k grants (non-dilutive finance), as well as a tailored package of mentorship, training, expert guidance, matchmaking and networking opportunities, and support in bridging the gap to other EIC funding and support schemes.

                  43 min
                • She Turned Plastic Waste Into Opportunity
                  Angela Ivanova, co-founder and CEO of LAM’ON

                  🔑 Key Points

                  • The current state of women in entrepreneurship and where the gender gap remains most pronounced.
                  • The motivation behind focusing on biodegradable laminating films as a career dedication.
                  • Critical observations from the pre-press and printing industry that inspired the need for change.
                  • The biggest challenges in developing LAM’ON’s product, from science to market adoption.
                  • The primary barriers to widespread adoption of compostable materials, including infrastructure and systemic limitations.
                    • 41 min

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