EUVC

In this episode,

and Douglas Sloan speak with 

, Head of Social Impact Investments at the

, to explore what distinguishes authentic impact fund managers from the growing crowd. From team composition and investment discipline to LP expectations and impact integrity, Cyril shares a candid perspective shaped by years of experience at the intersection of public capital and private markets.

Together, they unpack what EIF looks for when backing emerging impact managers, why team dynamics matter more than ever, and how the market can defend against “impact washing” as the sector matures.

Here’s what’s covered:

• 01:00 – Why Cyril’s early influences shaped his mission-driven investing lens
• 04:15 – From altruism to efficacy: lessons from failed NGO models
• 06:20 – The rise of genuine dual-performance funds post-2014
• 08:45 – Why team quality is the #1 differentiator in impact VC
• 17:30 – EIF’s role in supporting first-time, emerging managers
• 20:10 – Why impact metrics must tie to the business model
• 23:15 – The dangers of forgetting your impact thesis post-fundraise
• 26:00 – Impact failures vs. financial failures: lessons learned
• 28:00 – Why LPs must stay engaged beyond the fundraising stage
• 33:15 – State of fundraising: too many funds, not enough capital
• 35:20 – The call for impact pioneers: back to the original thesis

If you tuned in hoping for crisp conclusions on fund performance, you may have left empty-handed.

But if what you came for was a razor-sharp, high-stakes debate on the mechanics of venture economics—then this was your moment. Fourteen minutes of fierce dialogue at the EUVC Summit, and not a second wasted.

Here’s how it went:

“If you're drawing any conclusions from those data sets... be my friend. But we won't do that.

”Why? Because the data is still messy. Still underpowered. And when you're modeling venture returns—especially for emerging managers—it’s more art than science.

But oh, did we try.

This fast-paced exchange brought clarity (and fire) to a few of venture’s most misunderstood dynamics:

• Why the $20B outcome is the new benchmark for greatness
• How fund size maps to percentile outcomes
• The hard math behind Seed-to-Series A attrition
• Why early-stage investing remains low-probability but high-upside
• And the eternal debate: do emerging managers truly outperform, or just dominate a distorted sample?

"If you're really needing data to prove that model—it does not exist.”

We’ll get back to that.

In this episode,

is joined by

, co-founder and GP at

, for a look at how a “plain vanilla” approach to venture—driven by deep founder focus and relentless performance orientation — can be a powerful advantage. Together, they unpack the mechanics behind Singular’s model, how the team stays agile without a rigid thesis, and what it means to create an empowering internal culture. Singular is an early-stage venture capital firm born in Europe, committed to empowering European founders with global ambitions across all sectors, from Seed to Series B, with a strong focus on Series A companies.Jeremy also shares his evolving views on European talent, the rise of Paris as a startup epicenter, and why he believes we’re only just beginning to unlock the entrepreneurial potential of Europe’s scientific minds.

Here’s what’s covered:

• 02:00 – Should Generalist VCs Still Exist in Europe
• 07:10 – Fundraising Like a Founder: How LPs Backed Fund I and II

• 14:00 – Why Generalist Isn’t a Weakness—It’s Strategic
• 16:25 – Diversification vs. Focus: Squaring LP Needs with Performance
• 21:15 – Temporary Specialists: Sprinting Deep Into Sectors
• 24:20 – From Zero to One on Markets: Learning via Founders
• 27:15 – European Talent Post-COVID: What’s Changed
• 30:00 – Paris Joins the Core of the European Ecosystem
• 35:15 – The Rise of Science Entrepreneurs in Europe
• 39:00 – Why Bio is the Next Big Tech Frontier

In this episode,

sits down with

GP

. From launching Nebular after FTX’s collapse to backing AI, data centers in space, and fossil startups, Finn shares the unpredictable and highly personal journey of building a fund from scratch. A manifesto for curiosity-led investing emerges, as does a bold vision for reshaping European venture and policy.

Here’s what’s covered:

• 01:25 Leaving Frontline, Launching Nebular, and Solo GP Life
• 03:45 Fund One in the Nuclear Winter of VC Fundraising
• 06:30 A Thesis of Curiosity: No Theme, Just Timing, Talent & Tails
• 09:50 From Healthcare Ops to AI Teddy Bears to Fossil Markets
• 16:10 Strategy Drift, Authenticity, and Embracing the Unknown
• 18:30 Being a Solo GP Without Being Alone
• 21:00 How Long Can You Be Great? A Venture Career as Athletic Peak
• 27:30 Europe vs. US: Talent, Incentives, and Risk Appetite
• 35:40 Project Europe, EU Inc & Why Attitude Is the Real Bottleneck
• 44:00 Yes, Tech Should Get Political

In this episode,

talks with

, co-founder of

and

, to unpack what it takes to build food startups that change the system. Kasper argues that creating better food is not about crafting the perfect health product for the elite, but about designing for impact, scale, and real-world distribution.They explore why traditional VC models often fail food startups, how founders can balance purpose with platform thinking, and what it means to move beyond “more alternatives” into a world of more and better.

Here’s what’s covered:

• 00:45 – Why “more” food options doesn’t always mean “better”
• 03:30 – Why optimizing for Whole Foods isn’t a scalable strategy
• 06:20 – The ketchup analogy: exclusive vs. inclusive innovation
• 10:15 – Scaling challenges: distribution, regulation, perception
• 14:05 – What founders miss about consumer routines
• 17:50 – Building platforms, not just products
• 21:10 – The role of storytelling in transforming food narratives
• 25:00 – What “better” really means: nutrition, access, equity

In this episode,

is joined by

and Enrique Molina from

to explore how capital can be deployed with purpose to accelerate the circular economy. From personal stories to portfolio-level insight, this conversation shows how values-based investing can be compatible with venture returns.

and

unpack the urgency of systems change, how storytelling shapes capital flows, and why they believe Europe’s sustainability movement is at a critical inflection point, despite the headwinds.

Here’s what’s covered:

• 02:18 Qi Impact Capital’s Holistic Investment Thesis
• 03:27 Guenther’s Journey: From PwC to Circularity Champion
• 05:34 Why Capital is the Catalyst for Circular Innovation
• 06:37 Narratives, Regulation & the Sustainability Backlash
• 08:50 Storytelling, Identity & Investment Decision-Making
• 13:30 What ‘Conscious Capital’ Really Means
• 17:17 Case Studies: OceanSafe, Vital & ID Genève
• 22:53 Designing Products for Reusability & Impact
• 25:41 The Financial Returns Behind Circular Success
• 29:45 Tensions in Consumer Behavior: Circular vs. Fast Fashion

, Managing Partner at

, joins

and

to explore how corporate venture capital can drive transformation in Europe’s most iconic industries. From autonomy to AI and natural-fiber composites, the episode dives deep into how BMW’s venture arm scans, invests, and hedges across global markets while staying rooted in strategy and sustainability.

🎧 Here’s what’s covered:

• 04:11 Investment Focus: From Smart Supply Chains to Sustainability
• 09:56 The Auto Industry in Flux: Disruption, Legacy & Tesla’s Vertical Model
• 14:31 Integration vs. Modularity: What Will Define the Next Automotive Leaders
• 17:01 Avoiding the Kodak Trap: Why Culture Eats Strategy in Corporate Innovation
• 25:56 Leveraging the Core: Staying Close to BMW’s Strategic Heartbeat
• 28:04 Natural Fibers & Rare Earths: Investing for CO2 Impact and Supply Chain Resilience
• 34:42 Scaling Autonomy in the Real World: From Car Plants to Ports
• 37:33 Europe's Structural Weakness: Legal Complexity and Inconsistent ESOPs
• 44:11 Pensions, Politics & the Case for Venture Policy Engagement
• 47:04 Why BMW iVentures Remains a Single-LP Fund—and Proud of It

In this episode, Andreas Munk Holm sits down with Oliver Holle, Founding Partner at Speedinvest, to unpack Europe’s current position in the global venture landscape. Fresh off the EUVC Summit and gearing up for GITEX, Oliver brings the heat — calling out flawed narratives, making the case for political engagement by founders and VCs, and breaking down the strategic implications of geopolitical capital shifts.Oliver shares how Europe is better positioned than its reputation suggests, why AI represents a public narrative opportunity for tech, and how learning from private equity could help European VCs build durable winners. From silent fund shutdowns to the rise of solo GPs, this episode is a crash course in navigating the new European venture normal.

Here’s what’s covered:

• 03:46 Key Relationships in the Founder-VC Dynamic
• 09:56 Navigating Power Dynamics in Founder-VC Relationships
• 22:03 The Importance of Team Dynamics in Startups
• 26:05 Building Effective Communication and Culture in Growing Teams
• 28:44 The Challenge of Team Dynamics in VC Firms
• 32:36 Addressing Ego Issues in Leadership
• 38:32 The Evolving Role of Founders
• 47:12 Self-Reflection and Personal Growth
• 55:12 The Importance of Energy Management

In this episode,

is joined by

and

, General Partners at

, a £ 600 M+ consumer and retail-focused investment and innovation firm, to explore what it means to be a sector specialist in venture—and why that matters more than ever in today’s market.They unpack how True brings together deep operational experience, a robust corporate network, and full life-cycle investment—from pre-seed to public markets. This episode offers a masterclass in building durable advantage in venture through network effects, strategic LP engagement, and sector expertise.

Here’s what’s covered:

• 03:14 Founders' Backgrounds and Experiences
• 05:50 Overview of True's Investment Strategy
• 09:02 Sector Specialization in Consumer and Retail
• 12:00 Leveraging Network and Expertise
• 15:09 Investment Decision-Making Process
• 17:59 Ecosystem and Corporate Partnerships
• 21:10 Consumer Market Opportunities
• 24:07 Investment Strategy and Focus Areas
• 27:00 Closing Thoughts and Future Directions