EUVC

In today’s episode, Andreas and Jeppe sit down with Petr Mikovec, Managing Director and Chairman of InvenCapital, the corporate venture capital arm of CEZ Group. They discuss how InvenCapital operates with a unique dual-funding structure in collaboration with the European Investment Bank (EIB), blending corporate strategy with financial investment goals.

InvenCapital, which manages €500M and focuses on climate tech and sustainability, provides insights into how corporate investors can balance strategic objectives with financial returns.

Together, we explore:

• How InvenCapital’s structure supports strategic and financial goals through its partnership with CEZ Group and the European Investment Bank.
• The role of systemic coaching in venture investing and how it fosters stronger relationships with founders and teams.
• Challenges and advantages of corporate venture capital models compared to traditional VC firms.
• Strategies for effective board participation and aligning stakeholders for company growth.
• How InvenCapital manages partnerships and exits when working with competitors in the energy sector.

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In today’s episode, Andreas talks with Oliver Holle, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Speedinvest, and Ekaterina Almasque, General Partner at OpenOcean, to unpack the current landscape of AI investing.

Speedinvest, a €500M generalist fund, and OpenOcean, a €150M fund specializing in AI and deep tech, offer contrasting yet complementary perspectives on how VCs are navigating the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence.

Together, we explore:

• How SpeedInvest and OpenOcean approach AI investments and the strategic decisions behind focusing on specific layers of the AI stack.
• The rise of AI agents and how this next wave of AI innovation shapes investment strategies.
• Risk and opportunity in AI investing, particularly in foundational models versus applications and infrastructure.
• Key AI disruption sectors include healthcare, enterprise solutions, and content creation.
• Why VCs need to rethink traditional investment models when approaching AI startups.

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Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC podcast, where our good friends Dan Bowyer and Mads Jensen from SuperSeed have a discussion with Lomax Ward, General Partner at Outsized Ventures to cover recent news and movements in the European tech landscape. 💬

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In today’s episode of the European VC Podcast, we have a powerful conversation with Rupda, a trauma therapist and expert in somatic healing, to explore the profound impact of self-awareness, connection, and body-based healing on personal and professional lives.

If you’re a founder, investor, or someone striving for balance, this episode offers transformative insights into navigating stress, building meaningful relationships, and reconnecting with yourself.

Join the next Deep Work Retreat from April 1 to 6 in beautiful Italy. To learn more about it, go here, and to request an invitation, contact Andreas at [email protected].

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In this episode of the EU CVC podcast, Andreas and Jeppe, our in-house CVC expert talks with Mike Smeed, Managing Director at InMotion Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of JLR (Jaguar Land Rover).

InMotion Ventures is one of the most active corporate investors in the UK, with a global presence from the UK, Bay Area, and Tel Aviv. The team focuses on Seed to Series A investments, with typical cheque sizes ranging from $250K to $2M, and has the flexibility to participate in Series B rounds when there’s strong strategic alignment with JLR.

Mike and his team back exceptional startups in climate, industrial, and enterprise technologies. Today, we’ll explore how InMotion Ventures leverages venture investing to accelerate innovation, the unique opportunities within their focus geographies — UK/Western Europe, North America, and Israel — and the role of corporate venture capital in driving impactful solutions.

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Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC podcast, where our good friends Dan Bowyer and Mads Jensen from SuperSeed in a discussion with Andrew J. Scott, Founding Partner at 7percent Ventures and Lomax Ward, General Partner at Outsized Ventures, cover recent news and movements in the European tech landscape 💬

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For today’s episode, Andreas is joined by Hampus Jakobsson, General Partner at Pale Blue Dot, Michael Smith, General Partner at Regeneration VC, and Tobias Seikel from Planet A to discuss the future of climate tech in the wake of Trump’s reelection. Together, they analyze how shifting narratives and geopolitical dynamics will impact the climate agenda and the broader venture ecosystem.

Together, they analyze how shifting narratives and geopolitical dynamics will impact the climate agenda and the broader venture ecosystem.

The conversation covers:

📌 Adapting to uncertainty: How portfolio companies are navigating mistrust and unpredictability while focusing on solving real business problems.
📌 Lessons from China: Insights into China’s strategic focus on solar, EVs, and battery production, and how Europe can adopt similar multi-decade planning while fostering cross-border unity.
📌 The role of big bets: Reflecting on the fallout of Lilium and Northvolt, the group emphasizes the importance of learning from failures and continuing to back transformative projects in Europe.
📌 Stimulating growth: What an ideal EU stimulus plan could look like, from collaborative cross-border energy grids to dual-use strategies between defense and green tech.

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In this episode of the EUVC podcast, Dan Taylor, former journalist and Director of Content at CEW Communications is joined by

• Itxaso del Palacio, General Partner at Notion Capital
• Nico Goulet, Founding Partner at Adara Ventures
• Stefan Mores, Managing Partner at Indico Capital Partners.

Together, they explore the dynamics of the Iberian startup and VC ecosystem, highlighting the region's strengths, challenges, and future potential.

The conversation dives into what makes Iberia an attractive hub for tech talent and investment, the unique advantages of Portugal and Spain, and the critical role of local and global markets in shaping the success of startups.

Go to eu.vc to read the core take-aways.

Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC podcast, where we’ll cover recent news and movements in the European tech landscape with Dan Bowyer and Mads Jensen from SuperSeed.

Go to eu.vc to read the core take-aways.

In today’s episode, Andreas talks with Nico Schoenenberger, part of the Investment Team at 10x Founders, a Munich-based fund with €160M AUM in Fund I. 10x Founders focuses on early-stage investments (Pre-Seed/Seed) across Europe and the US, with a portfolio spanning sectors like B2B SaaS and Fintech. Notable investments include Ixana, magic, Ivy, Fernride, and cylib.

Nico dives into the dynamics of entrepreneurial communities that form funds, sharing insights on decision-making for entrepreneurs, the strategic use of follow-on reserves, and the advantages of round pre-emption. Drawing from his experience, Nico provides actionable advice for founders navigating early-stage funding and growth.

Together, we explore:

• The story behind 10x Founders and its entrepreneurial community-driven approach.
• Entrepreneurial decision-making and what it takes to succeed at the early stage.
• How to structure follow-on reserves and why round pre-emption matters.
• Lessons from Nico’s journey and the success stories from 10x Founders’ portfolio.