EUVC

In today’s episode, Andreas talks with Christian Meermann, Founding Partner at Cherry Ventures and a Forbes Midas Lister. ith a €320M fund size and €1B in AUM, Cherry Ventures has made its mark across Europe by backing companies like Flixbus, Auto1, Flaschenpost, Finimize, and Ninetailed. Headquartered in Germany, the fund focuses on early-stage investments (Pre/Seed/Seed+) across both B2B software and consumer verticals.

Christian shares the secrets behind Cherry’s culture of excellence, navigating competition in venture capital, and how to underwrite new managers in today’s market. He also dives into the art of decision-making for follow-on rounds, discussing what to look for and how to support portfolio companies effectively.

With deep entrepreneurial roots, including his role as CMO of Zalando—scaling it from small revenues to over €2 billion at IPO—Christian brings a wealth of operational experience, strategic insight, and passion for founders with global ambitions.

Together, we explore:

• Cherry's founding journey and Christian’s entrepreneurial background.
• Building a culture of excellence while competing in a dynamic venture market.
• Underwriting new managers: What investors should look for in emerging talent.
• The decision-making process for follow-on investments and how Cherry approaches it.
• Lessons from Christian’s career and success stories, including one of Germany’s largest exits with Flaschenpost.

In today’s episode, Andreas talks with with Kaari Kink, Investment Manager at Superangel and Chair of EstVCA, and Margus Uudam, Partner at Karma Ventures and a long-time pioneer in venture capital, to uncover the secrets behind Estonia’s rise as one of Europe’s most dynamic startup ecosystems.

Estonia, known for producing global champions like Skype, Bolt, and Wise, has become a model for entrepreneurial success thanks to forward-thinking policies, minimal bureaucracy, and a bold mindset. Kaari and Margus share their experiences, reflect on Estonia’s journey, and highlight the policies and initiatives that other European ecosystems can learn from.

Together, we explore:

• The key policies, like Estonia’s progressive stock option framework, that attract and retain tech talent.
• The “Skype Effect” and how it transformed Estonia’s ecosystem.
• Europe’s challenges in harmonizing policies to compete globally with the U.S. and China.
• The role of cross-border collaboration and fund-of-funds in building a resilient VC landscape.

Go to eu.vc to read the full show notes.

In this episode of the EUVC podcast, Andreas talks with Avid Larizadeh Duggan, Senior Managing Director (EMEA) at Teachers' Venture Growth (TVG), the venture arm of Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP), headquartered in Toronto.

TVG has €5.4B in assets under management, backing innovative companies like Canva, Databricks, DeepL, and SpaceX. Avid brings experience from her work leading investments for TVG, with a strong focus on scaling Series B+ technology companies globally.

Together, we will explore the unique perspective OTPP brings as one of the world’s largest pension funds; we’ll. We will also dive into the challenges and opportunities of scaling global technology companies and the role of late-stage growth investing in driving the next wave of innovation.

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

Chapters:

00:03 Meet Avid from Ontario Teachers Pension Plan 
02:57 Ontario Teachers Pension Plan's Global Investment Strategy 
07:55 Avid's Journey to Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan 
12:20 The Role of Teachers in the Investment Ecosystem
12:58 Advantages of Being Part of a Pension Plan
15:58 Leveraging Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Network
19:30 Focus on Growth Stage Investing
21:57 Challenges and Opportunities in the European Growth Stage 
28:32 Challenges of Scaling in Europe
29:53 Talent Development Over Time
31:58 Ecosystem Strength and Growth Stage Investment
35:05 Manufacturing and Industry 4.0
36:00 Investing in Hardware and Software
36:50 Thematic Investing and Industry 4.0
41:01 Navigating Hardware and Deep Tech Investments
46:58 Advice for Founders and Investor Relationships
52:36 Equity vs. Debt Financing at Growth Stage

In this episode of the EUVC podcast, Andreas is joined by Mike Reiner, General Partner at 432 Legacy, Fred Destin from Stride, and Rupda, a coach specializing in deep work retreats. The conversation explores the role of inner work in venture capital, highlighting its potential to improve founder-investor relationships, reduce burnout, and foster personal growth.

Mike shares how 432 Legacy integrates coaching and self-development into its seed-stage investment strategy. Fred discusses his focus on enhancing trust and presence in boardrooms, and Rupda explains the transformative power of group retreats for addressing stress and building resilience.

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

Chapters:

02:53 Meet the Guests: Mike, Fred, and Rupda
03:58 Mike Reiner on 432 Legacy and Deep Work
04:36 Fred Destin on VC-Founder Relationships
07:46 Rupda's Unique Journey and Spiritual Background
12:06 The Importance of Inner Work for Founders
15:37 Balancing High Achievement and Personal Growth
16:43 The Role of Trauma and Obsession in Success
24:24 The Benefits of Deep Work for Leaders
34:29 Fred's Personal Journey and Reflections
40:56 Finding Inner Motivation
41:30 Questioning Life's Path 
43:17 The Power of Connection
44:41 Men and Vulnerability
46:20 The Collective Experience
49:40 Coaching vs. Mentoring
56:03 The Essence of Presence
57:46 The Importance of the Body
01:07:07 The Power of Retreats
01:18:41 Upcoming Retreat Details

Welcome to a special episode of the EUVC podcast! This time, we’re experimenting with a new format where we bring together a founder and two of their key investors to uncover the dynamics behind building and scaling a venture-backed company.

In this episode, we’re joined by Stanislav Poslavsky, CEO and Co-Founder of MiLaboratories, a US-based biotech company founded in 2021. Focused on providing innovative solutions for genomic research, MiLaboratories operates on a B2B revenue model, catering to bioinformaticians and biologists in academic and pharmaceutical settings across the US, EU, and UK.

Joachim Laqueur, Founding Partner at Acrobator Ventures, a seed-stage investment firm with €28M in assets under management. Based in the Netherlands, Joachim specializes in backing global startups with a focus on Europe and the US, targeting B2B software and software-enabled hardware.

Miguel Arias, General Partner at KFund, €225M early growth fund, with €650M in assets under management. Based in Spain, Miguel focuses on Series A and B investments across Southern Europe and Latin America, targeting enabling technologies such as AI, IoT, and digital infrastructure.

Together, we explore how MiLaboratories secured its place in their portfolios, the process of building conviction across investment stages, and the unique challenges and opportunities of funding a biotech company in today’s landscape. Expect deep dives into deal-making dynamics, the art of company building, and even a few lighthearted moments that reveal the human side of venture capital.

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

Chapters:

01:50 Journey: Founding MiLaboratories
02:47 Joachim's Perspective: Investing in MiLaboratories
04:05 The Early Fundraising Challenges
05:30 The Role of COVID in Fundraising 
07:45 Miguel's Introduction and Perspective
10:08 Series A Fundraising Experience
15:24 Lessons Learned in Fundraising
19:46 Understanding MiLaboratories' Impact
33:02 The Duality of Business Strategy
33:13 Building a Sustainable Business
34:23 The Power of Open Source
35:48 Conviction in Venture Capital
38:03 Choosing the Right Investors
42:04 The Art of Pricing
45:57 The CEO's Many Hats
49:12 Understanding Platforma and MeXR
53:35 Challenges and Lessons Learned
57:47 The Future of MiLaboratories

In this episode of the EUVC podcast, Andreas sits down with Michael McGraw, Principal at Inovia Capital, a €415M growth equity fund headquartered in Canada but making waves in Europe.

Inovia has €2.3B in assets under management and a track record of backing companies like Cohere, Lightspeed, Neo4j, and Wealthsimple. Mike brings a unique perspective shaped by his journey from LP at CDPQ—one of the world’s largest pension funds—to leading growth-stage investments at Inovia. Together, we’ll dive deep into the evolving role of European LPs, exploring why embracing a higher risk appetite could yield outsized returns and drive systemic innovation.

We’ll also discuss Inovia’s strategy for scaling Series B to pre-IPO companies across North America and Europe, shedding light on key challenges and opportunities in the software space. Whether you’re an LP curious about market dynamics or a founder navigating growth-stage fundraising, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.


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

Chapters:

• 01:00 Meet Michael McGraw from Inovia
• 01:59 Inovia's Strategy and Focus
• 02:23 Inovia's European Expansion
• 03:22 Success Stories and Notable Investments
• 04:05 The Role of CDPQ and Mike's Experience
• 04:55 Canadian vs. European VC Ecosystems
• 07:22 CDPQ's Investment Strategy
• 11:42 Challenges for European LPs
• 16:49 Fundraising in Europe: Insights and Observations
• 27:27 Firepower and Fund Allocation
• 28:05 Late Stage Market in Europe
• 28:28 Investment Strategies and Risk Appetite
• 29:49 Challenges in European Venture Growth Capital 
• 31:45 Government's Role in Venture Capital
• 32:27 Canadian Venture Capital Action Plan
• 34:09 Fund of Funds in Europe
• 37:45 Mike McGrath's Background
• 41:41 Lessons Learned in Venture Capital
• 48:06 Fundraising Tips for VCs

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

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

Chapters:
00:47 Personal Story: Full Body Scan Experience
01:58 Health Tech Renaissance
02:47 Preventative Health Scanning Debate
04:59 Lomax's Health Journey
08:47 Investment in Health Tech
11:58 ChatGPT's 2nd Birthday
16:22 Impact of LLMs on Business
18:03 Future of AI and Productivity
19:33 Future of Large Language Models
19:50 VC Investments and Market Speculations
21:40 Northvolt's Downfall
23:03 Challenges in the European Market 
23:47 Lessons from Tesla's Survival
27:31 Recursion and Accenture Merger 
31:37 Psychedelics in Mental Health
35:47 Impact of Psychedelics on Founders
37:35 Cradle Bio's Success
38:22 Closing Thoughts and Optimism

In this episode of the EUVC podcast, Andreas sits down with Mike Reiner and Joachim Laqueur, General Partners at 432 Legacy, the successor to Acrobator Ventures.

Mike and Joachim are investors with deep expertise in scaling B2B software and software-enabled hardware startups across Europe and the US. With a fund size of around €50M and €28M in assets under management, 432 Legacy is focused on seed-stage investments but supports founders up to Series A, fostering innovation on a global scale.

In this episode, we’ll explore the vision behind 432 Legacy, including how their journey with Acrobator laid the groundwork for the fund’s mission. We’ll discuss their approach to identifying high-impact startups and the strategies they’ve employed to achieve standout successes like Lemonaid Health, Vital Fields, and Ready Player Me, among others.

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

Chapters:

01:34 Introducing 432 Legacy
01:55 Investment Focus and Notable Investments
04:20 Personal Development Journey
06:25 The Importance of Mindfulness and Coaching
07:46 Challenges and Breakthroughs
10:19 Incorporating Personal Development in Business
15:56 Retreats and Deep Connections
17:17 Skepticism and the Power of Vulnerability
26:03 Data and AI in Venture Capital
29:17 Challenges in Building Comprehensive Systems
29:53 Serendipity in Venture Capital
30:28 Early Experiments with AI in VC
31:15 Discovering the WR Hambrecht System
32:12 Meeting Thomas and Building Relationships
34:07 Quantics: A Hybrid Approach
34:55 Evaluating Companies with Quantics
44:21 Future of 432 Legacy
48:47 The Meaning Behind 432 Legacy
52:47 Excitement for 2025 and Beyond

In this episode of the EUVC podcast, Andreas talks with Robin Haak, the solo GP behind Robin Capital, and Jerome Ternynck, founder of SmartRecruiters and a new initiative called Rypples.

Together, we explore the evolution of recruiting, why "you are who you hire," and how AI is reshaping talent acquisition. Jerome brings insights from decades in HR tech, while Robin adds the investor’s perspective on navigating and succeeding in competitive markets.

We’ll dig into Jerome’s journey with SmartRecruiters and the problem-solving mindset that’s driven his work for the past 30 years. We'll also uncover Rypples—his new mission to combine sustainable impact and financial return by investing in ocean-positive startups—and why sustainability is the next big business frontier.

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

Chapters:
02:10 Jerome's Journey and Smart Recruiters
03:39 Core Expertise: HR and Hiring Success
03:45 Scaling a B2B SaaS Company
03:57 The Founder Perspective on Raising Money
04:06 Jerome's New Mission: Rypples
15:54 The Evolution of Recruiting and AI
16:34 Metrics for Hiring Success
26:31 Purpose-Driven Business and Reverse Recruiting
32:23 Reflecting on Past Mistakes
32:52 Challenges of Scaling a SaaS Company
34:25 Optimizing Sales and Marketing
35:23 Balancing Growth and Retention
38:50 Navigating VC Relationships
41:17 The Role of the CEO in Scaling
46:13 Fundraising Strategies and FOMO
55:13 Building a Sustainable Business
55:40 Introducing Rypples: An Ocean Investment Firm
01:02:17 Final Thoughts and Farewell

In this episode of the EUVC podcast, Andreas talks with Benoit Vandevivere, CEO of Consentio and a driving force behind the eu/acc movement.

Benoit is an advocate for innovation and technology in Europe, frequently speaking on the global stage for tech founders, policymakers, and institutions such as the NYSE and the European Commission. Together, we’ll dive into the origins and mission of the eu/acc movement—what it is, why it matters, and how it’s rallying founders and policymakers to create a unified European startup ecosystem. We’ll explore the root challenges facing Europe, from market fragmentation to scaling barriers, and the actionable solutions that the EU Accelerationism movement proposes to accelerate progress.

We’ll also uncover the latest on key initiatives like the “10-second investment process” and the EU Inc movement, both designed to simplify and strengthen Europe’s innovation landscape. If you’re passionate about driving change and empowering European founders, this conversation is one you won’t want to miss.

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

Chapters:

00:02 Meet Benoit from the EU Act Movement
00:05 Overview of the EU Act Movement
00:30 How to Get Involved with EU Act
00:46 The Growing Support for EU Act
02:40 Introduction to the Podcast Episode
03:56 Benoit's Background and Journey
05:05 Early Career and Entrepreneurial Ventures
07:28 Challenges and Opportunities in Europe
09:09 Policy and Regulation Insights
10:33 The Importance of Speaking Up
13:39 AI and Technological Advancements
15:10 The Role of European Talent
18:31 The EU Act Movement's Philosophy
20:04 Key Figures and Contributors
26:20 The 10 Second Investment Process
28:55 Challenges with Current Regulations
31:37 The Need for Policy Change
39:50 Call to Action for Entrepreneurs
44:29 Final Thoughts and Farewell