EPISODE · Dec 21, 2021 · 7 MIN
An Introduction to Scouting for Growth – with Sabine VdL
from Scouting for Growth · host Sabine VdL
Hi, I am Sabine VanderLinden – Many of my friends call me Mrs VdL. I have been in business for over 25 years. I worked for highly respected, well-known blue-chip companies. And 6 years ago, I decided to take the entrepreneurial and investor route and ran a very well-known acceleration program for early-stage startups in Europe and the United States, while also engaging with investors and corporations in Asia, Africa, and LATAM. Yes. I know. Five continents in 5 years. 70 startups accelerated during that period. Lots of Airmiles. $100 million invested in accelerated portfolios. And certainly, lots of learning. Since then, my team and I have scouted over 20,000 ventures to help both corporates and investors identify new sources of growth. I want to dedicate this podcast to the founders, entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, investors, corporate fighters, and change-makers who, over the years, have given me their time, patience, and trust. We will, together, demystify the world of corporate venturing. ABOUT THE HOST Sabine VanderLinden is a corporate strategist turned entrepreneur and the CEO of Alchemy Crew Ventures. She leads venture-client labs that help Fortune 500 companies adopt and scale cutting-edge technologies from global tech ventures. A builder of accelerators, investor, and co-editor of the bestseller The INSURTECH Book, Sabine is known for asking the uncomfortable questions—about AI governance, risk, and trust. On Scouting for Growth, she decodes how real growth happens—where capital, collaboration, and courage meet. If this episode sparked your thinking, follow Sabine VanderLinden on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram for more insights. And if you’re interested in sponsoring the podcast, reach out to the team at [email protected]
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What this episode covers
Hi, I’m Sabine VanderLinden—though many of my friends call me Mrs VdL. I’ve spent more than 25 years in business, building my career inside some of the world’s most respected blue-chip organisations. And then, six years ago, I made a deliberate shift—from corporate executive to entrepreneur, investor, and ecosystem builder. I chose the harder road. The one where theory meets reality. Over five years, I ran one of the most recognised acceleration programmes for early-stage startups across Europe and the United States, while actively working with investors and corporates in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Five continents. Five years. 70 startups accelerated. $100 million invested across those portfolios. And yes—more air miles than I care to count. But more importantly? An extraordinary amount of learning. Since then, my team and I have scouted more than 20,000 ventures, helping corporates and investors identify where real, sustainable growth is coming from—beyond hype, beyond trend-chasing, beyond innovation theatre. This podcast is my way of giving back. It’s dedicated to the founders, entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, investors, corporate fighters, and change-makers who have trusted me with their ideas, their time, and sometimes their toughest questions. Together, we will demystify corporate venturing. We’ll explore what actually works at the intersection of startups and large organisations. We’ll talk about capital, collaboration, risk, governance—and courage. And we’ll separate scalable growth from well-intentioned noise. Because growth doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when the right people, problems, and partnerships collide. Welcome to Scouting for Growth.
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An Introduction to Scouting for Growth – with Sabine VdL
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