E385 | Michael McGraw, Inovia Capital: European LPs and why a higher risk appetite could pay for itself

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 Inovia01:59 Inovia's Strategy and Focus02:23 Inovia's European Expansion03:22 Success Stories and Notable Investments04:05 The Role of CDPQ and Mike's Experience04:55 Canadian vs. European VC Ecosystems07:22 CDPQ's Investment Strategy11:42 Challenges for European LPs16:49 Fundraising in Europe: Insights and Observations27:27 Firepower and Fund Allocation28:05 Late Stage Market in Europe28:28 Investment Strategies and Risk Appetite29:49 Challenges in European Venture Growth Capital 31:45 Government's Role in Venture Capital32:27 Canadian Venture Capital Action Plan34:09 Fund of Funds in Europe37:45 Mike McGrath's Background41:41 Lessons Learned in Venture Capital48:06 Fundraising Tips for VCs