E402 | Cem Sertoglu, Bek Ventures: Avoiding the temptation of AUM and staying disciplined

Today, Andreas talks with Cem Sertoglu, Managing Partner at Bek Ventures, a global venture capital firm that recently closed a $250M fund that was three times oversubscribed. Formerly known as Earlybird Digital East, Bek Ventures focuses on founders with their roots in Central and Eastern Europe, a region Cem calls "Dynamic Europe."With over a decade of experience, the Bek Ventures team has supported global successes like UiPath, Payhawk, and Peak, the first unicorns in Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey, respectively, and has been recognized by HEC as the best-performing venture firm globally since 2010. Cem shares insights into the firm’s disciplined investment strategy, its belief that early-stage venture doesn't scale, and how its focus on technical talent gives it an edge in building global companies.Together, they explore Bek Ventures’ approach to VC fundraising, the challenges of funding beyond seed stages, and the lessons Cem has learned from two decades in venture capital.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀