OVNIs Ep. #110 - Emily Eisenblätter - From Paris to Berlin: How OVNI Is Going Pan-European

In this episode of OVNIs Podcast, Matthieu Stefani sits down with Emily Eisenblätter to explore how OVNI is expanding beyond France and building a truly pan-European investment strategy. From opening their first office in Berlin to navigating cultural nuances across ecosystems, Emily shares why being “on the ground” is essential to source the best deals, build trust with founders, and create meaningful relationships with co-investors across Europe. The conversation dives deeper into what makes OVNI different: a hands-on, value-first approach, strong operator DNA, and a growing international presence—from Germany to San Francisco. Emily also reflects on her background in deep tech, the evolution of European startup hubs, and the opportunities (and challenges) of scaling across fragmented markets. A sharp, insightful exchange on ambition, ecosystem dynamics, and what it takes to win the best deals in today’s venture landscape.00:00 – Introduction00:46 – Opening OVNI’s first office in Berlin02:01 – Why being “on the ground” matters for investing03:00 – Do you need local talent to win in a market?04:24 – Emily’s role at OVNI: covering all non-French deals05:38 – OVNI’s unfair advantage in France 🇫🇷06:27 – Expanding OVNI’s brand across Europe07:45 – How do you recruit the best people in VC?08:49 – Building a pan-European presence (events, network, deals)10:04 – Why having a US office changes everything 🇺🇸11:24 – How OVNI wins deals against bigger funds12:08 – “Give first” strategy: creating value before investing13:12 – The power of operator VCs vs traditional investors15:30 – SaaS boom, bust & investment lessons16:48 – Emily’s background in deep tech & machine learning19:46 – Missed deals & anti-portfolio regrets20:24 – The craziest startups: from lab-grown meat to space tech 🚀23:06 – How deal flow really works at early stage24:28 – Where are the hidden startup hubs in Germany? 🇩🇪26:09 – Berlin vs Munich: where the real action is27:27 – Is Europe too fragmented for startups?28:16 – How Germans see the French tech ecosystem 🇫🇷29:23 – Europe vs US: where should startups scale?31:51 – Underrated startup ecosystems in Europe33:43 – Why industry still matters for deep tech35:36 – Working with corporates: opportunity or trap?36:31 – Germany’s strengths & weaknesses (talent vs bureaucracy)38:00 – Do corporates move fast enough for startups?39:10 – Venture clienting: how big companies work with startups40:15 – France vs Germany: cultural differences in business 🇫🇷🇩🇪41:30 – Why Europe struggles with risk-taking42:45 – Can Europe compete with the US in venture?44:00 – Building conviction at early-stage investing45:10 – How to evaluate founders with little data46:20 – The importance of founder-market fit47:30 – What makes a “great” founder today48:40 – Speed vs depth: how VCs make decisions49:50 – Portfolio strategy: why one winner changes everything51:00 – Lessons from failed investments (“cadavers”)52:10 – How to think about risk in venture capital53:15 – Deep tech vs SaaS: where the future is going54:20 – Europe’s biggest opportunity in tech right now55:30 – What founders should expect from investors56:40 – Emily’s personal motivations & long-term vision57:30 – Final thoughts on building a pan-European VC58:30 – Closing words & wrap-up📌 Disclaimer – Financial Information & InvestmentThe content shared in this podcast (including episodes, excerpts, descriptions, associated posts, and YouTube videos) is provided for informational and educational purposes only. 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