Redefining Venture Capital: Art, AI, and Emotional Risk with Severin Zugmayer

In this episode of Emotional Business, Olga Skipper is joined by Severin Zugmayer—founder of New Renaissance Ventures, the first dedicated venture fund for the cultural and creative industries in Europe. With a background spanning Red Bull, Google, and Speedinvest, Severin isn’t your typical VC. He’s redefining what it means to invest—not just in products or founders, but in culture, creativity, and meaning. Severin shares how his creative upbringing and professional journey led him to build a fund focused on the overlooked but high-potential world of creative tech. From music and film to spatial computing and AI, his thesis is as bold as it is timely. This conversation explores: Why creativity is the next frontier in venture capital What most investors get wrong about emotional founders How AI is changing the game for cultural innovation The realities of being a solo GP (and why it’s both powerful and lonely) What resilience really looks like in a high-risk, long-game profession The emotional intelligence required to manage LPs, founders, and yourself If you’re a founder, funder, or future builder wondering what VC could look like beyond the spreadsheets—this episode will expand your thinking. https://www.nr.ventures