EPISODE · Mar 24, 2026 · 37 MIN
Startups in Europe are being built to win globally: Filip Dames, Founding Partner at Cherry Ventures
from Scaling Europe · host Sebastian Johnson
Europe used to build strong local companies. Now founders are building global winners from day one, with a much higher ceiling than before.Filip Dames, Founding Partner at Cherry Ventures, says ambition across Europe has shifted, early stage funds are staying focused even as rounds get bigger, and more companies are being built in deep tech as Europe moves into harder problems.The Scaling Europe show is presented by Deel - check them out here:https://get.deel.com/ruynb7o4lfjkSponsors:SurrealDB: The multi-model database for AI agents. Check them out here: https://surrealdb.com/Omni: The AI analytics platform trusted by fast-growing companies like Perplexity, Synthesia, and dbt Labs. Check them out here: https://omni.co/Venture Comet: The platform that gives startups and scale-ups real-time equity tracking, daily business insights and automated management information. Check them out here: https://venturecomet.com/Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction to the Scaling Europe show0:32 - Filip Dames on how Europe’s startup ecosystem has changed2:46 - Why Cherry raised a $500M fund and kept its early-stage focus5:04 - Why Cherry does not want a billion-dollar early-stage fund6:00 - Competing with US firms for Europe’s best founders7:22 - How Cherry has adapted to founders moving to the US earlier10:40 - Berlin, Munich and the state of the German startup ecosystem13:03 - Why Europe is seeing a deep tech renaissance16:32 - How Cherry evaluates deep tech companies like Proxima Fusion20:00 - What Cherry looks for in deep tech founders23:41 - Where Europe is still underfunded compared to the US25:42 - How Cherry’s LP base and fundraising have evolved28:21 - How Filip’s founder and operator background shapes how he invests
What this episode covers
Europe used to build strong local companies. Now founders are building global winners from day one, with a much higher ceiling than before.Filip Dames, Founding Partner at Cherry Ventures, says ambition across Europe has shifted, early stage funds are staying focused even as rounds get bigger, and more companies are being built in deep tech as Europe moves into harder problems.The Scaling Europe show is presented by Deel - check them out here:https://get.deel.com/ruynb7o4lfjkSponsors:SurrealDB: The multi-model database for AI agents. Check them out here: https://surrealdb.com/Omni: The AI analytics platform trusted by fast-growing companies like Perplexity, Synthesia, and dbt Labs. Check them out here: https://omni.co/Venture Comet: The platform that gives startups and scale-ups real-time equity tracking, daily business insights and automated management information. Check them out here: https://venturecomet.com/Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction to the Scaling Europe show0:32 - Filip Dames on how Europe’s startup ecosystem has changed2:46 - Why Cherry raised a $500M fund and kept its early-stage focus5:04 - Why Cherry does not want a billion-dollar early-stage fund6:00 - Competing with US firms for Europe’s best founders7:22 - How Cherry has adapted to founders moving to the US earlier10:40 - Berlin, Munich and the state of the German startup ecosystem13:03 - Why Europe is seeing a deep tech renaissance16:32 - How Cherry evaluates deep tech companies like Proxima Fusion20:00 - What Cherry looks for in deep tech founders23:41 - Where Europe is still underfunded compared to the US25:42 - How Cherry’s LP base and fundraising have evolved28:21 - How Filip’s founder and operator background shapes how he invests
NOW PLAYING
Startups in Europe are being built to win globally: Filip Dames, Founding Partner at Cherry Ventures
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
No similar episodes found.
Similar Podcasts
No similar podcasts found.