Scaling Europe

European founders are still going to the US earlier than ever, but AI is now changing how the companies they build actually operate.Martin Mignot, Partner at Index Ventures, looks at this shift from inside a global firm working with founders on both sides of the Atlantic. For founders and CEOs, AI is becoming much bigger than a tooling question. The challenge is to rethink how the company works before the old structure slows them down.The Scaling Europe show is presented by Deel - check them out here:https://get.deel.com/ruynb7o4lfjkSponsors:Mishcon: https://www.mishcon.com/pop-ups/scaling-europeChargebee: https://www.chargebee.com/events/beelieve/london/2026SurrealDB: https://surrealdb.com/Airwallex: https://www.airwallex.com/uk?utm_source=other&utm_medium=partner_referral&utm_campaign=v01_emea_multi_ib_dg_prtmk_mofu_scalingeuropeTimestamps:0:00 - Introduction0:32 - European founders going global earlier2:12 - How AI is changing company building3:02 - CEOs learning from San Francisco4:39 - Founder mode and AI leadership7:20 - How Index helps founders through the shift9:48 - Why Index invested in Anthropic13:04 - Index’s AI strategy17:17 - Assessing AI founders21:07 - Explore vs exploit in AI22:19 - Index’s AI portfolio24:27 - Why Index operates as one global team27:24 - The trade-offs of a global partnership

AI data centres are running into a network bottleneck as models demand more bandwidth, more connected processors and dramatically more power.James Regan, CEO of Oriole Networks, thinks the industry is still trying to scale architectures that fundamentally do not work at the size AI is heading towards. Oriole’s approach replaces electrical packet switches with photonic switching technology designed to move data optically across the data centre, with the long-term goal of connecting a million XPUs in a single hop while cutting power consumption at the same time.The Scaling Europe show is presented by Deel - check them out here:https://get.deel.com/ruynb7o4lfjkSponsors:Mishcon: https://www.mishcon.com/pop-ups/scaling-europeChargebee: https://www.chargebee.com/events/beelieve/london/2026SurrealDB: https://surrealdb.com/Airwallex: https://www.airwallex.com/uk?utm_source=other&utm_medium=partner_referral&utm_campaign=v01_emea_multi_ib_dg_prtmk_mofu_scalingeuropeTimestamps:0:00 - Introduction0:27 - What Oriole Networks is building1:48 - Why optical switching matters for AI4:50 - The network bottleneck problem7:22 - Prism Ultra and scaling AI infrastructure10:24 - Industry reaction to Prism Ultra12:49 - US vs European deep tech investors16:07 - What James does differently as a repeat founder20:27 - Spinning companies out of universities24:15 - Why founders should avoid weak early deals25:53 - Recognising bad VC deals as a repeat founder

Founders can spend years building valuable companies while paying themselves almost nothing, with all of the upside locked away until an exit that may still be years off.Kevin Smith, CEO at Venture Comet, is building a platform that helps founders release a small amount of equity earlier in the journey instead of waiting for a single make-or-break outcome at the end. One of the biggest shifts he points to is how much investor attitudes around founder secondaries have changed, with far more acceptance that giving founders some financial breathing room can actually help companies last longer and build bigger outcomes.The Scaling Europe show is presented by Deel - check them out here:https://get.deel.com/ruynb7o4lfjkSponsors:Mishcon: https://www.mishcon.com/pop-ups/scaling-europeChargebee: https://www.chargebee.com/events/beelieve/london/2026SurrealDB: https://surrealdb.com/Airwallex: https://www.airwallex.com/uk?utm_source=other&utm_medium=partner_referral&utm_campaign=v01_emea_multi_ib_dg_prtmk_mofu_scalingeuropeTimestamps:0:00 - Introduction1:07 - What Venture Comet does2:20 - Why founders struggle in years 3-54:52 - When founders should consider secondaries6:24 - Why Kevin started the company8:36 - The rise of founder secondaries11:17 - How Venture Comet works with investors13:48 - The future of Venture Comet16:38 - Building differently the second time around19:23 - Staying focused as a second-time founder

Most people running multiple roles have no clear way to price their work or decide what is actually worth their time.June Angelides MBE, Founder of the Portfolio Method and Venture Partner at Samos Investments, is building a product around that problem after seeing it play out in her first workshop, where most participants realised they were underpricing themselves once they broke everything down. What started as a single session is already turning into a product with early users, as she builds it in real time and tests how a portfolio career can actually be structured instead of just managed informally.Find out more about the Portfolio Method and get a free audit here: https://theportfolio-method.com/. Most people running multiple roles have no clear way to price their work or decide what is actually worth their time.June Angelides MBE, Founder of the Portfolio Method and Venture Partner at Samos Investments, is building a product around that problem after seeing it play out in her first workshop, where most participants realised they were underpricing themselves once they broke everything down. What started as a single session is already turning into a product with early users, as she builds it in real time and tests how a portfolio career can actually be structured instead of just managed informally.Find out more about the Portfolio Method and get a free audit here: https://theportfolio-method.com/. An anonymous benchmarking survey for portfolio careers is also now live, check it out here: https://tally.so/r/eqxrQq.The Scaling Europe show is presented by Deel - check them out here:https://get.deel.com/ruynb7o4lfjkSponsors:Mishcon: https://www.mishcon.com/pop-ups/scaling-europeChargebee: https://www.chargebee.com/events/beelieve/london/2026SurrealDB: https://surrealdb.com/Airwallex: https://www.airwallex.com/uk?utm_source=other&utm_medium=partner_referral&utm_campaign=v01_emea_multi_ib_dg_prtmk_mofu_scalingeuropeTimestamps:0:00 - Introduction0:25 - Why she started the Portfolio Method2:36 - The cost of context switching3:27 - Underpricing and workshop insight4:02 - Going back into build mode6:24 - Product vision and early users11:38 - Investing in African startups13:13 - African tech ecosystem15:01 - Balancing a portfolio career

Earlybird raised a €360 million early-stage fund, its largest yet, after extending the hard cap during the raise to bring in an additional institutional LP.Andre Retterath, General Partner at Earlybird Venture Capital, talks about how that number is decided before the fund is even raised, with ownership targets and follow-on reserves shaping the size more than anything else in a market where liquidity has been tight.The Scaling Europe show is presented by Deel - check them out here:https://get.deel.com/ruynb7o4lfjkSponsors:Mishcon: https://www.mishcon.com/pop-ups/scaling-europeChargebee: https://www.chargebee.com/events/beelieve/london/2026SurrealDB: https://surrealdb.com/Airwallex: https://www.airwallex.com/uk?utm_source=other&utm_medium=partner_referral&utm_campaign=v01_emea_multi_ib_dg_prtmk_mofu_scalingeuropeTimestamps:0:00 - Introduction0:19 - €360m fund announcement0:55 - Fund size and portfolio strategy2:29 - Fundraising in today’s LP market3:54 - IPOs and liquidity returning5:39 - Deep tech focus8:13 - What founders look for in investors10:03 - Aleph Alpha and Cohere12:24 - Sovereignty in Europe15:39 - Ownership structure and long-term setup20:14 - Advice for getting into VC

Stefan Bader is a the co-founder and CEO of Cello, a tech company focused on user-led growth through referral-based marketing for B2B software companies. He is also running the GTM10 awards - an awards programme for the best GTM operators. Check it out here: https://thegtm10.com/The Scaling Europe show is presented by Deel - check them out here:]https://get.deel.com/ruynb7o4lfjkAlso by:Mishcon: https://www.mishcon.com/pop-ups/scaling-europeChargebee: https://www.chargebee.com/events/beelieve/london/2026SurrealDB: https://surrealdb.com/Airwallex: https://www.airwallex.com/uk?utm_source=other&utm_medium=partner_referral&utm_campaign=v01_emea_multi_ib_dg_prtmk_mofu_scalingeurope

Deel has grown into one of the fastest scaling SaaS companies globally, building a fully remote organisation of over 7,000 people and reaching more than $1 billion in annual revenue.Dan Westgarth, COO at Deel, shares how he went from customer support at Revolut to leading operations at Deel, and why scaling a company at that speed comes down to constant reinvention, high talent density and a culture built on accountability rather than location.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/Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction0:37 - From Revolut to Deel2:37 - Why join early and back founders4:20 - Deel’s growth and scale today5:30 - Reinventing the COO role as the company grows6:39 - What the role looks like day-to-day7:30 - Hiring, culture and what makes a great operator10:10 - Scaling a fully remote company12:33 - Remote culture and accountability12:38 - Views on the current market and AI14:47 - The Revolut mafia and operator networks15:51 - Staying at Deel and future plans16:42 - AI adoption inside Deel

Rivan has just raised a £25 million Series A to scale its synthetic fuel technology, after building and operating the UK’s largest synthetic natural gas plant in under a year.Harvey Hodd, Founder at Rivan, shares how the company built and proved its first plant and is now focused on scaling manufacturing to bring synthetic fuels into the grid at costs that compete with fossil fuels.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/Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction0:22 - £25m Series A announcement0:52 - From hypothesis to working plant2:11 - What Rivan is building4:38 - Customer demand and commercial model6:06 - Energy markets and European context8:54 - Competing with fossil fuels10:10 - Building fast in hardware12:45 - Scaling manufacturing and new facility14:08 - Deployment timelines16:12 - Fundraising and investors17:56 - Challenges and execution19:02 - Building hardware vs software

Station F has become one of the defining institutions in French tech, housing 1,000 early-stage startups in Paris and launching F/ai, a new AI programme bringing together major labs, top funds and a sharper focus on commercial acceleration.Roxanne Varza, Director at Station F, shares how Station F grew alongside the rise of the French ecosystem and why the focus is now shifting toward helping strong AI teams move faster on the commercial side by connecting them with the right partners, investors and buyers.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/Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction0:19 - Why Roxanne moved to France1:38 - What Station F is today2:24 - Station F’s impact on French tech6:02 - What FAI is and why it launched7:48 - How founders were selected10:12 - Why Deal Day matters16:05 - Why Paris is producing more major AI companies20:27 - Sovereignty and buying European tech23:13 - France’s growing defence tech ecosystem

tozero is building Europe’s first industrial battery recycling demonstration plant, taking lithium-ion battery recycling from research to a live facility running in the real world.Sarah Fleischer and Ksenija Milicevic Neumann, Co-founders at tozero, share how the team built and launched the plant from scratch, now processing end-of-life batteries into critical materials like lithium and graphite, and using it to prove the process continuously as they push toward scaling full industrial plants across Europe.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/Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction0:32 - Launching the demo plant1:40 - From idea to building the plant3:12 - Why battery recycling now5:22 - What the plant produces6:49 - Proving the process at scale7:55 - Scaling beyond the demo plant9:44 - Pilots and customers12:21 - Market demand and supply chains13:08 - Rapid prototyping approach14:35 - Scaling to future plants18:20 - Hiring and building the team

Arbio is acquiring holiday home portfolios across Europe and using AI to turn highly manual property managers into much more scalable businesses.Constantin Schröder, Co-founder at Arbio, shares how the company has completed 30 acquisitions so far and is using AI to automate pricing, guest communication and operations, turning property management into a far more scalable, software-like model, with tens of thousands of operators across Europe still to consolidate.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/Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction0:19 - What Arbio is building1:42 - Finding and acquiring property managers2:45 - The first acquisition5:05 - Using AI in property management8:06 - Scaling operations with AI9:32 - Investor interest and market shift12:49 - Building in Berlin14:21 - Growth ambitions16:19 - Selling the vision to sellers18:24 - The AI acquisition space19:58 - Organic growth vs acquisitions

Connectd has grown to 17m ARR, building a cross-border network of senior talent and enabling companies to access specialised expertise on a flexible basis.Roei Samuel, CEO at Connectd, says the shift to fractional work is accelerating as companies rethink how they hire, increasingly relying on flexible, high-skill operators to support and augment teams, driven by strong UK–US growth and network effects.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/Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction1:22 - What Connectd is building1:50 - Growth to ~17m ARR3:37 - Cross-border network effects6:00 - Why fractional work is accelerating9:25 - First exit and lessons learned11:01 - Founder mindset and performance18:11 - Scaling Connectd20:04 - AI and shift in hiring21:53 - How companies will operate in the future

Dwelly is acquiring traditional lettings and real estate agencies across the UK and integrating them into an AI-enabled platform to automate workflows and scale them more efficiently.Dan Lifshits and Ilia Drozdov, Co-founders of Dwelly, talk about Dwelly entering the London market, which represents around 40% of the UK rental market, marking a major step in scaling their model and consolidating the largest part of the market.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/Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction0:28 - Entering the London market0:58 - What Dwelly acquires and why1:21 - Why London and why now3:24 - The first acquisition and moving to Hull5:42 - Why AI-driven consolidation is getting attention9:40 - The first priority after an acquisition11:00 - Building culture across acquisitions13:27 - London and UK expansion19:19 - Building an AI-native company23:09 - How Dwelly deploys capital and operates

Light is replacing fragmented finance stacks and traditional ERPs by bringing payments, accounting and reporting into one AI-native platform.Jonathan Sanders, CEO at Light, says this shift is only possible now because AI changes how software works, moving beyond fixed SaaS tools towards “organic” systems that learn, adapt and operate more like a team member inside the company.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/Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction0:50 - What Light is building1:39 - Replacing fragmented finance stacks2:27 - How Light differs from traditional ERPs3:44 - Fundraising and Series A6:03 - AI as a fundamental shift in software8:06 - Building “organic” software10:29 - The end of SaaS playbooks12:03 - Why founders must use AI hands-on15:11 - New ways of working inside companies18:45 - Growth across Europe and the US21:32 - Vision for 2026 and beyond

Eka Ventures has just closed its second fund at £80m, doubling down on early-stage investing across health, wellbeing and sustainability.Jon Coker, Founding Partner at Eka Ventures, says the firm’s edge comes from backing companies before they become obvious, using a data platform that has sourced around half of its deals and a founder assessment approach focused on how quickly founders can develop as they scale.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/Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction0:20 - Closing £80m second fund1:01 - Fund thesis and focus areas2:28 - Data platform and sourcing edge4:04 - Investing before companies become obvious5:38 - Runner case and founder selection8:23 - Assessing founder potential11:23 - Fundraising for Fund II14:17 - Building an impact VC16:39 - How impact investing has changed19:15 - Advice for emerging managers

Technology is becoming a bigger part of how art is created and experienced, from immersive formats to AI-driven tools.Mark Ball, Artistic Director at the Southbank Centre, says artists are increasingly using technology to create new types of experiences, with a new Creative Intelligence festival exploring how AI is shaping creative work and raising questions around ownership and copyright.Image credit: David LevineThe 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/Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction0:42 - What the Southbank Centre does1:55 - The 75-year anniversary and Festival of Britain3:16 - Why optimism matters again today4:11 - Key projects and collaborations6:08 - Reinterpreting the spirit of 19518:48 - Technology in art and culture11:32 - Bringing experiences to new platforms14:02 - Creative Intelligence festival and AI focus16:10 - AI and concerns from the creative community

Investing has shifted from backing products to backing teams, and now increasingly to backing execution, as building products becomes easier.Carlos Eduardo Espinal, Managing Partner at Seedcamp, says the focus today is on founders who can attract strong teams and execute clearly from the start.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/Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction1:08 - How Europe’s ambition has changed2:07 - Where Europe still lags: growth capital and liquidity5:11 - Why Seedcamp stayed early-stage7:06 - Key decisions that shaped Seedcamp10:29 - Adapting to faster markets and AI12:04 - Generalist vs specialist investing15:00 - Moving into deep tech, space and robotics20:03 - How Carlos’ investing approach evolved23:27 - New founder profiles in the AI era

The UK has updated its EMI stock option scheme, bringing more companies back into eligibility as startups raise larger rounds and stay private longer.Isaiah Baril-Dore, Reward and Talent at Index Ventures, says stock options remain the main lever for hiring, with secondary sales becoming more common as employees look for liquidity before an IPO.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/Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction1:14 - UK EMI changes3:48 - Why EMI matters5:00 - Stock options as a hiring edge7:06 - UK vs Europe10:27 - Stock options and ecosystem12:39 - Secondary sales15:10 - Compensation strategy18:00 - Compensation and culture

Planet A Ventures is an early-stage fund investing in companies building within planetary boundaries, using internal scientists and lifecycle assessments to analyse the real impact of each investment.Nick de la Forge, Co-founder and General Partner at Planet A Ventures, highlights that angel money is returning to European startups and that companies are getting better at monetising.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:0:33 - Planet A overview2:10 - Using science in investment decisions3:26 - Lifecycle assessments explained5:50 - When Planet A passes on investments7:35 - Rebound effects11:14 - Overlap of climate, energy and AI15:16 - AI vs traditional venture17:55 - European ecosystem outlook19:43 - Key trends: robotics, space, AI

Armis Security builds software that helps organisations understand and secure everything connected to their environment, from devices to critical infrastructure.The company has grown past $300 million in ARR, with customers expanding usage as new products are added, and was acquired by ServiceNow in a $7.75 billion all-cash deal, at a time when AI is increasing both the scale of what needs to be secured and how quickly attacks are carried out.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:0:33 - Introduction and Armis acquisition0:57 - What Armis does1:48 - The ServiceNow acquisition3:21 - How the deal came together5:43 - Growth and scaling to $300M+ ARR8:01 - AI changing cybersecurity10:26 - Security for AI and AI-driven attacks12:57 - ServiceNow and the AI opportunity14:50 - IDF background and founder mindset17:18 - Israeli ecosystem and networks19:08 - Investing and supporting founders

Orrick has just released its latest Deal Flow report, analysing over 400 venture and growth deals across Europe worth more than $10 billion.Liquidation preferences have moved back to 1x, and secondaries are now happening more often from Series B as a way to take liquidity before exit.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:0:33 - What Deal Flow 6.0 covers1:56 - Market stabilisation after 2021–20242:45 - More realistic valuations and better deal terms3:31 - What changed at seed stage4:03 - Liquidation preferences returning to normal5:22 - Founder-friendly governance structures6:44 - Rise of secondaries and liquidity8:15 - When secondaries are happening10:02 - Founder liquidity and repeat secondaries12:07 - What founders should get right early13:56 - Sector trends beyond AI15:20 - Predictions for 202616:48 - Venture debt and alternative financing17:56 - Biggest surprises from the data

American funds are moving fast in the Nordics, with some flying in and pushing term sheets within 24 hours, forcing European investors to keep up.Sara Rywe, General Partner at byFounders, says speed and community now decide the best early-stage rounds. More experienced founders are also paying closer attention to values alignment and local support, not just brand.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:0:33 - Sara Rywe on her path into venture5:02 - How byFounders won the Lovable deal6:41 - Why speed and community now decide rounds8:40 - Why American funds are competing harder in the Nordics11:32 - Why some founders choose local, values-aligned investors13:51 - Why the Nordics keep outperforming17:00 - Why Finland stands out in deep tech18:46 - Verda’s growth and the case for a European hyperscaler20:37 - Sovereignty and why enterprise demand is rising

IQM reported around $30 million in revenue and $100 million in bookings, and announced plans to become the first listed European quantum company, showing how far quantum computing has moved into real commercial use.Jan Goetz, Co-founder and CEO of IQM, says the company builds full-stack quantum computers with its own chip factory, assembly line and data centre. That makes access to capital a central part of the story, especially in Europe where private funding for deep tech is still harder to secure.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:0:33 - IQM, commercial traction and the public listing decision1:41 - Why access to capital and credibility mattered3:34 - $30m in revenue, $100m in bookings and who buys quantum computers5:24 - From academia to building a company6:44 - Why quantum is such an important category8:21 - Why IQM came out of Finland9:28 - Why IQM chose a dual listing in Europe and the US13:04 - Balancing scientific breakthroughs with commercialisation16:07 - Europe’s challenge in funding deep tech at scale18:06 - What Europe needs to unlock more frontier tech companies

Defence, security and resilience startups in Europe have grown 4x over the past five years, with funding now reaching nearly $9 billion as larger rounds start to emerge.Sander Verbrugge, Partner at the NATO Innovation Fund, says the ecosystem is now producing companies with real revenue and scale. He argues the bigger issue is awareness.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:0:33 - Introduction to NATO Innovation Fund2:11 - DSR startups funding growth and 4x increase3:18 - What defence, security and resilience actually mean5:31 - Why larger rounds are driving the ecosystem7:20 - Key hubs across Europe and rise of new regions9:04 - Where more funding is still needed11:02 - How NIF evaluates and deploys capital13:01 - Changing attitudes towards defence investing16:01 - Specialist vs generalist investors in defence18:00 - Portfolio examples and companies to watch20:33 - Why awareness is Europe’s biggest challenge

Pay-by-bank is becoming a serious alternative to cards in Europe, as merchants look for cheaper and faster ways to process payments.Lena Hackelöer, Founder and CEO of Brite Payments, says that shift is being driven by how expensive and fragmented payments are for merchants. She describes how Brite expanded into markets where demand already existed, while staying profitable early to keep control as funding dynamics changed.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:0:33 - Introduction to Brite Payments1:32 - How pay-by-bank adoption has evolved3:22 - Using AI to move faster internally6:29 - Why Sweden gave Brite an early advantage6:58 - Expanding across Europe9:29 - Educating the market12:24 - How early pay-by-bank still is13:45 - Profitability and staying in control15:31 - European sovereignty in payments18:39 - What’s next for Brite Payments

Granola has just raised a $125 million Series C at a $1.5 billion valuation, becoming one of Europe’s newest AI unicorns, after spreading from VCs and founders into companies almost entirely through word of mouth.Sam Stephenson, Co-founder of Granola, says that growth has been driven by word of mouth more than any other channel, with early adoption coming from people who spend their days in meetings, before the product expands inside companies and turns into broader usage across teams.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 and Granola’s Series C announcement0:40 - $125M round at $1.5B valuation and becoming an AI unicorn1:46 - Why Granola raised quickly after its Series B3:17 - Where Granola’s growth is coming from4:44 - Word of mouth as the dominant growth channel6:18 - From individual users to enterprise adoption7:00 - The shift from single-user tool to team workspace11:37 - Why the team prioritises intuition over analytics14:04 - How the new capital will be deployed15:10 - Opening a San Francisco office and go-to-market expansion

Spore.Bio has unveiled a new microbiology technology that can detect, quantify and identify bacteria in under 10 minutes, replacing a process that typically takes 5 to 20 days and has not meaningfully changed for decades  Amine Raji, Co-founder and CEO of Spore.Bio, says the company spent three years building and validating the technology to work directly in industrial environments, with machines already deployed on production lines and commercial contracts signed, as it moves from R&D into global rollout across food, pharma and cosmetics.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:0:04 - Introduction to Spore.Bio and today’s announcement0:27 - Spore.Bio launches its bacteria detection technology TMSI0:51 - Why detecting bacteria in 10 minutes is a major breakthrough2:21 - How Amine’s Nestlé experience led to founding SporeBio4:06 - Global launch plans and the push to commercialise5:41 - Long-term vision beyond microbiology testing7:58 - Fundraising plans and what Spore.Bio wants in its next investor9:24 - What it was like raising Spore.Bio’s early rounds11:44 - Global expansion across Europe and the US13:09 - The significance of the Denver launch moment13:57 - How the Spore.Bio machine actually works16:00 - Why invisible AI is where the real value gets created

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

Credo Ventures has raised an $88m Fund V to continue backing pre-seed founders from Central and Eastern Europe, keeping the fund size unchanged even with strong performance and LP demand.Maciek Gnutek and Jakub Krikava, Partners at Credo Ventures, say staying disciplined on fund size is key to returning top outcomes, with the focus on backing the best founders early across the region and its diaspora.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 Scaling Europe show0:32 - Credo announces new $88M fund1:31 - Investment strategy and focus on pre-seed in CEE2:25 - Why Credo kept fund size disciplined4:00 - Fund economics and return strategy6:23 - Competition and evolution of CEE ecosystem9:25 - Local advantage in sourcing and evaluating founders12:12 - Key markets and emerging regions in CEE15:09 - Diaspora strategy and global deal flow17:31 - ElevenLabs case study and sourcing approach20:09 - Leadership transition and future of Credo

Dash0 has raised a $100m Series B at a $1bn valuation after hitting over $10m ARR and growing faster than expected, becoming a unicorn just months after its Series A.Mirko Novakovic, CEO of Dash0, says the shift to agent-generated code is driving this change, as software is deployed faster than it can be reviewed and observability becomes essential to keep systems running in production.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:00:00: Introduction and Guest Announcement00:44: Series B Funding and Unicorn Status02:15: Market Challenges and Dash Liver’s Solution03:30: Shift to Agentic Technology and AI05:44: OpenTelemetry Foundations and Contextual Data09:06: Customer Adoption and Retention10:27: Customer Profile Evolution and Enterprise Focus11:49: Expansion Plans and US Market Focus13:10: Go-to-Market Strategy15:04: AI-driven Product and Marketing Investment17:13: Future Market Predictions and AI Challenges

0TO9 is aiming to build 1,000 profitable fintech companies, based on the idea that founders should not have to rebuild licensing and compliance from scratch.Jessica Holzbach, Partner at 0TO9 and former Co-founder of Penta, says fintech has become harder to start at the earliest stage, even as build times have dropped from years to weeks with AI.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:00:00: Introduction and Guest Background02:00: Transition to Venture Building and Role at 0TO905:10: 0TO9’s Mission, Expansion and Fintech Challenges10:40: European Fintech Ecosystem and AI Impact15:15: From Founder to Investor and Lessons Learned18:40: Future Fintech Opportunities and Market Differences

UK startups raised around $23.6B last year, bringing venture funding back close to previous highs and signalling renewed momentum in the ecosystem. At the same time, investment is concentrating around larger rounds and AI companies, while the long-standing challenge of helping UK startups scale into global companies remains.Jenny Edwards is Head of Venture Banking at NatWest, working with founders and investors as the bank builds out its venture offering to support companies through the next phase of growth.If you want to go deeper into the data behind this, NatWest has published the Future of UK Innovation report:https://www.linkedin.com/posts/natwest-commercial-and-institutional_a-pivotal-moment-for-growthpdf-activity-7434925234081828864-C3RRThe 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 - Introduction3:16 - 2026 outlook and AI enablement5:56 - Key bottlenecks for founders8:37 - Impact of IPOs on the UK market12:37 - AI vs. non-AI founders18:10 - Fast-growing tech hubs in the UK

Build Weeks take scientists from idea to investment readiness in seven days, allowing Wilbe to work with hundreds of researchers each year instead of a handful of cohorts.Devika Thapar and Ale Maiano, Co-founders at Wilbe, say the shift is driven by a new generation of researchers who want to move faster and build companies earlier, as scientists increasingly think and operate more like engineers.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:00:00: Introduction00:33: Guest Introduction and Overview of Wilbe01:41: Build Week Process and Experience04:07: Motivation Behind Build Weeks and Scaling Up06:52: Early Results and Deployment08:33: Identifying Top Founders and Impact of Build Weeks10:11: Operational Challenges and Team Execution11:51: Challenges of European Academic Commercialization and University Roles16:07: Changing Focus of Scientific Founders and Emerging Trends19:59: Positioning Within the VC Ecosystem and Deep Tech Investment Risks22:59: Wilbe’s Future and Fundraising Challenges26:53: Closing Remarks

Fuse Energy has already crossed $500m in annualised revenue and grown 10x.Alan Chang, Co-founder and CEO of Fuse Energy, says the company’s real constraint is not capital but hiring enough great engineers. The business continues scaling in the UK energy market and is preparing to expand into new products and markets.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:00:00: Introduction and overview of Fuse Energy’s milestone growth in 202502:30: What drives customer retention and minimal churn05:00: Talent as the primary growth constraint09:00: Growth outlook for 2026 and expansion strategy13:00: Recruiting worldwide and maintaining company culture amid scaling17:30: Fundraising, profitability, and capital discipline21:00: Views on European tech ecosystem and investing attitudes24:30: Strategic bets on energy infrastructure and fusion28:30: Energy consumption as economic proxy and complexity of climate goals33:00: Founder mindset and operational challenges36:30: Climate tech perspective and talent misallocation41:30: AI adoption and closing remarks

AI adoption inside companies still looks far messier than the hype suggests, with teams using different tools, uneven security standards and little visibility into how AI is actually used day to day.Justas Morkūnas, COO at nexos.ai, is building around that problem with a no-code agent platform designed to help companies move from prompt to outcome while keeping security and control in place, especially for the power generalists inside organisations who want practical results rather than complex tooling.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:0:34 - Introduction to nexos.ai1:13 - Importance of security in AI tools2:40 - nexos.ai's growth and funding success5:26 - Preparing for the next funding round6:42 - Discussing goals for 20268:20 - Importance of attitude in AI adoption9:50 - Impact of AI tools on businesses12:32 - Launching AI agents for productivity13:28 - Optimizing AI delivery processes14:05 - Building nexos with a strong team15:29 - Recruiting talent in a vibrant city18:13 - Key use cases for AI agents

The $23B Wiz acquisition has become the largest venture-backed M&A in history, a milestone moment for the tech industry and the cybersecurity ecosystem. In this conversation, Shardul Shah, Partner at Index Ventures and an early backer of Wiz, reflects on the long relationship with the founders that began years before the company existed and why conviction in people, more than markets or products, continues to guide how he thinks about investing.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 Scaling Europe show0:36 - Guest introduction: Shardul Shah1:40 - Importance of people in investment decisions4:08 - Assessing conviction versus delusion in investing6:27 - Importance of ambition in industry growth7:11 - Trusting intuition in investment decisions9:30 - The role of founders in investment success10:21 - Challenges of pattern matching in founders12:51 - Evolving craft of decision-making14:31 - Importance of trust in founder relationships16:09 - Quick connections with entrepreneurs18:20 - Key question for entrepreneurs on offers

Alan has grown from a small French startup into one of Europe’s most ambitious digital health companies, reaching €785M ARR and a €5B valuation after Index first backed the company in 2017.Jan Hammer, Partner at Index Ventures, reflects on that journey from the early investment to today and what it takes to build a company capable of scaling across markets and transforming healthcare systems.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 Scaling Europe show1:02 - Alan's impressive growth and valuation2:10 - Expansion into international markets4:40 - Signing contracts with French government departments6:04 - Building scalable technology infrastructure7:25 - AI's role in healthcare personalization8:30 - Achieving operational profitability with AI10:54 - Backing exceptional entrepreneurs in AI sectors12:37 - Entrepreneurs making magic in tough industries13:40 - AI as an enabler in complex sectors15:01 - Assessing entrepreneurs and their commitment17:10 - Importance of network density for entrepreneurs

Large companies already run on thousands of APIs and internal systems, which makes connecting AI to the systems that actually run a business far more complex than it first appears. Sean Blanchfield, Founder of Jentic, discusses why this integration challenge is becoming one of the biggest obstacles for enterprise AI and why he believes a new infrastructure layer will be needed to manage how AI interacts with enterprise software. With Jentic, he is building technology designed to securely connect AI agents to those systems and enable automation across complex organisations.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 Scaling Europe show0:34 - Guest introduction: Sean from Jentic1:23 - Jentic's role in AI enterprise integration2:57 - Security risks with AI applications5:26 - New infrastructure layer for AI applications8:00 - Building a new platform for enterprises9:22 - Scaling problems in AI integration10:20 - Importance of API enablement in enterprises11:07 - Overview of business foundations12:05 - Challenges with point solutions in enterprises14:15 - Future of workflow automation in AI17:00 - Importance of workflow control18:40 - Future of business processes and workflows21:00 - Opportunities for AI in small economies

Entrepreneurs First has raised $200m in fresh capital to continue backing founders before they even have a team or an idea. The firm has built its model around identifying ambitious individuals early in their careers and helping them turn that potential into companies.Jonny Clifford, Partner at Entrepreneurs First, explains why many of the world’s best potential founders never start companies in the first place and how EF tries to change that by investing in people first, a model that has already produced companies like Magic Pony, Cleo and PolyAI.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 Scaling Europe show1:47 - Entrepreneurs First raises $200 million2:46 - Explanation of EF's investment model5:09 - Impact of California trips on founders7:27 - Unparalleled ambition in founders8:15 - Founders returning to the UK after US9:02 - Evolution of the EF model over time12:20 - Supporting second companies of successful founders14:37 - Importance of supporting founders' journeys15:30 - Need for hands-on founder experience17:01 - Plans for aggressive growth and funding19:12 - Shift in founder profiles towards non-technical

Wordsmith AI builds legal AI specifically for in-house legal teams, helping companies bring legal work back inside the business instead of relying on external counsel. The company already works with hundreds of organisations including BT, Deliveroo, Remote and Skyscanner and has been growing rapidly as demand for tools that automate internal legal work accelerates.Ross McNairn, CEO of Wordsmith AI, built the company around a very narrow customer group from the start, focusing only on in-house legal teams rather than trying to serve the entire legal market, a decision that helped the product spread early through word of mouth among legal teams.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:0:33 - Introduction to Scaling Europe show2:00 - Growth statistics and market demand3:40 - Importance of product feedback from clients5:40 - Engineers spend time with customers6:24 - Moving to the US for business growth8:00 - Importance of being close to customers9:02 - Plans for market entry in the US10:56 - Importance of building a good product11:40 - Tools for scaling efficiently12:50 - Internal enablement and tooling strategies15:28 - Focus on quality over quantity in talent16:17 - How we hire talent now18:30 - Importance of being upwind of problems20:50 - Environment for raising capital today

Cloudsmith is building a new generation platform for managing the software supply chain, challenging long-established players like JFrog and Sonatype while scaling from its roots in Belfast to large enterprise customers around the world.Before becoming CEO of the company, Glenn Weinstein spent eight years as a U.S. Navy pilot before moving into software, later holding leadership roles at companies including Twilio and joining Cloudsmith to help take the developer infrastructure platform into the enterprise.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 Scaling Europe show1:00 - Glenn discusses Cloudsmith's mission2:00 - Glenn's background in software and military3:00 - Transitioning Cloudsmith to enterprise solutions5:28 - Product roadmap and AI integration6:41 - Demand for programming around ML models7:27 - Building amidst market selloff challenges9:20 - Cloudsmith's role in local tech community10:38 - Cloudsmith's US revenue dominance11:58 - Building a US go-to-market team14:02 - Cloudsmith's cloud-native platform advantage15:37 - Focus on improving developer experience16:18 - Growth target of 100% each year19:12 - Role as AI infrastructure for the future20:23 - Focus on efficiency and gross margin

Harmonic is building what it calls a startup discovery engine, used by investors to find founders earlier than traditional deal flow ever allowed. At Slush in Helsinki, I spoke to Darri Atlason, Head of Growth at Harmonic. He talks about how funds now track talent inside companies like DeepMind or Palo Alto Networks to spot potential founders before they even start a company. In some cases the signal moves incredibly fast, with investors discovering a startup on Harmonic and getting a term sheet out within 24 hours.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:0:24 - Introduction to the Scaling Europe show1:00 - Harmonic's role as a startup discovery engine2:00 - Use cases for sourcing and evaluating startups3:00 - Importance of early investment signals3:44 - Importance of having a winning reason4:10 - Role of growth in marketing explained4:54 - Creative marketing strategies discussed6:37 - Impact of authentic customer content

European tech is now a $3.8tn ecosystem, and Niklas Zennström has seen the entire journey from quitting his job around the dotcom crash to building Skype and later founding Atomico to back the next generation. He explains why technology now sits at the core of Europe’s future GDP growth and why unlocking Europe’s own institutional capital could determine whether the next wave of global tech leaders are not just built here, but owned here too.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 Scaling Europe show1:00 - Niklas Zennström discusses his entrepreneurial journey3:30 - Importance of tech in Europe5:49 - GDP growth driven by technology innovation9:02 - Pension funds' conservative investment strategies10:37 - Need for global companies headquartered in Europe12:28 - Importance of entrepreneurial partners14:01 - Institutional investors' understanding of venture17:12 - Need for more late-stage capital in Europe18:56 - Ambition of European founders today20:50 - Friction in Europe affects scaling25:22 - Powerful speeches at Davos and Italian tech week27:19 - Discussing climate policies and GDP growth30:08 - Defining sovereignty in the tech landscape31:51 - Monetizing consumers in the tech economy34:54 - Need for European social networks36:31 - Future of European technology development38:09 - Discussion on Europe's tech sovereignty39:44 - Importance of AI compliance with European values42:40 - Notable founders and investment lessons

QuantumLight uses proprietary AI models to scan and rank thousands of companies using public data, helping the firm identify the strongest investment opportunities and move quickly with high conviction.At Slush in Helsinki, I sat down with Dora Zikouli, Investor at QuantumLight VC, and she explained how the firm combines that data-driven approach with lessons from scaling Revolut under Nik Storonsky, including practical systems around hiring and performance management that portfolio companies can apply as they grow.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:0:25 - Introduction to QuantumLight1:06 - AI-driven decision making in VC2:00 - Focus on Series B+ investments3:10 - Unique advantages in investment speed4:17 - Value derived from DNA and Revolut5:09 - Playbooks for performance management and hiring6:04 - Importance of systematic performance management7:00 - Common pitfalls in performance reviews8:27 - Importance of CEO office structure9:11 - Core patterns for company success10:30 - Model trained on historical data12:07 - Value of operator mindset in VC

Three years ago ElevenLabs had just 10 people. Today the company has around 400 employees, is valued at $11bn and is still scaling rapidly as it works toward a team of more than 900. Victoria Weller joined early as Chief of Staff and now oversees operations, playing a central role in building the systems that support the company’s hypergrowth, from scaling hiring to maintaining a culture built around high ambition and low ego as ElevenLabs grows into a global AI company.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 Scaling Europe show1:01 - ElevenLabs eliminates job titles2:54 - ElevenLabs growth from 10 to 400 employees5:09 - Victoria's attraction to high-velocity companies7:23 - Company culture: collaborative yet intense8:40 - Core values prioritize humility and teamwork10:01 - Balancing ambition with kindness in teams12:37 - Impact of removing job titles on clarity14:54 - Importance of hands-on execution16:24 - Hosting the ElevenLabs Summit18:04 - Challenges in talent acquisition20:48 - Valuing the people at ElevenLabs

Workplace disputes often go unchallenged because most people do not know their rights or cannot afford legal help. Danae Shell, Founder and CEO at Valla, is building a consumer legal AI company designed to change that.Valla’s smart legal platform helps people identify workplace legal issues and understand their options, combining AI with legal expertise to make support faster and more accessible while already helping more than 15,000 people.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 Scaling Europe show1:00 - Danae Shell introduces Valla legal AI2:30 - Addressing gaps in consumer legal services4:20 - Valla's flagship case assessment product5:29 - Finding people needing legal services6:02 - Understanding the legal market landscape7:06 - Exploring growth opportunities in tenancy8:22 - Fundraising experience with Ada Ventures10:29 - Unlocking next capital for growth11:01 - Transitioning from idea to real business12:47 - Adapting to rapid AI model changes15:39 - Balancing team growth and upskilling17:01 - CEO's role in content marketing19:00 - Challenges of tracking TikTok conversions20:24 - Direct-to-consumer legal services innovation

The moment Crijn Bouman first saw autonomous vehicles in action, one problem became obvious: remove the driver and much of today’s infrastructure stops working. Charging stations, parking garages and service hubs all assume a human behind the wheel.After building EV charging company Epyon and selling it to ABB, he started Rocsys to fix that interface with hands-free robotic charging for autonomous fleets as robotaxis and automated logistics begin scaling.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 Scaling Europe show1:06 - Inspiration behind ROCSYS company2:10 - Fixing the interface for autonomous mobility3:00 - Opportunities in robot taxi market6:41 - Growth of deep tech VCs in Europe8:00 - Challenges of operating across continents9:11 - Regulatory hurdles for autonomous vehicles12:26 - Vision for fully automated service facilities

Lawhive has grown to $35m in revenue after 7x growth in a single year and recently raised a $60m Series B to accelerate its US expansion. Co-founder and CEO Pierre Proner built the company by combining a regulated law firm with an AI platform instead of simply selling software to lawyers, using automation to reduce the cost of legal services and open access to help for people who would otherwise struggle to afford it.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 Scaling Europe show0:36 - Guest Pierre discusses Lawhive's funding1:54 - Series B funding details and investors5:04 - US market expansion and growth strategy6:40 - Acquisition strategy for US expansion8:04 - Targeting consumer legal services market9:50 - Estimated $200 billion US legal market10:53 - Transformative access to legal help13:44 - Direction of travel for the industry16:01 - Early investor skepticism and support19:11 - Ambitions for growth by 2026

AVP began as an €80m venture initiative inside AXA and is now an independent firm managing $2.5B across venture and growth.François Robinet, Founder and Managing Partner at AVP, built the firm with a deliberate transatlantic strategy, operating across Europe and the US and learning early that the biggest constraint for European tech is not talent or ideas but access to very large pools of risk capital. 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 Scaling Europe show1:06 - History of AVP and its investment journey2:41 - AVP's current investment strategy explained5:39 - Differences in success by region discussed8:24 - Challenges of US expansion for companies9:30 - Importance of a country-specific approach10:14 - Key factors for successful market expansion12:21 - Need for adequate capital in the US market16:57 - Disruptive technologies require significant capital18:01 - Need for larger venture capital in Europe20:31 - EU's efforts to bridge funding gaps23:00 - Importance of creating a virtuous investment cycle

When ElevenLabs was still fourth in the market, its instant voice cloning was already 10x cheaper and 10x faster than competitors.That was enough for Bryan Kim, Partner at a16z, to book a same day flight from San Francisco to London and close the Series A over lunch in Notting Hill. What followed was a rare transition from creator led self serve revenue to serious enterprise scale, as the company grew from seven people to 400 and became one of Europe’s defining AI businesses.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 Scaling Europe show0:08 - Bryan Kim's connection to ElevenLabs1:01 - Conviction in audio AI potential2:32 - Quick trip to secure partnership4:32 - Deepening relationships over three years5:36 - Transitioning from consumer to enterprise sales6:54 - Building a strong company culture7:38 - The importance of kindness in leadership9:50 - The urgency in competitive environments10:20 - Earning the right to work with founders11:00 - Specialization in investment sectors12:28 - Impressive growth in European tech landscape