EU CVC

Welcome to another episode of the EUVC Podcast! Today, we’re diving into How Corporates Might just be able Beat VCs in the AI Race. Or maybe more importantly, how we can collaborate.Our guest is Alex Dang, co-author of the bestselling book The Venture Mindset: How to Make Smarter Bets and Achieve Extraordinary Growth. Alex is a seasoned technology executive and innovation advisor with over two decades of experience. He was a product leader at Amazon, where he launched new businesses across e-commerce, supply chain, and AI; a partner at McKinsey, helping Fortune 500 companies build digital ventures; and today advises corporate leaders and investors on AI strategies, venture building, and applying VC principles to large organizations.In this conversation, Alex shares provocative insights on why the venture mindset is now non-negotiable for corporates in the AI era, where incumbents hold hidden advantages over VCs, and how to avoid “innovation theater” while turning data, distribution, and scale into real venture wins.Let’s jump in!Here’s what’s covered:01:56 | The Venture Mindset in one frame with nine principles from 20 years of Stanford VC research: uncertainty → portfolios → outliers03:44 | The post-book update Alex wishes he had added time compression: “days, not weeks,” and the rise of the “one slice team”05:53 | Venture mindset applied to AI 07:34 | Why “adding AI” is the wrong framing; start customer-backward, not tech-backward08:43 | “AI theater”, innovation theater and press release strategies vs real product value11:19 | The European corporate trap: regulation, consensus, and downside protection as the enemy of transformation11:56 | The right AI rollout sequence with start in back office to learn and protect trust, then go customer-facing at scale15:21 | Why CVCs die after 3.7 years: incentives, leadership fear, and why corporate venturing fails structurally17:24 | AI is now the world’s most democratized intelligence: everyone has the same tools; the gap is execution18:47 | Where corporates fit in venture + startup ecosystems: strengths: data, distribution, enterprise scale20:38 | When corporates should build in-house, when to partner, and why AI must become an internal muscle25:24 | Incentives drive behavior: why executives won’t take venture-style risks unless failure is structurally safe28:18 | AI-native teams and corporate reskilling among smaller, senior teams + digital workers replacing junior tasks35:24 | What happens to the average corporate employee: tasks disappear, workflows evolve, but people still matter38:50 | If Alex were CEO: how to move a workforce into an AI-safe future and target 25% profit uplift through AI44:01 | Most counterintuitive venture principle — “drop bad ideas fast” and why persistence is sometimes the wrong discipline46:05 | What top CEOs are doing right now: coding with Claude, learning by building, and staying close to users49:00 | The compounding effect: “what was impossible 6 months ago is normal today” and why constant feedback loops win

Welcome back to the EUVC Corporate Podcast. This week, Jeppe sits down with Axel Deniz, CEO of Bosch Business Innovations and Head of Venture Building at Bosch.Axel is building Bosch’s venture-building engine with a clear mandate: get Bosch technology out into the world, through founder-led spinouts, joint ventures, and seed rounds that can stand on their own with external investors. With ~80,000 active patents, 20 new patents per day, and 20,000 researchers globally, Bosch has the assets. Axel’s job is turning them into investible companies.🎧 Here’s what’s covered:02:30 Bosch’s unfair advantage: 80k patents, 20 patents/day, 20k researchers04:10 Horizon 2/3: building for 2030–2035 where incumbents can’t reach05:30 Hybrid execution: not all in-house, not all studio but a blended model06:25 Problem definition: Bosch theses + founders bringing problems from outside08:25 Stage gates: “get to no fast” + external validation early09:05 Gate #1: attracting “triple-A founders” before anything else10:35 Founder-led 80/20 vs joint ventures when tech risk is still high13:10 Venture market fit: choosing where to build is a venture builder superpower16:20 Founder acquisition: why mediocre pre-seed talent is the biggest risk23:05 Working with scale-ups: co-create instead of buying or minority investing24:15 University engine: 5–6 deep partnerships (Carnegie Mellon example)27:15 Biggest surprises: founder scarcity and portfolio restructuring complexity29:05 Axel’s advice to founders: don’t start deep tech from scratch30:30 Axel’s advice to VCs: don’t underestimate corporates’ learning curve32:00 Axel’s background: founder → Silicon Valley → PWC CVC → Bosch35:15 Career advice: no cookie-cutter route and trust your gut sometimes37:10 How founders can engage: programs + direct outreach on LinkedIn#EUVC #VC #VentureCapital #Investing #TheEuropeanVC #Podcast #Tech #Startup

Welcome back to another episode of the EUVC Podcast. Today, Jeppe sits down with Emil Eifrem, founder & CEO of Neo4j, the world’s leading graph database and a core infrastructure layer for AI applications used by all 20 of the top US banks, 9 of 10 global pharma giants, and every major automotive OEM.Emil recently announced a $100M global startup program to back founders building the next generation of AI-native products on top of graph technology — from knowledge graphs to hallucination-free LLMs.We delve into why graph thinking matters now, how Neo4j came of age during the Panama Papers investigation, and why Europe is better positioned than people think to compete in the AI platform shift.Here’s what’s covered:02:00 — The Panama Papers “Coming Out Party”How journalists used Neo4j to uncover 7-layer-deep financial relationships invisible to traditional databases — and why it triggered a wave of global adoption.06:40 — Why Graphs Are the Missing Link for AIKnowledge, meaning, context, and relationships: why LLMs without structured knowledge graphs hallucinate.08:50 — The $100M Startup ProgramWhy Neo4j is returning to its roots to support AI-native founders — and why the packaging for startups had to change.12:00 — What Founders GetFree Aura credits, dedicated graph engineers, joint GTM, and access to the world’s largest graph developer community.14:30 — Early Traction: 300+ Startups in WeeksWhy early demand is far ahead of expectations — and the kinds of companies applying.16:10 — Community as a Strategic Moat500+ annual global events, deep developer love, and why skill availability is now a CIO-level buying criterion.19:00 — Building Deep Tech in EuropeWhy Neo4j kept engineering in Europe, how the ecosystem matured, and what today’s founders can learn.22:00 — Regulation & CompetitivenessWill Europe overregulate itself out of the AI race? Emil’s perspective on models vs infrastructure vs applications.23:40 — The Future of AI InfrastructureWhy every company must rethink its stack — and why the biggest threat is assuming your business will survive without change.

Corporate venture capital isn’t just having “a bit of VC on the side.” Done well, it’s a strategic lens on the future. Done badly, it’s a short-lived pet project with a half-life of 3.7 years and a trail of confused founders and annoyed co-investors.In this episode, we sit down with Martin Scherrer, Partner & Head of Managed Funds at Redstone, alongside our own CVC lead Jeppe Høier, to unpack what really happens when corporates leave venture — and how to do it without destroying value or reputation.Redstone runs a dual model: classic VC funds + “VC-as-a-Service” for corporates and family offices. Martin himself has lived three lives:Inside Swiss Re’s CVC (later shut down)As a founder of an insurtech in SwitzerlandNow as VC & fund manager at Redstone across multiple corporate mandates.🎧 Here’s what’s covered:01:37 Why Martin? Why now? — Jeppe on Redstone’s VC-as-a-service role, his history with them, and why Martin is the go-to voice on CVC secondaries.02:50 Redstone in both worlds — Martin explains Redstone as a VC + CVC-as-a-service platform with deep corporate, VC, and founder roots.06:12 Portfolio thinking 101 — Why corporates underestimate startup investing, ignore the J-curve, and must commit to true portfolio construction + financial KPIs.09:37 Runoff vs. selling the bag — Score case: options to sell the whole portfolio at a 50–80% NAV discount vs. patient value-maximising runoff.13:54 Spin-outs & resilience — How CVCs can evolve into mixed-LP or fully independent VC funds (Swisscom Ventures, Berliner Volksbank → Redstone Fintech III).18:27 Follow-ons in “shutdown mode” — Why corporates sometimes should still fund follow-ons in runoff to unlock new investors and protect upside.20:25 Designing the partnership — Governance, IC design, reporting (e.g. IFRS 9), and performance-based structures that align Redstone and corporates.31:41 Managing vs. buying portfolios — How Redstone runs CVC runoff as an external manager with fees + carry, versus secondary buyers who acquire the assets outright.44:02 How to avoid a wind-down — The “gold standard”: bring in third-party LPs, avoid annual-budget setups, ringfence capital in a dedicated entity, and keep exec sponsors close.

Welcome back to the EUCVC Summit Talks, where we bring you candid conversations with Europe’s leading founders, corporate leaders, and investors shaping the future of venture collaboration.In this session, Christian Tang-Jespersen, Partner at San Francisco–based ACME, and Claus Gregersen, CEO of the 275-year-old evergreen investor Augustinus Fabrikker, explore what global ambition really means in today’s venture landscape.From recalibrating US expansion strategies to navigating sovereignty, trade tensions, and structural resets, they unpack how investors and founders must adapt to thrive in a more complex—but still interconnected—world.🎧 Here’s what’s covered:00:00 Setting the stage: Cycles, crises, and why this downturn feels different.02:00 Structural reset, not just another downturn—why waiting for “normal” is not an option.03:30 Investors as navigators, not moral arbiters—what it means in practice.04:15 Why the US remains critical: learning, scaling, and surviving tough competition.06:00 Page nine of every pitch deck: the inevitable US expansion slide.07:20 Trade tensions vs. venture building—why early-stage models aren’t derailed by politics.08:30 The importance of value-adding capital—choose partners for impact, not geography.09:15 Lessons from COVID and defense: building lean, fast, and resilient.10:00 Closing thoughts: capital may be scarcer, but ambition must remain global.

Welcome back to the EUCVC Summit Talks, where we spotlight Europe’s corporate venture leaders, founders, and academics shaping the future of venture collaboration.In this episode, Francesco Di Lorenzo, Associate Professor at Copenhagen Business School, takes the stage to share fresh research on the state of corporate venture capital (CVC) in the Nordics. From Sweden to Denmark, Francesco explores how corporates are experimenting with different venturing models, what makes CVC effective, and why Nordic corporates are some of Europe’s most important venture partners.Rather than polished slides, Francesco offers candid reflections from the Summit itself: the open questions corporates face, the trade-offs in structuring CVC units, and why cultural change in the boardroom is key if corporate venturing is to succeed long-term.🎧 Here’s what’s covered00:10 Nordic snapshot — Why the region punches above its weight in tech and CVC.01:00 Tools beyond CVC — Incubators, accelerators, and venture clienting: complementary or conflicting?03:00 The CVC effect — Beyond capital: what corporates bring to the table (and why it matters).05:00 Measuring success — Why CVC units last only 3.7 years on average and the difficulty of proving ROI.07:00 Smart money vs. just money — How engineer exchanges and board participation can be more impactful than capital alone.08:00 Venture clienting — A rising model where corporates act as first customers instead of investors—and the risks it carries.10:00 Governance cycles — Why CVC units live and die with CEO tenure, and why board-level protection is essential.11:00 Collaboration vs. competition — What data says about corporates co-investing (and when they don’t).13:00 Nordic findings — Early results from research in Norway, Finland, and Sweden: small portfolios, early-stage focus, and bureaucracy as the top blocker.14:00 AI paradox — Corporates investing in AI startups but cutting internal AI budgets—what this signals for the future.

Corporate venture capital has become a $100B+ force in tech. Charlie Hayward from Global Corporate Venturing unpacks what’s really driving the trend: which sectors are heating up, where CVCs make a difference, and how Europe stacks up under capital constraints and geopolitical pressure.Here’s what’s covered:00:10 – Setting the stage: CVC as a $100B+ global force01:00 – Why corporate venture matters: from Microsoft’s outlier story to the role of corporate backers03:00 – Active CVC units: stock performance and why entrepreneurs should care04:00 – Lower bankruptcy risk & higher exit multiples for CVC-backed startups05:00 – State of play: fundraising headwinds, but CVCs take the long-term view05:30 – Early-stage shift: corporates getting active in seed & pre-seed rounds06:00 – Global hotspots: Latin America and APAC showing strong momentum07:00 – What CVCs bring: board seats, portfolio support, but still lighter on financial-return expectations08:00 – Who plays the game: large corporates with $1B+ revenues dominate, but LP stakes open doors for smaller players09:00 – New frontiers: universities, accelerators, and venture clienting as the next CVC battlegrounds

Anne C. Fleischer (Global VP of Consumer Engagement & New Business Models at Novo Nordisk) and Henrijette Richter (Managing Partner at Sofinnova Partners) join Jeppe Høier on stage at the EUCVC Summit 2025 to explore how corporates and VCs are shaping the next wave of health innovation.From personalized treatments powered by AI, to the crucial role of data rights and trust in scaling digital health, Anne and Henrijette share hard-won insights on how pharma and venture can collaborate without killing speed or innovation.They discuss the “impatience economy,” where patients increasingly demand fast, personalized solutions, and why collaboration across startups, corporates, and investors is essential to turn science into scalable business models.🎧 Here’s what’s covered00:10 The next wave of health innovation — AI, deep tech, and strategic investment.01:00 Beyond the pill — Novo Nordisk’s vision for personalized, AI-driven patient care.03:00 Investor lens — what separates fundable AI health companies from “science projects.”04:00 Data rights & distribution — why exclusivity and integration pathways are critical.05:00 Corporate–startup collaboration — Novo Nordisk’s partner platform for scaling innovation.06:00 Scaling globally from day one — why diversified data and pharma channels matter.07:00 The “translator role” — people who speak both startup and corporate languages.08:00 The impatience economy — consumerization of health and the risks of losing trust.09:00 Looking ahead — specificity for patients as the next frontier in health innovation.

Welcome back to the EUCVC Summit Talks, where we bring you candid conversations with Europe’s leading founders, corporate leaders, and investors shaping the future of venture collaboration.In this episode, Samuli Sirén, Managing Partner at Redstone, joins Andreas Munk Holm to explore how data-driven deal sourcing is reshaping venture capital. Redstone has spent nearly a decade building Sophia, its proprietary analytics platform, to track trends, identify group dynamics, and map startup opportunities long before they show up on mainstream radars.From the promise and limits of AI in scouting to the common mistakes corporates make in startup sourcing, Samuli pulls back the curtain on what works, what doesn’t, and how data can give investors an edge without replacing human judgment.🎧 Here’s what’s covered00:10 Data, hype, and reality — is algorithmic deal flow just LP marketing or a real sourcing edge?01:00 Building Sophia: Redstone’s proprietary database for mapping opportunities02:00 Identifying groups and dynamics — why trends matter more than picking a single winner03:00 From regulation to signals: how legal shifts and new markets trigger clusters of startups04:00 Geography and global scope — why national champions rarely scale, and why global is better05:00 Corporate mistakes in sourcing — overfocusing on core business and overestimating their value06:00 Doing it right: how corporate LPs can learn, stay hands-off, and still gain massive value07:00 Lessons from Redstone’s fintech funds — German banks as LPs and the power of curiosity

Welcome back to the EUCVC Summit Talks, where we bring you candid conversations with Europe’s leading founders, corporate leaders, and investors shaping the future of venture collaboration.In this session, Marcus Behrendt, Managing Director at BMW i Ventures, and Nicole LeBlanc, Partner at Woven Capital (Toyota’s global growth fund), join Andreas Munk Holm to explore the shifting landscape of mobility and corporate venture.From navigating capital-intensive hardware bets to finding the balance between strategic alignment and financial discipline, Marcus and Nicole share what they’ve learned running two of the world’s most active mobility CVCs. They open up on exits, collaboration with startups, and how CVCs must evolve to remain relevant in an era of autonomous, connected, and electrified vehicles.🎧 Here’s what’s covered00:10 BMW i Ventures’ journey from corporate “experiment” to one of Europe’s most established mobility CVCs.01:00 Woven Capital’s global mandate — $800M to invest in growth-stage companies shaping the future of mobility.02:00 Strategic vs. financial returns: how to keep credibility with founders while serving corporate parents.04:00 The hard part of hardware — why scaling in mobility takes patient capital and operational backing.06:00 Startups + corporates = frictions and opportunities — lessons from portfolio collaborations.08:00 Exit realities: IPO droughts, M&A dynamics, and how mobility startups find liquidity.10:00 The next decade of CVC in mobility: sustainability, AI, and cross-border collaboration.

Welcome back to the EUCVC Summit talks, where we bring you the voices shaping Europe’s venture and corporate collaboration landscape.In this episode, Andreas Munk Holm speaks with Tanja Lind Melskens, Head of Corporate Strategy and M&A at Terma, Denmark’s tier-one defense technology group. As Europe re-arms and defense spending surges, Tanja shares how startups, corporates, and investors must rethink dual-use technology, navigate inflated wartime valuations, and prepare for the post-conflict market.From frontline innovation in Ukraine to the challenges of ESG in defense tech, this conversation sheds light on one of the most important—and controversial—frontiers for venture collaboration.🎧 Here’s what’s covered00:10 Europe’s re-armament: rising budgets, real opportunities—and inflated valuations.01:30 Ukraine as the “Silicon Valley of defense tech”: 4 million drones a year and frontline R&D.03:00 Why startups must prepare for the post-conflict market, not just donation-driven sales.04:30 Terma’s Kyiv subsidiary and partnerships with Ukrainian startups.06:00 Drone wars and critical infrastructure: protecting energy, transport, and hospitals.07:00 ESG in defense: compliance vs. survival in frontline innovation.08:00 Risks no VC faces: working with founders whose survival is uncertain.

Welcome back to the EUCVC Summit Talks, where we bring you ground-level conversations with the founders, corporate leaders, and investors shaping Europe’s innovation future.In this episode, Jeppe Høier sits down with Nadia Carlsten, VP at DCAI, and Bjarke Ruse Sejersen, CEO of Go Autonomous, to explore how Europe is putting AI hype into practice. From Denmark’s launch of the Gefion supercomputer to startups training proprietary models, this conversation dives into the reality of building AI factories that deliver business value — and what it will take for Europe to compete globally.Nadia shares why compute sovereignty matters and how Denmark is positioning itself as a hub for large-scale AI innovation, while Bjarke explains how Go Autonomous trained the world’s first B2B foundation model — and why European startups need braver investors to seize the AI-native future.🎧 Here’s what’s covered:00:10 Forget the AI hype - why compute sovereignty matters for Denmark and Europe.01:40 From infrastructure to innovation - Nadia on how Gefion enables Danish startups and researchers.02:15 Go Autonomous’ leap - Bjarke on training the world’s first B2B foundation model.03:20 Scale in action - handling €30B annually with tailor-made AI.04:00 Adoption gap - Nadia on why Denmark must accelerate real-world AI use cases.05:20 Capital mindset - Bjarke on why Europe lags the U.S. in risky AI-native investments.06:30 Investor responsibility - Nadia on knowing which startups are fine-tuning vs. building foundational models.07:30 Green AI - Europe’s unique advantage: pairing supercomputing with sustainability.08:15 The missing link - Nadia on translating business ambition into compute-ready AI projects.09:00 Corporate + startup collaboration - Bjarke on why structured partnerships could be Europe’s AI superpower.

Welcome back to the EUCVC Summit Talks, where we bring you candid conversations with Europe’s leading founders, corporate leaders, and investors shaping the future of venture collaboration.In this session, Jeppe Høier is joined by Crispin Leick, Managing Director of EnBW New Ventures and Georg Reifferscheid, Head of Sustainability Ventures at REWE Group. Together, they explore how corporates are deploying capital, rethinking supply chains, and integrating AI to tackle Europe’s most urgent challenge: the energy transition.From evergreen venture models to decarbonizing retail operations, the discussion dives deep into how industrial and consumer giants are investing, where capital is moving fastest, and why success still depends on aligning financial and strategic incentives.🎧 Here’s what’s covered00:10 The energy transition is here — Europe’s corporates on the frontlines.01:00 Evergreen VC at EnBW New Ventures — why Crispin calls it the “best decision ever.”03:00 REWE Group’s sustainability mandate — tackling scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.05:00 Where venture capital meets infrastructure — smarter, more capital-efficient deployment.06:00 AI in energy — real-world use cases from batteries to trading algorithms.07:00 Cooling, HVAC, and sustainable construction — REWE’s innovation priorities.08:00 Financial return first — why strategic impact only follows startup success.09:00 Incentives matter — why carry and financial alignment are make-or-break in CVC.

Welcome back to the EUCVC Summit Talks, where we bring you candid conversations with Europe’s leading founders, corporate leaders, and investors shaping the future of venture collaboration.In this session, Sead Bajrovic of Water Impact Partners and Gijs de Bruin of PureTerra Ventures take the stage to unpack one of the most overlooked challenges in climate investing: water. From scarcity and pollution to corporate resilience and trillion-dollar opportunities, they explain why water technology must become a central pillar of Europe’s impact and climate strategy.🎧 Here’s what’s covered00:10 Why water is the “oil that runs everything” — and why it’s undervalued.01:00 The hard facts: only 0.3% of Earth’s water is accessible, and demand will outstrip supply by 40% by 2030.02:30 Legacy systems can’t cope — why centralized water treatment is failing.04:00 Corporate risk: data centers, manufacturing, and the Amazon Arizona case.05:00 Who’s leading: Apple, BASF, and L’Oréal’s water stewardship programs.06:00 Investment shift — from niche impact to mainstream VCs entering water.07:00 UN data: every $1 invested in water resilience returns $7.08:00 Innovation spotlight: AI, software, and applied technologies for efficiency.09:00 The most disruptive thing? Corporates putting real money into water.

In this session, Andreas Munk Holm speaks with Bodil Sidén, Founding Partner at Kost Capital, and Marika King, Head of PINC, the venture arm of Paulig. Together, they explore how Europe can reinvent food systems to feed 10 billion people by 2050—without destroying the planet.From test kitchens and Michelin chefs in VC funds, to evergreen corporate models and the hunt for plastic-free packaging, Bodil and Marika share their unique approaches to food and agri-tech investing, the biggest opportunities ahead, and what they look for in founders building the future of food.🎧 Here’s what’s covered00:00 Feeding 10 billion people by 2050 — why food is “different” and needs a new venture model.01:00 Inside Kost Capital’s test kitchen — from Michelin chefs to food historians in due diligence.02:00 PINC’s evergreen model — why speed and long-term capital matter for food innovation.03:00 Execution over ideas — why market obsession beats product obsession.04:00 The secret sauce: validating food science claims in real time.05:00 When corporates add value without killing agility — the good and bad of CVC in food tech.06:00 The holy grail: plastic-free packaging that behaves like plastic.07:00 Big bets today: green fertilizers, bio-controls, smart water, and sustainable agriculture.08:00 AI as an enabler — cutting costs and accelerating product development.09:00 Food, health & nutrition — the rise of sustainable fatty acids, vitamins, and bio-based aromas.#euvc #VC #VentureCapital #Investing #TheEuropeanVC #Podcast #Tech #Startup

This week, Andreas Munk Holm and Jeppe Høier sit down with Matti Rönkkö, Managing Director of Kiilto Ventures, the venture arm of Finnish family-owned Kiilto.From Rocket Internet to running a corporate-backed, family-owned venture arm, Matti shares how Kiilto Ventures blends family capital, industry know-how, and VC pace to back startups in the sustainable built environment. They dive into portfolio examples, CVC vs VC dynamics, co-investing with generalists, and why superior product performance at price parity is the only path forward in climate and construction tech.🎧 Here’s what’s covered:00:30 – Cold open & setup: why this is a “CVC episode”01:00 – Who is Matti? From Rocket Internet & scale-ups to Kiilto Ventures02:00 – What is Kiilto Ventures: mandate, geography, and ownership model04:56 – CVC, VC, or family office? Matti’s “best-of-all-worlds” answer07:30 – How Kiilto’s mothership helps: labs, chemists, and customer intros10:44 – Rocket Internet lessons: speed, scale, and culture18:12 – The built environment’s big four problems: carbon, circularity, health, inefficiency20:25 – Portfolio snapshots: Recoma, Nobody Engineering, Acembee24:21 – Co-investing & partnerships: specialists + generalists, and when offtakes make sense37:27 – Macro & climate politics: why only price-parity products will win

Welcome back to the EUCVC Summit Talks, where we bring you candid conversations with Europe’s leading founders, corporate leaders, and investors shaping the future of venture collaboration.In this episode, Jeppe Høier sits down with Simon Boas Hoffmeyer, Global Head of Sustainability & ESG at Carlsberg, and Kasper Hulthin, serial entrepreneur and investor at Future Five (co-founder of Kost, Peakon, and more).With ESG facing political backlash, accusations of greenwashing, and shifting investor sentiment, the question looms: is ESG still a lever for real change—or does it need a reset? Simon and Kasper explore what’s broken, what still works, and how corporates and startups can embed sustainability into real business value.🎧 Here’s what’s covered00:10 ESG under fire — political pushback, greenwashing, and regulatory flip-flops.01:00 Carlsberg’s take: facts, faith, and fear as the drivers of sustainability.02:00 Why startups must reframe ESG as financial return, not a premium add-on.03:00 Culture vs. compliance — how corporates integrate ESG into decision-making.05:00 Born-green startups vs. legacy corporates: different pressures, same imperatives.06:00 Where opportunities lie: inputs for future food systems, alternative coffee and chocolate.07:00 From “sustainability” funds to “energy transition” — reframing the narrative.08:00 Partnerships in practice: pilots, off-take agreements, and startup collaborations.09:00 The investment paradox — more money into NFTs than climate at ESG’s peak.

Welcome back to the EUCVC Summit Talks, where we bring you candid conversations with Europe’s leading founders, corporate leaders, and investors shaping the future of venture collaboration.In this episode, Andreas Munk Holm sits down with Hampus Jakobsson, General Partner at Pale Blue Dot, one of Europe’s leading climate-focused funds. With shifting U.S. politics, renewed uncertainty around climate policy, and growing skepticism of “green hype,” Hampus shares why he defines climate investing as simply “not dumb investing.”From Donald Trump’s return to the White House to Europe’s resilience, China’s role, and the gritty reality of scaling “boring but effective” solutions, this conversation is a masterclass in how investors, corporates, and founders can navigate climate risks — and seize opportunities.🎧 Here’s what’s covered00:10 Political whiplash — Trump, vibes, and the stress test for climate policy.02:41 Why Europe must stop looking to the U.S. and start managing risk at home.04:55 Climate investing = not dumb investing — the overlooked opportunities in obvious inefficiencies.06:50 Case study: last-mile delivery — why disruption often comes from solving “boring” problems.08:15 Advice to corporates — how CFOs should think about risk and resilience.09:30 Advice to founders — why no more free pilots, and how forward-deployed engineering wins.

Welcome back to the EUCVC Summit Talks, where we bring you candid conversations with Europe’s leading founders, corporate leaders, and investors shaping the future of venture collaboration.In this session, Mette Hoberg Tønnesen, CEO of The Link, joins Jeppe Høier, EUVC Corporates, for a conversation moderated by Andreas Munk Holm. Together, they explore how corporate venture networks can outlive the 3.7-year average lifespan of CVCs, bridge the gap between startups and corporates, and unlock Europe’s full potential as an alternative to US and Chinese capital.From translating corporate complexity for startups to tackling “startup theater” and making CVCs real value creators, this is a roadmap for corporates who want to build networks that actually last.🎧 Here’s what’s covered00:45 Why most CVCs only last 3.7 years — and how networks can change that.01:40 The Link’s mission: making startups scale faster by bridging silos and translating corporate-speak.03:00 Where corporates fumble: unclear pilots, wasted startup time, and overbearing “strategic” investors.04:00 The classic value-adds — brand, expertise, assets, customers, data — and why most corporates should start small.05:00 Venture = high school: why networks and rubbing shoulders matter more than PowerPoints.06:00 Corporates must show up — at TechBBQ and startup events, not just closed-door investor tracks.07:00 Early-stage CVC is hard: why late-stage corporates can wait, but seed/A needs sweat and trust.08:00 Europe’s opportunity: corporates stepping up to keep startups from exiting to the US.09:00 LP investing as a gateway: why corporates should back funds to tap networks and learn the game.

Welcome back to the EUCVC Summit Talks, where we bring you candid conversations with Europe’s leading founders, corporate leaders, and investors shaping the future of venture collaboration.In this episode, Andreas Munk Holm speaks with Gina Domanig, Managing Partner at Emerald Technology Ventures, and Nicolas Sauvage, President of TDK Ventures, on what it really takes to design, launch, and evolve corporate venture capital programs that endure.They explore how corporates can balance financial credibility with strategic impact, why governance and structure matter, and how to bridge the cultural gap between startups and corporates. From KPIs and deal flow to long-term commitment, this is a masterclass in building CVCs that deliver more than returns.🎧 Here’s what’s covered00:00 Building a CVC program is more than financial—it’s a cultural shift.01:00 Exploitation vs. exploration — balancing today’s business with tomorrow’s bets.02:00 The role of funds, reserves, and acting like financial VCs to gain credibility.04:00 Gina’s “CVC as a service” model — how Emerald engages with multiple corporates.05:00 Why corporates must commit resources to both financial and strategic value creation.06:00 Engagement processes — KPIs, partnerships, and designing for tangible outcomes.07:00 Mining deal flow — helping corporates benefit even from startups not invested in.08:00 Deliverables matter — deal flow, pilots, KPIs, and leadership pressure for follow-through.09:00 Investor + consultant? Or financial + strategic VC? — the real identity of CVCs.

Welcome back to the EUCVC Summit Talks, where we bring you conversations with Europe’s leading founders, corporate leaders, and investors shaping the future of venture collaboration.In this session, Jeppe Høier sits down with Mike Smeed, Managing Director of InMotion Ventures (the venture arm of Jaguar Land Rover), and Ida Christine Brun, Partner at Maersk Growth. Together, they dive into how two global giants—one in mobility and one in logistics—approach corporate venturing, what they’ve learned about balancing financial returns with strategic purpose, and how they decide where to play in a fast-changing landscape.From decarbonization and electrification to supply chain innovation and customer-centric business models, Mike and Ida share firsthand lessons on what works, what doesn’t, and how corporates can create real value in venture.🎧 Here’s what’s covered01:00 Balancing financial return with strategic alignment — why both guests insist on “financial first.”03:00 The big themes: decarbonization, electrification, and digital supply chains.05:00 What corporates can offer startups that VCs can’t — customer access, distribution, and industrial know-how .06:00 Avoiding “tourist investing” — the discipline corporates need to compete with top-tier VCs .07:00 Building trust with founders — transparency, aligned incentives, and patient capital .08:00 Lessons learned: when corporate bureaucracy kills speed, and how to prevent it .09:00 Looking forward: why corporate venturing will be central to Europe’s green and digital transitions.

From governance models to internal alignment, they share the blueprint for how corporate venture arms can thrive beyond the 3.7-year industry average lifespan. The discussion ranges from financial vs. strategic returns, to the “King of the Hill” philosophy, to why equal-win partnerships are essential if corporates want to play the long game.This is essential listening for corporate leaders, founders, and investors who want to understand how to build CVCs that stand the test of time.🎧 Here’s what’s covered00:12 Balancing short-term pressures with long-term horizons in corporate venture.01:00 Measuring strategic impact: why financial returns aren’t enough, and how to keep communication continuous.02:00 Governance models: how Fidelity and TDK designed their investment committees.03:12 Strategy vs. finance: why it’s a false choice and the case for picking future market leaders.05:00 The “King of the Hill” concept: investing in potential category leaders even before markets exist.06:00 Why the financial bar must come first—and how corporates can offer startups more than just capital.07:00 Avoiding the “strategic-only” trap: why CVCs fail and how to last beyond the 3.7-year average.08:00 Working with champions inside the mothership and building early success stories.09:00 Equal-win partnerships: why both corporates and startups must feel the value for relationships to endure.

Welcome back to the EUCVC Summit Talks, where we bring you candid conversations with Europe’s leading founders, corporate leaders, and investors shaping the future of venture collaboration.In this episode, Florian Noell, Partner at PwC, and Gina Domanig, Managing Partner at Emerald Technology Ventures, join Jeppe Høier to explore why limited partner (LP) investing is emerging as the smartest entry point for corporates entering venture.From accessing deal flow and ecosystems to building internal conviction and avoiding common mistakes, Florian and Gina share their playbooks for making LP positions deliver both financial returns and strategic impact.🎧 Here’s what’s covered00:00 Why PwC chose LP investing as part of its corporate venturing activities.02:00 Ecosystems, neighborhoods, and the importance of other LPs around the table.03:00 Gina on structuring LP relations to meet both financial and strategic goals.04:30 The role of sector specialists, KPIs, and deal platforms in delivering value.05:45 Running “sprints” with corporates to align strategy and business units.06:45 Beyond capital: how LP investing enables startups to access global corporates.08:00 Building trust and staying engaged with GPs to unlock real value.09:00 Complementary models — Emerald’s cleantech depth vs. PwC’s global reach.

Welcome back to the EUCVC Summit Talks, where we bring you candid conversations with Europe’s leading founders, corporate leaders, and investors shaping the future of venture collaboration.In this session, Linn Clabburn, Head of CVC at Inter IKEA Group, and Destana Herring, Partner at Regeneration.VC, explore how corporates and VCs can partner with founders without overshadowing them.From aligning on objectives to translating “corporate scale” into startup reality, Linn and Destana share how trust, sparring, and clarity in the boardroom can make or break collaboration.🎧 Here’s what’s covered:00:10 Scale with, not over, founders: why trust is the foundation.01:00 The “love triangle” — navigating the CVC, VC, and founder dynamic.02:30 Different ambitions, shared value — why alignment before investing is key.04:00 Case study: IKEA + Regeneration joint investment and aligning KPIs.05:00 Translation role of VCs — turning corporate jargon into tangible founder action.06:00 What scale means at IKEA vs. in a startup — and how to bridge the gap.07:00 Success looks different — iterating market applications until corporate fit arrives.08:00 Boardroom courage — how to challenge each other without pulling founders apart.09:00 Unified front — why investors must spar privately, align publicly.

Welcome back to the EUCVC Summit Talks, where we bring you candid conversations with Europe’s leading founders, corporate leaders, and investors shaping the future of venture collaboration.In this episode, Thijs Povel, CEO of dealflow.eu talks with Ekke Van Vliet, Investment Coordinator at the European Innovation Council (EIC) to discuss one of the biggest challenges in Europe’s venture ecosystem: bridging the gap between corporates and startups.From EIC’s €10B budget for deep tech to the lessons learned from more than 70 “corporate days,” this session explores what works — and what doesn’t — when building collaboration between Europe’s most innovative startups and its largest corporates.🎧 Here’s what’s covered:00:10 Why startups want scale and corporates want innovation — and why it’s still hard to align.01:00 Inside dealflow.eu: making EU-funded startups visible and accessible to corporates and investors.02:00 The EIC’s €10B fund — grants and equity for deep tech across Europe.03:00 From grants to growth: how EIC supports startups after initial funding.04:00 Lessons from 70+ corporate days — what works, what fails, and the magic ratio of corporates to startups.05:00 Why in-person, 1:1 meetings matter — but too many can backfire.06:00 Tomorrow’s corporate day at TechBBQ — a live case study in matchmaking.07:00 Why deep tech startups in energy, climate, and healthcare are prime for corporate collaboration.08:00 What corporates actually get: curated startups, ready-to-scale solutions, and no cost to participate.09:00 Tomorrow’s 14 featured startups — from solar blinds to healthy air and construction tech.

Welcome back to the EUCVC Summit Talks, where we bring you the candid insights of Europe’s leading founders, corporate leaders, and investors reshaping venture collaboration.In this episode, Andreas Munk Holm speaks with Petr Míkovec, Managing Director of Inven Capital, the CVC arm of ČEZ, one of Central Europe’s most conservative utilities. From nuclear power plants to climate tech bets, Petr shares how Inven Capital was born inside a 30,000-person corporate giant—and why culture by design, not default, is the only way to make innovation stick.From boardroom alignment to founder empathy, this conversation reveals what it takes to balance corporate DNA with startup speed—and how Inven Capital won founders’ trust despite starting from scratch.🎧 Here’s what’s covered00:00 Culture by design, not by default—why Inven Capital had to reinvent itself inside ČEZ.01:38 Building credibility in a conservative culture—why early adopters matter more than the majority.03:25 Workshops, t-shirts, and pyramids—breaking hierarchy to create founder empathy.05:00 Involving the board—how Inven secured sponsorship and continuous support.06:30 Bridging the brand gap between ČEZ and Inven—winning trust with transparency and feedback.08:00 Respecting failures—why structured feedback became a cornerstone of founder relationships.09:00 Finding the right distance—how to be independent from the mothership but still connected.

Welcome back to EUVC Live in Malmö, where we bring you unfiltered conversations and reflections from the people shaping Europe’s venture ecosystem.As the day closed, Andreas Munk Holm, co-founder of EUVC, took the stage for the final word — a candid reflection on where real power comes from and what Europe’s venture community must do next.Throughout the day, speakers discussed sovereignty, collaboration, and Europe’s industrial future. Andreas’ message cut through with urgency: if we want Europe to lead, we can’t stop at innovation — we must step into politics.He pointed to the example of the United States, where the tech ecosystem has rallied around political power, influenced policy, and put its candidates into office. The takeaway? Values matter, but influence requires engagement — and Europe’s founders and investors need to find their voice in the political arena.🎧 Here’s what’s covered:00:30 Closing thanks: to Sophia for orchestrating EUVC Live, to Jeppe for bringing it to life, and to Nicole and Team Woven for backing Team Europe.01:00 Europe’s mood — sovereignty, collaboration, and the belief that unity is power.01:30 The missing ingredient — understanding that real power doesn’t just come from technology or capital, but from politics.02:00 Lessons from the U.S. — how tech rallied around a candidate, won power, and now shapes national policy from within the system.02:30 The power of lobbying — Andreessen Horowitz’s largest internal team today isn’t marketing or hiring — it’s policy and lobbying.03:00 The challenge for Europe — we have the values and the vision, but not yet the political infrastructure or courage to act collectively.03:30 The call to action — for VCs, founders, and ecosystem leaders to step up, take a side, and engage politically to secure Europe’s future.

Welcome back to EUVC Live in Malmö, where we bring you unfiltered conversations with the voices shaping Europe’s venture ecosystem.In this session, Nick de la Forge, Partner at Planet A Ventures, takes the stage to share insights from an eye-opening field trip through China’s climate and hardware startup ecosystem.Nick’s story begins with a simple question: what if we’re wrong about China’s advantage? — and ends with a humbling realization of just how fast and how efficiently the world’s largest manufacturing ecosystem now moves.Joined by fellow investors from 2150, Energy Impact Partners, and Compass, Nick toured factories, startups, and hyperscalers like CATL and BYD, witnessing firsthand what “scale” really looks like. The takeaway? Europe’s biggest competitor isn’t just cheaper — it’s faster, leaner, and far more integrated.🎧 Here’s what’s covered:00:30 Why China — what sparked the trip, who joined, and how a week-long “Disneyland of hardware” tour changed everything.01:30 Inside the factory visits — from solid-state batteries to precision fermentation, startups founded just 3–5 years ago already hitting $30–60M in revenue.02:30 The myth of state subsidy — why cheap labor and government handouts aren’t what’s driving China’s success.03:00 The real drivers of scale04:30 Capital efficiency at another level — $20M raised, $40M revenue, full-scale factories operational within 24 months.05:00 What Europe can learn — humility, realism, and the need to choose its battles wisely.05:30 Competing with China = playing Djokovic at tennis — pick a different game. Find niches in ultra-high-precision manufacturing and advanced polymers where Europe still leads.06:30 The founder takeaway — every European hardware founder should go to China, see it, and learn from it firsthand.07:00 Managing IP risk — why sourcing below component level is the new best practice for protecting innovation.07:30 The role reversal — 20 years ago, China came to Europe to learn. Today, Europeans visit China in awe.08:00 Europe’s opportunity — use China’s speed as leverage: source smarter, integrate faster, and turn dependency into advantage.08:30 Final message — be humble, be smart, and keep perspective: Europe has world-class science and talent — but must learn to play to its strengths.

Welcome back to EUVC Live in Malmö, where we bring you unfiltered conversations with the voices shaping Europe’s venture ecosystem.In this session, Danijel Visevic, Founding Partner at World Fund, takes the stage with a powerful message: Europe’s strength has always been its ability to turn crisis into collaboration — and it must do so again.Daniel traces Europe’s journey from the coal and steel community of 1951 to today’s climate and geopolitical challenges. From the fall of the Berlin Wall to COVID and the war in Ukraine, he reminds us that Europe’s greatest leaps have always come from unity, resilience, and investment in shared progress.Now, as Europe faces an age of “polycrisis” — from war and climate to supply chain fragility and tech disruption — Daniel calls for a new act of radical innovation: rebuilding Europe’s industrial leadership through collaboration, deep tech, and climate investment.🎧 Here’s what’s covered:00:30 The Coal and Steel Treaty of 1951 — when Europe chose collaboration over conflict.02:00 From war to unity — Daniel’s personal story of a continent rebuilt through cooperation.03:00 The “Age of Polycrisis” — or, as Daniel reframes it, the age of opportunity for those who collaborate.04:00 Europe’s new sovereignty — not armies and flags, but semiconductors, raw materials, data, and AI.04:30 The hard numbers: 98% of rare earths and 97% of lithium imported; 80% of solar panels made in Asia.05:30 Europe at risk of becoming a spectator in a game it helped invent — and why collaboration is the antidote.06:00 Lessons from history — how Europe expanded prosperity after 1989 and launched the NextGenEU fund during COVID.07:30 Real transformation: cutting Russian gas dependency from 40% to 11% in two years — with renewables as resilience.08:30 The venture challenge — Europe raises 7x less VC than the US, and only 11% of climate startups reach Series B.09:00 Hope in motion — from €300M climate funds to €1B+ deep tech and climate vehicles driving the next wave.09:30 European champions10:30 The next phase — Europe needs ambitious scale-up capital, public–private partnerships, and a shared mission.11:00 The call to action — Europe’s story isn’t stagnation; it’s reinvention through unity and belief.

Welcome back to another EUVC Podcast, where we gather Europe’s venture family to share the stories, insights, and lessons that drive our ecosystem forward.Today we dive into the corporate venturing journey of Georg Reifferscheid, Head of Climate Tech at REWE Group, one of Europe’s largest retailers with €94B in revenue and 350,000 employees. With supermarkets, discount brands, travel agencies, hotels, DIY markets, and more under its umbrella, REWE is a powerhouse — but also a company with massive sustainability challenges.Georg walks us through how REWE Ventures is structured across four focus areas (Retail Tech, E-Grocery/Mobility, Food Tech, and Climate Tech), why his team is prioritizing cooling, HVAC, and green construction materials, and what it really takes to get startups and corporates to collaborate effectively. From investment strategy and deal stages to the psychology of expectation management, this is a candid look at how a €100B cooperative builds innovation for the next century.🎧 Here’s what’s covered:00:10 Introduction: Jeppe welcomes Georg and sets the stage on REWE’s scale and Georg’s unique background.05:00 Inside REWE Ventures: the four focus areas and how each ties directly into REWE’s business units.10:00 Climate Tech mandate: from Scope 1 and 2 emissions to why cooling and HVAC are priority #1.15:00 Investment approach: Series A+ sweet spot, why hardware is front and center, and REWE’s role as a strategic co-investor.20:00 Diligence process: how technical validation, strategic fit, and M&A teams all come together.25:00 Strategic vs. financial: Georg on why strategic value add trumps pure returns.30:00 Building trust inside a corporate: expectation management, psychology, and anecdotes from warehouses and stores.35:00 Climate Tech Challenge: how REWE screens startups efficiently and generates pilots.40:00 Portfolio highlights: Project Eden in Food Tech, plus upcoming pilots in cooling technology.45:00 Lessons for corporates: defining your “why,” building with psychology in mind, and learning that startups and corporates live in different time zones.

Welcome back to EUVC Live in Malmö, where we bring you unfiltered conversations with the voices shaping Europe’s venture ecosystem.In this session, Jamie Rowles, Partner at Regeneration VC, takes the stage to explore Europe’s role in the global climate transition — and why consumer climate tech might just be the continent’s hidden superpower.Regeneration VC is a transatlantic early-stage fund investing in what they call consumer climate tech — the intersection of sustainability, circular systems, and the products we touch every day. From fashion and food to electronics and personal care, these industries account for over half of Europe’s GDP and are ripe for climate-driven reinvention.Jamie makes the case that Europe is the world’s “conscious consumer lab” — home to 450 million affluent consumers, global brands with long-term outlooks, and cultural leadership in taste and sustainability. In a world divided by politics and partisanship, Europe’s climate leadership might emerge not from regulation or tech — but from what people choose to buy.🎧 Here’s what’s covered:00:30 From California to Europe — why Regeneration VC shifted its center of gravity across the Atlantic.01:00 Climate Tech 2.0 — five years in, why the sector still battles skepticism and political headwinds in the US.02:00 What China has won — manufacturing scale in renewables and batteries — and where Europe still has an edge: brands, culture, and consumers.02:40 Europe’s $17T consumer market — 450 million developed consumers representing half of Europe’s GDP across food, fashion, electronics, and home care.03:30 The overlooked industries — fashion’s carbon footprint beats shipping and aviation combined, yet remains underfunded in climate solutions.04:10 The Regeneration thesis — investing across the value chain “from the molecule to the product and back,” with circularity and regeneration at the core.04:30 The “movie” metaphor — brands as directors, climate technologies as actors, and consumers as the audience. Changing the script from extractive to regenerative.05:30 Europe’s unique role — home to the world’s most influential consumer brands, from IKEA to Adidas, that define global taste and culture.06:00 Taste as system change — when European design and lifestyle drive demand for better, circular products, the world follows.06:30 Partnerships that matter — why the next decade of climate progress will be built on collaboration between startups and corporates.07:00 Next-gen materials — microbes dyeing clothes, enzymes digesting plastics, and circular chemistry reshaping trillion-dollar industries.07:30 The European consumer advantage — more conscious, regulation-aware, and quality-driven than anywhere else in the world.08:00 Human health = planetary health — how awareness of PFAS and microplastics is shifting mainstream behavior and regulation.08:30 Regulation as tailwind — why Europe’s high standards and strict product rules accelerate innovation, not stifle it.09:00 The takeaway — Europe as a living experiment in regenerative consumer capitalism, where culture, capital, and conscience align.

Welcome back to EUVC Live at Malmö, where we bring you unfiltered conversations with the voices shaping Europe’s venture ecosystem.In this episode, Rokas Pečiulaitis, Founder & Managing Partner at Contrarian Ventures, joins Andreas on stage to unpack one of the most fundamental questions in climate and deep tech: why the technology of today becomes the infrastructure of tomorrow.Rokas takes us from Rockefeller’s Standard Oil to today’s climate transition, explaining how every technological revolution ends in infrastructure and why venture capital must evolve to bridge the gap between innovation and deployment.From energy transitions and the rise of China’s solar dominance to why investors must learn to fund the “missing middle” between venture and project finance, Rokas lays out a vision for Europe’s climate future — and a roadmap for how to fund it.🎧 Here’s what’s covered:00:30 Standard Oil & the Tech-to-Infra ThesisHow Rockefeller’s oil refinement monopoly explains why technology success always ends in infrastructure dominance.03:00 From Fossil Fuels to ElectronsWhy the next 150 years of global growth will be powered by electrons — and why infrastructure, not IP, will capture the value.04:30 Bridging Venture and InfraWhy 80% of capital in climate tech will flow into infrastructure — and how founders and VCs must learn to speak both venture and project finance.05:10 Risk Discipline: Product or Market — Not BothRokas’ hard-learned rule for climate investing: if you take both technology and market risk, you end up “in the cemetery.”06:00 The Wedge StrategyHow to enter consolidated industries like pulp & paper or agriculture — solve one problem, give the solution away, and monetize through embedded transactions.07:40 Vertical Integration WinsFrom Amazon to climate tech: why owning the full stack from technology to infrastructure creates the real moat.09:00 From Rockefeller to GoogleWhy today’s tech giants mirror Standard Oil — accumulating monopoly power until the system forces a break-up.10:30 The Missing Middle in Climate CapitalWhy Europe doesn’t have a “growth gap,” but an “emerging infra gap” — and how to fill it with blended venture and project finance.13:00 China’s Lesson in ScaleHow China captured solar’s value by building, not inventing — and what Europe must learn about owning deployment.14:30 Long Cycles, Real ImpactWhy true infrastructure transitions take decades — and why those who get it right redefine economies and history itself.

Welcome back to the EUCVC Summit Talks, where we bring you behind-the-scenes conversations with the founders, corporates, and investors shaping Europe’s venture collaboration landscape.In this episode, Jeppe Høier sits down with Jesper Bang Olsen, Partner at BEAM, and Kerk Wichmann, VP of Corporate Strategy at Jungheinrich and Managing Partner at Uplift Ventures. Together, they unpack the realities of corporate venture building: why corporates need to separate venture initiatives from the mothership, how to anchor strategically, and what it takes to balance startup agility with industrial scale.From governance and champions to customer infiltration and fast decision-making, this is a candid look at how leading corporates are building real ventures—not just innovation playgrounds.🎧 Here’s what’s covered00:19 Why Uplift Ventures was born—responding to Chinese competition and software-driven disruption.01:00 Why ventures fail inside the mothership—rules, governance, and slow cycles.03:00 Jesper’s story: from DVDs wiped out by Spotify to creating BEAM as a venture builder.04:00 Value triggers at BEAM—finding good niche problems, anchored near but not inside the core.05:00 Anchoring strategy: why top management commitment is non-negotiable.06:00 Balancing two worlds—leveraging 6,000 service engineers and 2,000 sales reps while learning startup speed.07:00 Secret sauce at BEAM—separation from the corporate, but with champions inside who love the speed.08:00 Customer infiltration—winning over corporate clients directly to create positive friction.09:00 Venture governance—independent venture board, external members, and strict stage-gate decisions.

Welcome back to the EUCVC Summit Talks, where we bring you candid conversations with Europe’s leading founders, corporate leaders, and investors shaping the future of venture collaboration.In this episode, Jeppe Høier sits down with Peter Aksel Villadsen (GN Hearing) and Helle Hee (PwC) to unpack the messy middle of post-merger integration: aligning strategy and governance, protecting talent and culture, and getting the operating model right so the deal value actually shows up. From pre-close planning to the first 100 days, they share what works, what fails, and how to keep the integration machine honest.This is essential listening for any corporate venturer, founder, or investor navigating M&A.🎧 Here’s what’s covered00:00 – Introduction: Europe’s corporates are buying innovation, but many struggle to integrate it. Peter and Helle discuss how to create real value when startups become subsidiaries.01:00 – Breakthrough Moments: Peter on the rare “miracle” when founders stay post-acquisition; Helle on why day-one readiness is critical to capturing momentum.02:00 – Integration Planning: The importance of preparation before signing — equipping teams to welcome founders with curiosity and discover hidden value.03:00 – Culture as an Organ Transplant: Peter’s powerful metaphor: startups as organs transplanted into corporates. How to suppress rejection and preserve agility.04:00 – Building a Hybrid Playbook: Helle on balancing corporate processes with startup DNA — absorbing back office functions while protecting innovation culture.05:00 – Keeping the Founder’s Voice: Peter’s dual perspective as both founder and corporate leader — why revisiting integration plans through the founder’s lens matters.06:00 – Retaining Talent: How to reduce flight risk: tailored incentives, minority stakes, and structures that keep founders motivated post-deal.07:00 – Case Study: Lively: GN’s acquisition of Lively to reach new customer segments — and how involving the startup team secured cultural and strategic value.08:00 – Final Advice: Helle’s closing message: the most important thing is to be ready on day one.

Welcome back to EUVC Live powered by Woven Capital at The Drop, where we bring you unfiltered conversations with the voices shaping Europe’s venture ecosystem.In this episode, Alex Bakir, founding partner at Norrsken Evolve, takes the stage fresh off his latest fund close — but instead of talking about fundraising, Alex dives into the bigger picture: how competition, climate, and chaos are reshaping the world we invest in.From the cycles of history and the rise of populism to the structural shocks of climate change, Alex challenges us to rethink Europe’s role, its vulnerabilities, and why rebuilding around cleantech and climate tech isn’t just optional — it’s inevitable.🎧 Here’s what’s covered:00:30 Competition at every level — from startups chasing scarce resources to nation states fighting for security.01:30 The age of AI: why superintelligence could solve everything — or sharpen competition.02:30 Populism’s return: when economics and expectations don’t align, and why inequality fuels discontent.03:30 Comparative advantage & free trade: why the “end of history” never arrived.04:30 Wealth concentration and the broken promise of the nation state.05:30 Cycles of history: Ray Dalio, Harvard sociologists, and why we’re at the realist end of an 80–100 year cycle.06:30 Climate crisis as self-organized criticality — when stress tips systems into avalanches and floods.07:30 Europe’s long decline since 1900 — and why reliance on external manufacturing is now a liability.08:30 Why Europe must rebuild industry on cleantech and climate tech foundations.09:00 Populism isn’t a blip — it’s a decade-long cycle that requires addressing lived realities.10:00 Final call: in a world of shocks, AI, and climate, people and collaboration matter more than ever.

Welcome back to EUVC Live powered by Woven Capital at The Drop, where we bring you the candid conversations with the investors shaping Europe’s venture ecosystem.In this episode, Nicole LeBlanc, Partner at Woven Capital, joins us on stage in Malmö to share why Toyota’s $800M global fund is doubling down on Europe. From talent pools and global mindsets to climate tech leadership, Nicole explains why Europe is the testbed for scaling climate, mobility, and automation solutions worldwide.🎧 Here’s what’s covered:00:30 Why Europe matters: 15% of global VC and growing deal sizes.01:00 Diversification — why global funds can’t rely on just one market.01:30 Talent in Europe: strong engineering pools and founders thinking global from day one.02:30 Climate tech in Europe’s DNA — regulation, partnerships, and net-zero by 2050.03:30 Inside Woven Capital: Toyota’s $800M LPGP fund, financial-first approach, and global mandate.04:30 Toyota Open Labs: Europe-exclusive program giving startups structured access to Toyota.05:30 Portfolio spotlight: Corvus, zero-emission shipping with batteries + hydrogen.06:30 What’s next: circularity, advanced materials, and figuring out AI.

Welcome back to the EUCVC Summit Talks, where we bring you candid conversations with Europe’s leading founders, corporate leaders, and investors shaping the future of venture collaboration.In this episode, Andreas Munk Holm sits down with Kasper Hulthin, serial founder now at Future Five (and co-founder of Peakon, Podio, and others), and Heini Zachariassen, founder of Vivino, the world’s largest wine app and marketplace. Both have experienced firsthand what it means to be acquired by a corporate—and they don’t hold back on the reality behind the headlines.From culture shock and governance friction to the trade-offs of autonomy versus scale, Kasper and Heini share the inside story of what happens post-acquisition. They also reflect on when collaboration works, how to preserve founder spirit, and what corporates must do to retain the trust and agility of entrepreneurial teams.This is essential listening for any corporate venturer, founder, or investor navigating M&A.🎧 Here’s what’s covered00:05 – Introduction: Startups dream of exits, but what happens next? Kasper and Heini discuss acquisitions, culture shock, and the reality behind the dotted linekasper transcript.01:00 – Two Exits: Kasper shares his founder journey: Podio sold to Citrix (2012) and Peakon sold to Workday (2021).02:00 – How Acquisitions Start: From making noise in San Francisco to building partnerships — why Citrix fell in love with Podio and how Workday became a strategic buyer.04:00 – Timing the Sale: Peakon’s $700M+ exit during COVID, high multiples, and why the deal made sense for both sides.05:00 – Life Inside a Corporate: From founder to mid-level manager — Kasper’s experience of Citrix’s “Project Zeus” and how startups risk dying in big-company bureaucracy.07:00 – Retention & Integration: Why Podio stayed semi-independent while Peakon was integrated fast — and how that shaped employee retention.08:00 – Success Rates: Not every acquisition works: Podio’s limited return vs. Peakon’s strong trajectory. Culture clashes, corporate HR shock, and mismatched priorities.09:00 – Risk & Strategy: Startups bet everything on growth; corporates spread resources across portfolios. Why this clash makes integration so hard.

In this EUCVC Summit Talks episode, Hermann Haraldsson, CEO of Boozt, unpacks the journey of taking a Nordic e-commerce scale-up from scrappy beginnings to a billion-dollar listed company. He discusses Boozt’s playbook for customer trust, operational discipline, and balancing growth with profitability. Hermann reflects on how corporate partnerships can (and can’t) accelerate scale, why governance is critical earlier than founders think, and how AI and sustainability are reshaping retail.Whether you’re a corporate VC, startup founder, or institutional investor, this is a candid look at the realities of building Europe’s digital champions.🎧 Here’s what’s covered00:30 – Boozt Journey: Founded in 2011, IPO in Stockholm (2017), dual listing in Copenhagen (2020). Once the most valuable e-commerce company in the Nordics.01:30 – Culture From Day One: Three pillars: trust, freedom, and responsibility — built on Nordic values. Hiring the right people and giving them space to grow.02:30 – The “Care Why” Culture: From “know what” to “know why” to “care why.” How Boozt tests for true ownership mindset (like picking up trash in the warehouse).03:30 – Scaling Culture: How to keep startup mentality when growing from 5 to 500 people. Inspiration from Bain’s Founder’s Mentality framework.04:30 – Founder’s Mentality in Action: Key principles: skin in the game, challenging industry wisdom, and obsessively reducing friction for customers and staff.06:00 – IPO as a Turning Point: Why going public didn’t mean “growing up” — compliance is outsourced, while startup culture is doubled down.07:00 – Staying a Startup Post-IPO: Hermann’s role shift: from “machinist greasing the wheels” to communicator of values, frontline obsession, and owner mindset.08:00 – Don’t Fear Compliance: Investors buy into the startup spirit, not the corporate bureaucracy. Compliance is license to operate, not a competitive advantage.09:00 – Closing Lesson: An IPO doesn’t have to make you corporate — if you focus on what matters, your company’s immune system will fight bureaucracy, not innovation.

Welcome back to EUVC Live powered by Woven Capital at The Drop, where we bring you raw and unfiltered insights from Europe’s venture ecosystem.In this episode, Hampus Jakobsson - serial founder, angel investor, and one of the driving forces behind The Drop - takes the stage to share two big themes: his hard-earned lessons on corporate venturing, and how AI is set to reshape both energy demand and climate solutions.From scars of failed CVC deals to the epiphany that corporates must be at the table, and from the risks of AI’s off-grid energy needs to its potential as “a thousand free interns” in old industries, Hampus delivers a candid, fast-paced perspective you won’t want to miss.🎧 Here’s what’s covered:00:30 Why Hampus once banned CVCs from The Drop — scars from 150+ angel investments and failed corporate deals.01:30 The epiphany: corporates aren’t optional — they’re core to scaling industries like construction, mobility, and climate.02:30 Why we need a clearer language to explain the full spectrum of corporate venture — from balance sheet strategics to spun-out financial-first funds.03:30 Case study: Motorola’s smart deal structure with Hampus’s first company, aligning incentives without blocking other partnerships.05:00 Enterprise sales realities: 18-month sales cycles and €7M average contracts — why corporates matter most for scaling.06:30 Transition to AI: how Hampus’s background in AI shapes his view of its role in climate.07:00 The challenge: AI’s energy demand could reach 10–50% of global consumption, forcing off-grid solutions.08:00 The opportunity: AI as “a thousand free interns” — driving efficiency in old industries from waste management to construction.09:30 Why AI isn’t magic — it’s about practical applications, compilers for design, and tools that boost margins in unsexy industries.10:30 Closing thoughts: solving off-grid energy production and deploying AI where it can have real impact.

In this episode, Andreas Munk Holm and Jeppe Høier sit down with Paul Morgenthaler, Partner at CommerzVentures, to unpack the inner workings of a single-LP CVC and how strategic structure can drive long-term VC success. Paul shares insights from over a decade of fintech investing, offering a rare look into how one of Europe’s leading corporate venture arms thinks about climate, compliance, and the coming wave of agentic AI in financial services.They explore what it takes to make a single-LP model work, how GenAI is reshaping fintech workflows, and why European regulation may be a global feature, not a bug.🎧 Here’s what’s covered:03:54 How LP alignment shapes internal incentives & decision-making06:28 What fundraising looks like when your only LP is a bank12:52 How CommerzVentures handles regulatory risk15:24 Customer insights from climate fintech portfolio founders17:27 Climate policy, public budgets & surviving U.S. turbulence19:10 Why ROI matters more than mission in today’s market21:11 Timing markets vs. betting on long-term trends33:35 What metrics matter most in AI x FinTech startups39:19 Can the EU AI Act be a wedge for new startups?41:55 Paul’s call to Series A/B fintech founders across Europe

In this episode, Jeppe Høier and Andreas Munk Holm sit down with Julien Fredonie, Head of Europe & Africa at Honda Xcelerator Ventures, for a deep dive into how one of the world’s most iconic manufacturing giants is strategically navigating venture capital across Europe.They explore Honda’s global investment strategy, Julien’s views on Europe’s deeptech strengths, the nuanced role of corporate VC, and why Honda is bullish on European innovation—from climate tech to AI and advanced manufacturing.This one’s a rare look into how a global player allocates capital, thinks about strategic alignment, and partners with both startups and emerging funds.Here’s what’s covered:01:10 Who is Julien Fredonie and what is Honda Xcelerator Ventures?02:40 The 4 Strategic Pillars: Sustainability, Manufacturing, Mobility, AI04:15 What "Deep Tech That Sells" Means to Honda05:30 Strategic Projects Explained: POCs, JVs, and R&D Partnerships07:45 Fund-of-Fund Activity: Why Honda Also Backs VCs09:00 Structuring the CVC: The Role of Julien’s Team vs. Internal Honda R&D11:30 What Startups Get from Honda (Beyond Capital)13:45 Deep Tech DD: How Honda Approaches Validation from Inside & Outside23:30 Where Europe Stands Out: Climate, Advanced Industry, AI25:30 Gen 2 Climate Tech: From Environmental to Industrial Impact26:15 The State of French VC and Deep Tech Momentum

Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC podcast, where Andreas Munk Holm and Jeppe Høier explore the cutting edge of European venture capital. Today’s guest is Nacho Tovar, who leads Corporate Venture Capital at IAG—the airline group behind British Airways, Iberia, and Vueling.Together, they unpack how one of the world’s most complex legacy industries is retooling itself through deep tech, startup collaboration, and CVC-backed transformation—from synthetic fuels to quantum AI.This is the CVC playbook for aviation, straight from the cockpit.🎧 Here's what's covered:02:02 How Childhood Dreams of Flight Became a CVC Career05:12 IAG’s Six Investment Themes: AI, Automation, SAF, CX, Connectivity & Quantum10:01 No Fund Yet—But €200M in Committed Capital Through the Balance Sheet14:30 Why IAG Doesn’t Invest at Concept Stage (And Doesn’t Take Equity in Accelerator)18:32 Nacho’s Career Path: Why Engineering + Accenture + VC = Ideal CVC Operator24:34 Inside Iberia’s Turnaround: From €1M/day Losses to €1B Profit28:47 Co-Investing over Leading: IAG’s Approach to Rounds30:29 What Nacho Brings to the Cap Table: Commercial Scale, Access & Global Brand32:54 The Secret Sauce: Airline Autonomy + Strategic Collaboration34:08 How IAG Unlocks Strategic Value Post-Investment39:23 Why Punctuality, Cost & CX Are All Linked in Aviation44:59 The Airline-Customer Relationship: From Booking to Destination

In this episode, Andreas Munk Holm and Jeppe Høier sit down with Florian Noell, PwC’s Global Venturing & EMEA Startups & Scale-ups Leader. Florian draws on his rare blend of experience as a founder, ecosystem advocate, and now corporate innovator to unpack the evolution—and missed opportunities—of corporate venture capital across Europe.They delve deeply into what distinguishes enduring CVCs from the 3.7-year average lifespan, how to avoid wasting money as a corporate angel, and the structural shifts needed to transition from optics to outcomes. With both realism and optimism, this is a masterclass on corporate-startup collaboration done right—and wrong.This one’s for ecosystem builders, corporate strategists, and VCs looking to make CVC work in the long term.Here’s what’s covered:02:10 | Two Hats, One Mission: How Florian Took His Founder Lens to PwC05:50 | What Great Corporate-Startup Collaboration Looks Like08:30 | Why CVCs Die After 3.7 Years—and How to Beat the Odds11:20 | Structuring for Success: The 10 Building Blocks to a Lasting CVC14:00 | Venture Clienting vs. Venture Investing17:40 | The Case for Later-Stage Investing—If You Can Afford It21:15 | LP Investing as a Smart Starting Point25:50 | Policy’s Role: Useful, But Not the Magic Fix30:00 | Changing the Corporate Mindset34:00 | Why Corporates Don’t Reinvent Themselves—And What to Do About It

Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC Podcast, where we bring you the people and perspectives shaping European venture.This time, we flip the mic: Jeppe Høier, normally the host, steps into the hot seat in a conversation with Francesco Di Lorenzo, Associate Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at CBS and an expert on entrepreneurial and innovation strategy.In this episode, you’ll get the full backstory on Jeppe—from PwC to CFO at a pan-European fund, Heartcore Capital, to building Maersk’s CVC arm, and now shaping Europe’s corporate VC landscape through the EU CVC podcast, newsletter, and summit.They dive deep into how corporate venture works (and fails), why the immune system metaphor holds true, and what’s needed to build an ecosystem across Europe that actually delivers.🎯 This Podcast’s Themes:From finance to strategy: Jeppe’s journey into ventureWhy CVC is more organ transplant than M&AHow to survive 3 CEOs—and why you mustFund of funds vs. direct investing: what’s trending in corporate ventureBuilding Europe’s corporate VC community: podcast, masterclasses, summitsHere’s what’s covered:00:00 | From Interviews to the Interviewee: Jeppe in the spotlight02:00 | Auditor Turned VC: From PwC to CFO of a pan-European fund04:30 | The Maersk Years: Strategy, innovation, and the “immune system”07:00 | Organ Transplant Theory: Why CVCs often get rejected10:00 | Newsletter to Podcast: Building the EU CVC platform12:00 | The European Vision: A fragmented but collaborative ecosystem14:00 | Strategic vs Financial Tension: Why most corporates are confused16:00 | Global Case Studies: TDK Ventures, Woven Capital, Maersk Growth21:00 | The Pivot Playbook: Survive, evolve, stay relevant23:30 | How to Do CVC Right: From metrics to mindset25:00 | Fund of Funds 101: What corporates need to know27:00 | Advice to MBAs: Learn the craft, love the long game

In this episode, Andreas Munk Holm and Jeppe Høier sit down with Nicole LeBlanc, Partner at Woven Capital, the $800M growth-stage CVC fund backed by Toyota. They unpack what it takes to drive real strategic and financial outcomes in corporate venture — and what founders and GPs often get wrong when working with CVCs.Nicole shares how Woven structures its global operations, works hand-in-hand with Toyota’s business units, and leverages a portfolio success team to shepherd startups through complex corporate dynamics. She also breaks down Woven’s investment logic, from hydrogen to lunar rovers — and why corporate alignment shouldn’t come at the cost of independence.Here’s what’s covered:00:40 – The structure of Woven Capital & its relationship with Toyota03:00 – How Toyota Ventures (early-stage) and Woven (growth-stage) complement each other09:45 – Building internal bridges: the Portfolio Success team model13:15 – Toyota’s internal incentives (and the carrot vs. stick approach)15:10 – The CVC cultural challenge: Japan, US, and Europe21:40 – How to spot a “red flag” CVC as a founder31:30 – Toyota Open Labs: a new playbook for startup-corporate collaboration34:00 – Woven’s LP strategy: investing in funds for access, insight & geography39:00 – Learnings from fund investing: what CVC LPs need from GPs42:00 – Final advice for startups and corporates alike

In this episode, Andreas Munk Holm and Jeppe Høier sit down with Zack Weisfeld, the founding force behind Intel Ignite (now Ignite Deep Tech), to explore the evolution of one of the most respected deep tech accelerators in the world. From reinventing how corporates engage with startups to pioneering a "co-founder as a service" model, Zack shares what it takes to build real bridges between enterprise and entrepreneurship.Here’s what’s covered:03:10 Why Intel Chose to Spin It Out—And How the Ecosystem Reacted06:15 The Three Pillars: Seed, Pre-Seed, and Ideation Programs08:00 What Most Corporate Accelerators Get Wrong11:40 Co-Founder as a Service: A New Model of Acceleration13:25 Why Corporate Mentorship Works When Done Right19:40 Lessons from 14 Years of Building Accelerators26:20 How Mentorship Creates Internal Champions30:15 Aligning Startup Success with Corporate Transformation35:10 Why Mental Health Support for Founders Is a Strategic Imperative

Marcus Behrendt, Managing Partner at BMW iVentures, joins Andreas and Jeppe to explore how corporate venture capital can drive transformation in Europe’s most iconic industries. From autonomy to AI and natural-fiber composites, the episode dives deep into how BMW’s venture arm scans, invests, and hedges across global markets while staying rooted in strategy and sustainability.🎧 Here’s what’s covered:04:11 Investment Focus: From Smart Supply Chains to Sustainability09:56 The Auto Industry in Flux: Disruption, Legacy & Tesla’s Vertical Model14:31 Integration vs. Modularity: What Will Define the Next Automotive Leaders17:01 Avoiding the Kodak Trap: Why Culture Eats Strategy in Corporate Innovation25:56 Leveraging the Core: Staying Close to BMW’s Strategic Heartbeat28:04 Natural Fibers & Rare Earths: Investing for CO2 Impact and Supply Chain Resilience34:42 Scaling Autonomy in the Real World: From Car Plants to Ports37:33 Europe's Structural Weakness: Legal Complexity and Inconsistent ESOPs44:11 Pensions, Politics & the Case for Venture Policy Engagement47:04 Why BMW iVentures Remains a Single-LP Fund—and Proud of It

In this episode of our CVC series, Andreas Munk Holm and our CVC in-house expert, Jeppe Høier, talk with Marika King, Head of PINC, the corporate venture arm of Paulig. Marika shares how PINC was born to accelerate core innovation and deliver long-term impact across health, sustainability, and food security. She explains why PINC goes earlier than most CVCs and how they leverage Paulig’s R&D and cultural DNA to validate, support, and scale startups. Marika also offers candid reflections on governance structures, founder dynamics, and how her journey through burnout shaped her values as an investor.Here’s what’s covered:03:10 Early Stage Investments and Validation16:54 Governance and Structure of Pink Ventures24:00 Lessons in Structuring a Corporate Venture Fund26:34 Understanding the Role of a CVC27:03 Misconceptions About CVCs28:49 Flexibility and Patience in CVC Investments31:29 The Importance of Founder-Friendly Approaches37:10 Marika's Journey into Venture Capital

In this episode of our CVC series, Andreas Munk Holm talks with Bruno Moraes, Managing Director at Wayra, Telefónica’s corporate venture capital arm. With nearly 15 years of experience, Wayra stands out for its focus on driving strategic business value by connecting startups with Telefónica’s core operations across Europe and Latin America. Here’s what’s covered:03:40 Investment Strategies and Goals04:51 Fund Management and Structure06:32 Geographical and Vertical Focus08:28 Team Structure and Operations19:54 Evolution and Growth of WRA22:56 Incentives and Compensation in CVC

In this episode of our CVC series, Andreas Munk Holm and our CVC in-house expert, Jeppe Høier, talk with Gitte Aabo to explore the world of corporate venture. With a remarkable background that spans 27 years at Leo Pharma, including 12 years as CEO and further experience at GN Hearing, Gitte shares her journey in building innovation initiatives like Leo iLab. She explains how she helped develop digital tools to improve treatment outcomes and diagnostics, drawing on her extensive experience in both board leadership and hands-on management to drive change.During the conversation, Gitte dives into aligning corporate culture with innovative practices. She emphasizes that success in corporate venturing doesn’t come from following a one-size-fits-all formula but from ongoing, one-on-one discussions with board members and key executives. By integrating strategic insights with practical initiatives, she shares how innovation teams must work closely with the core business to ensure long-term impact, even if the financial returns take time to materialize. Chapters:03:55 Establishing Leo Innovation Lab04:15 Digital Tools for Skin Disease Treatment05:01 Improving Diagnosis with Mobile Tools05:16 Philosophy of Patient Focus06:20 Structure and Funding of Leo iLab08:10 Challenges and Learnings from Leo iLab08:28 Collaboration with US and External Investments09:31 Balancing Innovation and Core Business11:24 Reflections on Corporate Innovation14:43 Transition to GN Hearing15:50 Integrating Innovation in GN Hearing17:00 Strategic Partnerships and External Innovation19:52 Challenges in Corporate and Startup Collaboration