Episodios

  • EUVC | E427 | Volvo Cars Tech Fund’s Ann-Sofie Ekberg on how to work with corporate stakeholders

    EUVC | E427 | Volvo Cars Tech Fund’s Ann-Sofie Ekberg on how to work with corporate stakeholders
    Mar 13 2025
    In today’s episode of our CVC series, Andreas and our CVC in-house expert, Jeppe Høier, talk with Ann-Sofie Ekberg, CEO of Volvo Cars Tech Fund, the corporate venture arm of Volvo Cars. Founded in 2018, the fund invests directly from Volvo’s balance sheet, backing startups in mobility, sustainability, and digitalization. While prioritizing strategic relevance, the fund maintains a disciplined investment approach, engaging with startups at various stages—predominantly Series A and B, with some selective seed investments.

    Under Ann-Sofie’s leadership, the Tech Fund has developed a structured approach to ensure investments align with Volvo’s readiness to adopt new technologies. She emphasizes the importance of startups having diverse customer bases beyond Volvo to avoid over-reliance. In this conversation, Ann-Sofie also shares insights into balancing strategic and financial priorities, how Volvo collaborates with competitors in CVC, and why she believes platform-based vehicle architectures will unlock faster innovation and startup adoption in the automotive industry.

    Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀

    Chapters:

    02:28 Understanding Volvo Cars and Volvo Group
    03:25 Corporate Venture at Volvo Cars
    03:50 Volvo Cars Technology Fund: History and Mission
    05:14 Investment Decisions and Internal Sponsors
    07:06 Seed Investments and Strategic Disruptions
    08:05 Strategic vs. Financial Investments
    10:07 Portfolio Modeling and Investment Criteria
    12:33 Mandate and Budget Flexibility
    14:08 Challenges in the Automotive Industry
    17:40 The Role of Technology and Platforms
    20:04 Sustainability Goals and Initiatives
    22:59 Investment in Battery Technology
    26:17 Collaboration and Scaling Challenges
    33:41 Corporate Venturing and Competition
    39:47 Boardroom Dynamics and Ownership
    44:23 Success Stories and Additional Opportunities
    45:49 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
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    47 m
  • EUVC | E426 | Local Globe’s Emma Phillips on backing unconventional founders and the future of AI-driven work

    EUVC | E426 | Local Globe’s Emma Phillips on backing unconventional founders and the future of AI-driven work
    Mar 12 2025
    Welcome to a new episode of our special series, At The Cap Table Series, where Sarah Finegan, Senior Investor at Antler, talks with Emma Phillips, Investment Partner at LocalGlobe. Local Globe is one of Europe’s most respected early-stage venture firms. Founded by Robin and Saul Klein, Local Globe has backed nearly 300 companies, including 17 unicorns and five IPOs, focusing on B2B software, applied AI, and the future of work.

    With deep entrepreneurial DNA and a commitment to investing in founders at the earliest stages, the firm plays a crucial role in shaping Europe's startup ecosystem. Since joining Local Globe nearly a decade ago, Emma has transitioned from an operating partner to a leading investor, bringing hands-on experience in scaling companies and navigating operational challenges.

    In this conversation, she shares her insights on what makes a great founder, the importance of first-principles thinking, and why exceptional talent can come from anywhere. We also dive into Local Globe’s unique approach to venture investing, the major trends shaping the future of work & AI, why founders should embrace unscalable solutions early on, and why Europe needs to build a more open and accessible venture ecosystem.

    Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀
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    33 m
  • EUVC | E425 | This Week in European Tech with Dan Bowyer, Lomax Ward and Andrew J. Scott

    EUVC | E425 | This Week in European Tech with Dan Bowyer, Lomax Ward and Andrew J. Scott
    Mar 10 2025
    Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC podcast, where our good friend Dan Bowyer from SuperSeed in a discussion with Andrew J. Scott, Founding Partner at 7percent Ventures, and Lomax Ward, General Partner at Outsized Ventures, to cover recent news and movements in the European tech landscape. 💬
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    1 h y 9 m
  • EUVC | E424 | Nine Realms’ Sune Stilling and Christy McCaig on reshaping supply chains through operator-led investing

    EUVC | E424 | Nine Realms’ Sune Stilling and Christy McCaig on reshaping supply chains through operator-led investing
    Mar 7 2025
    In today’s episode, Andreas Munk Holm speaks with Sune Stilling and Christy McCaig, General Partners at Nine Realms, a venture fund focused on transforming global supply chains. With a target size of €200 million, Nine Realms is raising its first fund, screening high-potential Series A investments across Europe and North America.

    Notably, their portfolio and previous investments include innovative companies like Clearly, Forto, and Loadsmart, which drive change in logistics and sustainable operations. Sune and Christy bring their extensive experience from corporate ventures and logistics, including Maersk Growth, to identify startup opportunities that address today’s global supply chain challenges.

    In this conversation, they discuss the fund’s strategy of building a concentrated, operator-led portfolio to generate steady returns from trade sales, not just unicorn exits. They explore how evolving trends like AI optimization and sustainability open new market opportunities.

    Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀

    Chapters:

    02:20 Nine Realms Fund Overview
    03:05 Team Background and Expertise
    03:46 Christy's Professional Journey
    04:54 Sune's Professional Journey
    07:54 Building Nine Realms
    09:45 Collaboration Between CVCs and VCs
    10:46 Corporate VC Strategies
    12:04 Investment Structure and Decision Making
    15:18 European Supply Chain Innovation
    17:03 Investment Strategy and Allocation
    18:24 Portfolio Management and Value Creation
    28:09 Two-Sided Value Creation Model
    29:45 Strategic Investors and Partnerships
    35:43 Industry Trends and Themes for 2025
    42:51 Resilience in Supply Chains
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    47 m
  • EUVC | E423 | Notion Capital's Stephen Millard on launching the "Cloud Champions" report & backing European B2B SaaS companies

    EUVC | E423 | Notion Capital's Stephen Millard on launching the "Cloud Champions" report & backing European B2B SaaS companies
    Mar 4 2025
    In today’s episode of the EUVC podcast, Andreas talks with Stephen Millard, Operating Partner & Chief Platform Officer at Notion Capital, a London-based fund exclusively investing in B2B SaaS. With roots dating back to early SaaS pioneers like Message Labs, Stephen brings deep operational know-how and a data-driven approach to venture investing. Notion Capital’s Cloud Champions latest report unpacks European SaaS companies' unique challenges, from navigating fragmented markets to scaling revenue rapidly, emphasizing the need for constant reinvention.

    Using extensive experience and real-world case studies, Stephen explains how today’s well-informed buyers reshape the traditional seller-buyer dynamic. He outlines the critical transition for founders: from a hands-on, experimental phase to a disciplined, outcome-focused strategy, ensuring that teams align across sales, marketing, and product development. Stephen also shares practical insights on adapting go-to-market strategy and building enduring, high-growth businesses in a rapidly evolving market landscape.

    Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀
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    49 m
  • EUVC | E422 | This Week in European Tech with Dan Bowyer, Mads Jensen, Andrew J. Scott and Karin Nielsen

    EUVC | E422 | This Week in European Tech with Dan Bowyer, Mads Jensen, Andrew J. Scott and Karin Nielsen
    Mar 3 2025
    Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC podcast, where our good friends Dan Bowyer and Mads Jensen from SuperSeed in a discussion with Andrew J. Scott, Founding Partner at 7percent Ventures and Karin Nielsen, Product & Growth Advisor at Unruly Labs, cover recent news and movements in the European tech landscape 💬
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    1 h y 17 m
  • EUVC | E421 | Oxx’s Ingrid Bonde Åkerlind on leveraging the ICP bow tie framework to back high-growth European B2B SaaS

    EUVC | E421 | Oxx’s Ingrid Bonde Åkerlind on leveraging the ICP bow tie framework to back high-growth European B2B SaaS
    Feb 28 2025
    In today’s episode of the EUVC podcast, Andreas talks with Ingrid Bonde Åkerlind, a seasoned investor at Oxx, a venture capital firm focusing on B2B SaaS companies that operate from London and Stockholm. Backed by a $190 million second fund and a boutique, high-conviction approach, Oxx targets late Series A and Series B companies that have not only passed the product-market fit gauntlet but are now ready to scale. Ingrid’s unique blend of hands-on operational experience and investment insight helps her spot startups that truly understand their market dynamics.

    Drawing on her journey from building growth teams to steering venture investments, Ingrid explores the power of a well-defined Ideal Customer Profile (ICP). She explains how transitioning from an experimental phase to a focused customer strategy can align sales, marketing, and product teams for sustained success. In this conversation, she shares practical insights on refining go-to-market strategies and leveraging data-driven customer segmentation to drive operational efficiency and venture-scale returns.

    Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀
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    48 m
  • EUVC | E419 | Target Global's Shmuel Chafets on reigniting Europe's creator mindset and investing in AI-Native innovations

    EUVC | E419 | Target Global's Shmuel Chafets on reigniting Europe's creator mindset and investing in AI-Native innovations
    Feb 26 2025
    In today’s episode of The European VC, Andreas talks with Shmuel Chafets, co-founder and Partner at Target Global, one of Europe’s leading venture firms with investments spanning software, fintech, mobility, logistics, healthcare, and consumer internet. With over 140 portfolio companies, including Revolut, Delivery Hero, and TravelPerk, Target Global operates across Europe, Israel, the Middle East, and Africa, backing founders from early-stage to growth. Known for its pragmatic approach to investing, the firm is increasingly focused on AI-native startups and frontier technologies shaping the next decade.

    Since launching Target Global a decade ago, Shmuel has been at the forefront of European venture investing, navigating market cycles and shifting investment strategies in response to macro and technological trends. In this conversation, he shares his candid views on Europe's lagging position in AI, why Europe must shift from a risk-averse mindset to a creator-driven economy, and how AI is set to disrupt everything from public services to vertical SaaS. We also dive into why Target Global is moving earlier in its investment strategy, the growing relevance of Israel and the UAE in global tech, and why European bureaucracy remains one of the biggest obstacles to innovation.

    Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀
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    41 m