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.
You can listen to the full session on Apple Podcasts and Spotify 🎧
✍️ Show Notes
Corporate Venturing
Avg. CVC scars: leadership churn, strategy shifts, slow decision-making.
Corporates must define where they sit on the spectrum: strategic → financial → hybrid.
Best outcomes come when incentives align, like Motorola’s warrant-based deal.
AI & Climate
AI energy demand could outpace grid capacity → need for off-grid (solar, nuclear).
Real promise: AI as “a thousand free interns” boosting efficiency in legacy industries.
Examples: waste management margins, construction design compilers, ESG data cleaning.
The Drop’s Evolution
Dedicated pre-day for corporates.
Building bridges between startups, financial funds, and industry giants.
Recognition that corporates are key to scaling climate and deep tech solutions.
💡 One-liner takeaway: From scars to epiphanies, Hampus argues that corporates and AI are not optional add-ons — they’re the backbone of scaling climate solutions in Europe.
