EUVC Newsletter | 05.08.2024
Welcome to our community-sourced newsletter featuring the latest submissions to the eu.vc insights platform — the platform that collects & amplifies the best long-form pieces from the EUVC community.
This week, we feature submissions from Foundamental, Eka Ventures, Broadhaven Ventures, and many more legendary European firms.
Click here to submit your own articles, events or projects 📥
Choose the bank made for the innovation economy.
HSBC Innovation Banking take a relationship-first approach, bringing passion, dedication & unparalleled international connections to enhance your prospects for success.
🎙Alt Goes Mainstream EP. 99 with Partners Group's Rob Collins
by Michael Sidgmore, Co-founder & Partner at Broadhaven Ventures. | Originally published on Alt Goes Mainstream.
Why it matters: Rob Collins spills the tea on evergreen funds, a game-changer for private equity. Partners Group pioneered this structure in the early 2000s, creating a perpetual investment option perfect for both individual and institutional investors.
Why care? Evergreen funds simplify the PE game, dodging the usual capital call drama. The chat dives deep into returns, industry adoption, and the magic of compounding. Perfect for GPs looking to streamline and LPs seeking stable, long-term gains.
Tune in for a masterclass on making private equity less painful and more profitable. 🎧
Listen the podcast episode here.
Mastering sales in the zero-to-one stage – Jen Abel (JJELLYFISH)
by Bogdan Iordache, solo GP at Underline Ventures. | Originally published on Underline Ventures.
Why it matters: Jen Abel's zero-to-one sales insights are pure gold for VCs and LPs backing early-stage startups. She emphasizes that founders must lead initial sales to avoid failure, turning their vision into market reality.
Her experience with 350+ B2B startups highlights the importance of founders' hands-on approach in achieving product-market fit and recognizing market opportunities. Jen’s advice on the pitfalls of premature sales hires and the nuances of mid-market strategies can save startups from common mistakes and boost their go-to-market success.
Sales is not just a function; it's the lifeblood of a startup's growth and survival.
Outcome-as-a-Service ⎟The playbook ingredients for startup founders in AECS
by Patric Hellermann, General Partner at Foundamental. Originally published on Foundamental
Why it matters: The construction tech industry, worth a whopping $10-12 trillion, is largely ignored by VCs. Hellermann’s playbook flips the script: start with services, then build software. This approach eliminates assumptions and guarantees product-market fit, making it a capital-efficient strategy.
Labor shortages and under-utilization create a perfect storm for OaaS to thrive. Plus, a solid track record in this high-risk industry builds a powerful moat. Ready to turn traditional industries into tech-enabled giants?
Listen to the podcast episode here.
Changing of the guard: where AI x health priorities sit in summer 2024
by Estia Ryan, Principal & Head of Research at Eka Ventures. | Originally published on Eka Ventures Newsletter.
Why it matters: AI in healthcare is the hot topic this summer! The UK’s impact scene is buzzing, with three major events shedding light on AI's potential in the NHS.
Despite past funding woes, there's optimism now for AI to improve quality of life, health equity, and workforce health. But first, the NHS needs a robust digital infrastructure to avoid “junk in, junk out” scenarios. Investing in AI talent and addressing ethical questions around AI-human error will be crucial.
The future? A triadic doctor-patient-AI relationship.
6 lessons from leveraging data & AI as a micro VC fund with $50M AUM
by Alex Patow, Data Analytics Engineer at Inflection | Originally published on Inflection.
Why it matters: Alex Patow shares insights on how micro VC funds can effectively use data and AI to enhance operations. Inflection, a pre-seed VC fund with $50M AUM, demonstrates how tools like LLMs and graph databases boost efficiency, processing 500 companies and 4000 founders weekly.
As VC tech evolves, even smaller funds can play hardball in the data game. Key takeaways include starting small, taking calculated risks, and embracing nimbleness to stay ahead. Smaller funds can punch above their weight in venture capital by combining data-driven and human-centric approaches.
Why your fund name pitches your fund better than your deck
by Benedikt Langer, General Manager at The Sutton Firm. | Originally published on Embracing Emergence.
Why it matters: Benedikt Langer argues that a fund's name can be a more powerful pitch than a deck for emerging managers. A unique fund name communicates the essence of a fund’s strategy, values, and differentiation at a glance. LPs, who meet dozens of managers with similar strategies, need more than PowerPoint slides to feel the vibe.
Crafting a compelling name sparks interest and conveys thoughtfulness, commercial mindset, and conviction. This approach can elevate an emerging manager's brand and storytelling, making them unforgettable in a crowded VC market.
Munger's book recommendations, assessing culture at your startup, SaaS pricing in the AI era
by Matthew Roberts, Founder & Investor of Nodes Ventures and Author of Nodes. | Originally published on Nodes.
Why it matters: Matthew Roberts has collected a wonderful pack of articles and resources on mastering finance, human behavior, and mental models.
Dive into SaaS pricing 2.0 as AI kicks "per-seat" models to the curb in favor of usage-based pricing. If you’re not up to speed, you're probably overpaying or under-charging! Meanwhile, decoding startup culture is the real MVP for VCs and LPs who need to spot healthy workplaces versus ticking time bombs.
Choose the bank made for the innovation economy.
HSBC Innovation Banking take a relationship-first approach, bringing passion, dedication & unparalleled international connections to enhance your prospects for success.
