EUVC Newsletter | 07.10.2024
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 Regeneration.VC, Reference Capital, Speedinvest, Ascension VC and many more European firms.
Click here to submit your own articles, events or projects 📥
Join us for Expand North Star in Dubai - the world’s largest startup and investor connector event.
Discover the tech and investment opportunities fuelling growth across UAE, MENA, and APMEA regions at Expand North Star, inspired by GITEX GLOBAL, on 13-16 October 2024 at Dubai Harbour.
How to spot the best VC fund for your startup?
by Daniel Tomov, Partner at Eleven Ventures. | Originally published on Eleven Ventures.
Why it matters: Daniel compares finding the right investor to finding the perfect running shoe. It’s all about alignment with your company’s needs, vision, and stage.
VCs should feel like co-founders, providing 24/7 support, deep expertise, and talent networks. Founders: do your own due diligence on potential investors—talk to their portfolio startups and focus on alignment beyond capital
The rise of moove: key learnings from Africa’s mobility fintech pioneer
by Enrique Martínez-Hausmann, Principal at Speedinvest. | Originally published on Speedinvest blog.
Why it matters: Moove’s approach includes transforming weaknesses—like currency volatility—into competitive advantages through early geographic expansion and creating a mutually beneficial dependency with Uber, leading to strategic investment. Their pivot from fintech offerings back to core vehicle financing exemplifies the power of adaptability.
Moove's founders have also mastered the art of keeping investors, employees, and the public engaged, driving both trust and brand visibility. Lessons here? Flexibility, proactive scaling, and relentless engagement.
Ascension VC's AI investing lens
by Iulia Tudor, Ascension Fund III Partner. | Originally published Ascension VC.
Why it matters: Ascension VC's AI investment strategy focuses on impact-driven startups that serve lower-income consumers through AI innovations. With portfolio examples like Credit Kudos (exit to Apple) and CourtCorrect, they spotlight AI's potential to improve financial access, legal outcomes, and healthcare.
Ascension prioritizes startups with proprietary data and sector-specific insights, viewing AI as a tool to reduce social inequalities by lowering costs, improving access, and boosting earnings for underserved groups. This approach blends profit and purpose, aiming for both "impact dragons" and systemic change.
EUVC Masterclass: Venture Debt: Structuring & Deal Terms
Lecturer: Hemal Fraser‑Rawal, General Partner at White Star Capital
When: 📅 Tue, October 8 | 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM CET | Online
Join us for an in-depth session on Venture Debt tailored specifically for GPs. We will provide a comprehensive overview of venture debt, its structure, and its strategic advantages and drawbacks, focusing on how GPs can leverage these insights for better investment decisions.
This masterclass will cover essential aspects of venture debt, from its origins and rationale to detailed explorations of deal terms and geographic variations. Designed with GPs in mind, we will offer practical insights and strategies to enhance your understanding and application of venture debt in your portfolio management.
Finding the right partner beyond the VC dream
by Ionut Patrahau, Managing Partner and Corporate Development at SeedBlink. | Originally published on SeedBlink blog.
Why it matters: For first-time founders, the odds of securing VC funding are slim—only 5-10% in Europe make the cut.
Ionut speaks about the importance of exploring alternative funding avenues like business angels or hybrid funding structures to avoid the ever-narrowing criteria of today’s VCs.
🎙Alt Goes Mainstream EP. 105 - Cantilever Group's Todd Owens - the untapped opportunity in GP stakes
by Michael Sidgmore, Co-founder & Partner at Broadhaven Ventures. | Originally published on Alt Goes Mainstream.
Why it matters: This episode unpacks GP stakes investing, spotlighting a middle-market opportunity many overlook. Todd Owens of Cantilever Group discusses how GP stakes provide capital for growth, founder liquidity, and generational transitions—critical as alternative asset managers evolve.
GP stakes allow exposure to expanding private markets AUM, making them an intriguing option for investors aiming to tap into alternative asset growth without directly managing funds.
Listen to the podcast episode here.
by Michael Smith, General Partner of Regeneration.VC.
Why it matters: Neutreeno's $5M seed round, backed by Regeneration.VC, Closed Loop Partners, and Scania Invest aim to revolutionize Scope 3 decarbonization. With 90%+ emissions in company value chains, most firms struggle to meet net-zero goals due to data gaps and high costs.
Neutreeno’s tech cuts through these issues, enabling precise, cost-effective emission reductions across complex supply chains.
EUVC Masterclass: Comprehensive Portfolio Modelling
Lecturer: Marc Penkala, Co-Founding Partner of āltitude
When: 📅 Thu, Oct 24 | 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM BST | London, UK
This exclusive in-person masterclass integrates three key aspects of Venture Capital Fund Modelling: Fundamentals, Assumptions Sheet Construction and Portfolio Construction & Decomposition,
Led by Marc Penkala, Co-Founding Partner of āltitude and advisor to multiple European Family offices and VCs, this masterclass will be delivered in a small-group setting with just 15 seats available, providing a rich opportunity to discuss, exchange perspectives and do hands-on work with the provided material and resources.
From viral videos to a $250B empire: the rise and future of the creator economy
by Laetitia Exertier, Summer Intern at Reference Capital | Originally published on 🔥 Reference Newsflash.
Why it matters: The creator economy has grown into a $250B industry, projected to reach $450B by 2027. The sector’s rapid rise is fueled by Gen Z’s drive for authenticity and democratized content but faces challenges as investment cools and monetization issues remain.
Startups are now expected to offer robust off-platform monetization options to ensure creators’ income stability while attracting top talent and managing rapid content turnover. As “influencers” and digital creators continue to influence sectors from finance to news, the future hinges on regulatory support and platforms addressing critical needs.
The great VC reset
by Alokik Advani, Managing Partner at Fidelity International Strategic Ventures. | Originally published on Fidelity International Strategic Ventures.
Why it matters: The post-2021 funding bubble has burst, with over 50% of unicorns needing fresh capital this year. Advani argues that as cash runs dry, startups must shift focus from growth-at-all-costs to sustainable fundamentals like profitability and product-market fit.
Founders face tough choices, including taking down rounds to ensure realistic valuations and employee equity value. This “reset” will weed out weaker players but should ultimately benefit resilient startups by attracting aligned, long-term investors. Expect a return to prudent valuations, cleaner terms, and patient capital as the VC ecosystem finds a new balance.
Join us for Expand North Star in Dubai - the world’s largest startup and investor connector event.
Discover the tech and investment opportunities fuelling growth across UAE, MENA, and APMEA regions at Expand North Star, inspired by GITEX GLOBAL, on 13-16 October 2024 at Dubai Harbour.
