EUVC Newsletter | 14.10.2024
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 Eka Ventures, Eleven Ventures, 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.
UK Consumer Trends
by Estia Ryan, Principal & Head of Research at Eka Ventures. | Originally published on Eka Ventures Newsletter.
Why it matters: Resilient spending patterns temper inflation’s bite, and the UK now outpaces the U.S. in savings rates (except among the hardest-hit 10%). This report’s maps highlight 100 emerging consumer companies, with sectors from wellness to food, and feature success case studies like Gymshark. For investors, the takeaway is clear: consumers want sustainable, health-focused products with lasting value, and new consumer companies are gaining traction by championing these values.
Understanding board responsibilities and governance
by Roberta Tihomirova, Head of Marketing at Eleven Ventures. | Originally published on Eleven Ventures.
Why it matters
The core of board responsibilities is fiduciary duties, especially the duties of Care (making informed decisions) and Loyalty (prioritizing company interests over personal ones). VCs need boards that oversee and guide startups through strategic, CEO management, and risk areas. This approach is key for boards to offer founders guidance on scaling sustainably while balancing diverse stakeholder needs.
🎙Monthly Alt Pulse EP. 12 - Taking the pulse of private markets and the future of AI and automation in private markets
by Michael Sidgmore, Co-founder & Partner at Broadhaven Ventures. | Originally published on Alt Goes Mainstream.
Why it matters: This episode with Eileen Duff, a senior exec at iCapital, delves into the impact of AI and automation on alternative investments. They discuss the evolution of alts distribution and the shift toward wealth channels, highlighting how registered funds (once niche) are driving growth. For investors, this tech shift means greater efficiency in fund administration and post-investment processes, with AI unlocking new value and reducing costs. As private markets embrace tech, it’s clear: the future of alts is high-tech and investor-friendly.
Listen to the podcast episode here.
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.
Fighting a global public health concern with conversational AI
by Martin SFP Bryant, Founder of PreSeed Now. | Originally published on PreSeed Now.
Why it matters: Leaf AI’s "Lola Cares" tackles social isolation among elderly and disabled individuals through an AI-powered digital companion. With Lola, users can have meaningful conversations, which are summarized for caregivers to foster stronger relationships.
This B2B SaaS solution, especially impactful in dementia care, uses reminiscence therapy and real-time reporting to enhance patient well-being and alleviate caregiver burnout. Leaf AI, part of Edinburgh's AI Accelerator, is a promising entry in healthtech, addressing the WHO-recognized health threat of loneliness—a compelling sector for VCs in impact and healthcare investments.
The AEC-Tech Internet Index by Foundamental
by Patric Hellermann, General Partner at Foundamental. | Originally published on Foundamental.
Foundamental's AEC-Tech Internet Index tracks the web traffic of hundreds of AEC startups, offering data-driven insights into trends, market demand, and mindshare across architecture, engineering, and construction tech. The index includes top traffic risers, steady performers, and category-specific web traffic trends—ideal metrics for spotting high-growth areas like digital general contracting and CO2-efficient materials. The update is published monthly, and you can see a preview below.
Family Office Foundations Workshop
by Alex Felman, Founder of Exponential U
This Prague-based workshop on October 22 provides a deep dive into the fundamentals of family office setup for HNWIs in Central and Eastern Europe—a region still nascent in wealth management infrastructure. Led by experts like Alex Felman (Felman Family Office) and Adam Lessing (LGT Bank), attendees will explore best practices in family office structures, succession planning, and multigenerational sustainability.
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.
