EUVC Newsletter | 18.11.2024
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 New Renaissance Ventures, Smart Society Ventures, Teklas Ventures and many more European firms.
Click here to submit your own articles, events or projects 📥
💌 Newsletter | New Renaissance Ventures - Year 1 Update
by Severin Zugmayer, Founder of New Renaissance Ventures. | Originally published on New Renaissance Ventures Newsletter.
Why it matters: New Renaissance Ventures champions Europe's Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI), a sector often overlooked by tech VCs despite its €5.5 trillion impact on the EU economy (bigger than pharma or telco).
The fund’s early-stage investments include 8 startups spanning music, gaming, XR, and more, with heavy-hitter co-investors like a16z, Sequoia scouts, and Speedinvest. As AI and XR redefine these industries, New Renaissance’s niche approach is well-timed to catch the wave.
📝 Article | THE LAND of LIQUIDITY: Europe & US Divergence. Part 4.
by Owen Reynolds from Teklas Ventures, the VC arm of a family office associated with Teklas. | Originally published on EUVC.
Why it matters: The US dominates global equity markets with $55T in value, comprising 51% of global equities via giants like the S&P 500. Europe? A modest 11.1%. This disparity fuels a liquidity chasm: US tech startups thrive on M&A activity with median deal sizes of €37.6M (vs. EU’s €9.9M). US corporates, thanks to richer capital markets, acquire faster and bigger.
For EU startups, the takeaway is loud: target US markets for partnerships, exits, and scaling. The monetary premium in the US tilts the playing field, encouraging European VCs to nudge founders westward—even in lean times.
📝 Article | The Consumerisation of Climate (Part 2)
by Estia Ryan, Principal & Head of Research at Eka Ventures. | Originally published on Eka Ventures Newsletter.
Why it matters: Sustainable brands like Patagonia and Hylo are reshaping consumer goods with innovative materials and circular models. Patagonia leads with recycled fabrics, its "Worn Wear" program, and environmental activism, while Hylo pioneers biodegradable footwear with CO₂ emissions 50% lower than traditional sneakers.
Consumers demand sustainability but won’t compromise on price or performance, creating opportunities for brands offering shared value (eco + economic wins). For VCs, this shift signals fertile ground for scalable, sustainable startups across major consumer categories. Future unicorns could spring from brands bridging impact and affordability.
by Michael Sidgmore, Co-founder & Partner at Broadhaven Ventures. | Originally published on Alt Goes Mainstream.
Why it matters: GP stakes are transforming private markets, with Blue Owl’s GP Strategic Capital dominating the space, managing $57.8B AUM and 61% of total capital raised. This niche provides liquidity and growth capital to alternative asset managers, blending bond-like cash flows from fees with upside from carried interest.
Key takeaway: it’s a "cash in" model, where GPs use capital to scale, not exit. With 85% of $600M+ GP deals under their belt, Blue Owl sets the blueprint for growth in asset management. For VCs, the GP stakes market signals the maturing private equity industry and its shift toward diversified, permanent capital.
Listen to the podcast episode here
💬 EUVC Community | LP AMA with Vinthera’s Rodrigo Ferreira
Join us for an exclusive AMA session with Rodrigo Ferreira Investment Director at Vinthera.
Prior to joining Vinthera, Rodrigo Ferreira gained 5 years of experience backing VC fund managers across the globe as Principal and Investment Team lead at boutique fund of funds firm BFP. There he played a key role in over 20 fund investments and managed a portfolio of more than 50 funds with top decile aggregate returns.
This AMA is part of our ongoing series of small-group sessions designed to foster deep, meaningful discussions within the VC community. Participation is free for members of our community, but spots are limited.
📝 Article | The Agrifoodtech Effect 🍽️ - Transforming Gastronomy with Cutting-Edge Technology
by Ander Lopez Delgado - Entrepreneurship Manager at the Basque Culinary Center. | Originally published on The VC Corner.
Why it matters: Agri-foodtech is booming, with $13B VC investment in 2023 and startups valued at $1.4T. This sector tackles urgent issues: reducing food’s 25% contribution to global emissions and innovating in areas like sustainable proteins, delivery, and agritech.
While VC dollars have historically favored consumer-facing ventures, the real untapped opportunity lies in deeptech solutions. Think beyond delivery apps—investors who specialize in foodtech's technical cycles could discover the next unicorns. With the global food system at a breaking point, foodtech isn’t just tasty—it’s essential.
💌 Newsletter | Off Balance #56 -🎙️ Fred Destin from Stride.VC on Nothing Ventured
by Aarish Shah, Founder of EmergeOne - Fractional CFOs for VC backed startups. | Originally published on Off Balance newsletter.
Why it matters: Fred Destin of Stride.VC calls out the discontent brewing between founders and VCs, asking: where’s the empathy? His insights cut through venture buzzwords, advocating for minimalist boards, embracing uncertainty, and honing a unique edge (generalist ≠ generic).
Fred’s take on venture as an artisanal craft challenges the cookie-cutter VC model—urging investors to engage as humans, ditch lazy thinking, and double down on founder support.
✍🏻 EUVC Masterclass | VC Fund Terms & KPIs: Mastering Metrics for Fund Success
Join us for an in-depth session on VC Fund Terms & KPIs: Mastering Metrics for Fund Success. This workshop will focus on the key performance indicators (KPIs) that drive VC fund performance and the critical timing for measuring these metrics. You’ll gain insights into what matters most to Limited Partners (LPs) and what General Partners (GPs) should focus on internally for effective fund management.
The session will also cover how to set up a comprehensive dashboard, including portfolio tracking, to streamline your reporting and ensure your fund’s success.
Special offer: Join the EUVC Community for 25€ per month and get 100€ off while enjoying access to on-demand masterclasses, tools & templates and monthly AMAs with leading GPs, LPs & experts.
📝 Article | Should you move to CEE and start an AI startup there?
by Etien Yovchev, co-founder & CGO at The Recursive.
Why it matters: The CEE AI ecosystem is booming with €5B invested since 2021 and €1.4B+ in VC funding expected post-2025. Poland, Greece, and Croatia lead in 2024, attracting major Western investors like Andreessen Horowitz and Atomico. Startups here achieve 5.6x capital efficiency compared to US counterparts—a crucial edge in today’s high-cost landscape.
AI verticalization is emerging, with healthcare, cybersecurity, and finance standing out. Yet, high-quality startup creation lags behind funding, creating an opportunity for founders to leverage CEE’s tech talent and cost-effective base. With global attention on CEE AI, now’s the time to ride the wave.
📝 Article | SSV releases new research highlighting the stark gender gap in European late-stage venture capital
by Brynne Kennedy, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Smart Society Ventures. | Originally published on EIN Presswire.
Why it matters: The gender gap in European late-stage VC is glaring: only 10% of funds are founded by women, and female-only founding teams capture less than 2% of Series B funding. In climate tech, male-only teams snag 90% of Series B capital. With female GPs twice as likely to back female founders, the lack of women at the top reinforces this cycle.
Europe's "Missing Middle" not only limits diversity but stifles economic growth—costing the UK alone £250B annually. Boosting female representation by just 10% could lift IRR by 1.3%. For LPs and VCs, the takeaway is clear: fixing this imbalance isn’t just equitable—it’s profitable.
✍🏻 EUVC Masterclass | Marketing & VC Fund Narrative
Your brand is everything. It’s what sets you apart, helps you win the best deals, attract LPs, and ultimately drive your growth. For emerging fund managers, building a credible brand and establishing the right marketing foundations early on are game-changers. Yet, many don’t know where to begin.
Your fund’s narrative is what makes the difference between an LP glancing at your deck or deciding they’re ready to write a check. It’s your brand that makes LPs feel confident they’re partnering with someone who knows how to make magic happen.
We’re planning a masterclass on building strong marketing foundations with a top industry leader. If enough people show interest, we’ll make it happen.
A standardized pan-european ‘EU Inc' corporate structure is essential for European startups. We have 6 weeks until the new EU commissioners start working on their agenda for the coming years.
Please join the many who have already signed and shared the petition, including founders of Stripe, Alan, DeepL, Remote, Rohlik, Supercell, Wise, and investors from Index Ventures, Atomico, and Sequoia.
