Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC Podcast, where we bring you the people and perspectives shaping European venture.
This week, Andreas is joined by Oliver Brunschwiler, purpose-driven entrepreneur, former pro snowboarder, and longtime systems thinker, along with Enrique Molina from Chi Impact Capital, co-hosting this deep dive into what it means to lead with purpose, design for circularity, and build organizations that reinvent themselves from the inside out.
Oliver’s journey goes from first tracks on fresh powder to first tracks in organizational design—helping companies ditch rigid hierarchies for role-based, purpose-led systems. Enrique brings the investor lens, showing how these principles translate into impact capital and portfolio building today.
In this episode, they break down how circularity is moving from hype to hard reality, why trust and leadership still matter in the most “self-organizing” teams, and how the best founders navigate the tension between market dips and mission-driven staying power.
This Episode’s Themes:
Holacracy, role-based teams & why leadership still matters
Circularity’s gap phase—and what’s quietly thriving
Industrial impact: batteries, PET, and supply chains redesigned
Policy tailwinds: how the EU is making circular the new norm
First tracks mindset: from snowboarding to systems change
Here’s what’s covered:
00:00 | From pro snowboarding to purpose-driven business
02:00 | Sports, freedom & the roots of Oliver’s entrepreneurial DNA
04:30 | The value of pushing limits—on boards and in boardrooms
08:00 | Holacracy & new work: why “no boss” usually fails
12:00 | Purpose is boss: role-based systems done right
15:00 | AI, agents & managing the unmanageable—what changes, what doesn’t
19:00 | When people don’t want ownership—why clear leadership stays vital
20:00 | Circularity: beyond the hype cycle and into tough reality
24:00 | Surviving the stock dip: founders reconciling mission and market
28:00 | Industrial scale impact: batteries, chemical recycling & what’s next
32:00 | Where Oliver sees big opportunities now (food, upcycling, building)
36:00 | Corporates, supply chains & Fairphone as a case in point
40:00 | The EU Green Deal, Right to Repair & why policy matters
44:00 | Final thoughts: trust the purpose, ride the dip, build the system
📺 Watch the episode here or stream it on Spotify or Apple Podcasts—now with chapters for easy navigation 🎧
✍️ Show Notes
Holacracy vs. Hierarchy
Oliver unpacks why pure “no boss” systems fail—and why you can’t delete leadership. Purpose is the new boss, but orientation and safety still need humans who step up.
Circularity’s Reality Check
It’s not just slogans—real circular systems mean industrial-scale investment: lithium, nickel, PET plastics, upcycling by design. The good news? Europe’s regulatory push is real and creating room for innovators to lead.
Surviving the Gap
Circular ventures face market dips too—great founders hold tight, know when to pitch cost efficiency over pure mission, and mobilize corporates to adopt new supply chains.
Policy as a Growth Engine
The EU Green Deal, Right to Repair, and Digital Product Passport are more than buzzwords. For founders, they’re the force that makes “circular” not optional—but inevitable.
First Tracks as a Mindset
From fresh powder to first-mover impact: Oliver’s rule for founders is simple—spot the lines no one sees yet, make them beautiful, and trust your style will set you apart.
💡 Founder Takeaway
Circularity isn’t hype—it’s hard work and long holds. Purpose isn’t fluffy—it’s the system that keeps teams aligned when the road gets rough. And leadership, done right, doesn’t disappear in self-managed systems—it scales trust when it’s needed most.
Dario combines deep institutional, operational, and investment expertise, investing in early-stage companies and funds. Recognized as a "40 Rising Star under 40" by VCJ, he actively contributes to the industry.
Before founding LTV Capital, Dario co-led fund investments at Anthemis Group, a top fintech investor, where he developed early-stage fintech plays with BBVA and pioneered a media-financial services fund. His background also includes spearheading international expansion at emerging markets fintech JUMO and contributing to the creation of ROAM, now Africa's largest classifieds group.
Academically, he holds a Master of Business Science in Finance from the University of Cape Town; his dissertation on "Tencent Holdings Limited" is widely downloaded and cited.
Outside of work, Dario is a former 125cc motorcycle racing champion who now advises the Finetwork Mir Racing Team, supporting young talent in motorsports. He is driven by a passion for empowering others and fostering change in the emerging manager VC ecosystem.
↓ Register below to attend on July 15th↓
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