Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC podcast, where Andreas Munk Holm explores the cutting edge of European venture capital. Today’s guest is Louis Dussart, Partner at RTP Global.
Louis entered venture at just 20 years old with White Star Capital, built a startup bridging Europe and China, and now helps lead RTP Global’s European strategy. In this conversation, he shares why Europe faces a political wake-up call on tech, what we need to fix in talent, growth capital, and IPO markets, and why founders are not just entrepreneurs—they’re geopolitical assets.
From emerging managers to sovereign LPs, from tech transfer to liquidity, Louis lays out the hard truths and actionable priorities for Europe to compete globally.
Here's what's covered:
02:12 Louis’s Path: From White Star Intern to RTP Partner
06:01 What Makes RTP Global Different: A Truly Global, Debate-Driven DNA
10:14 The Political Wake-Up Call: Why Tech Must Sit at the Top of Europe’s Agenda
12:48 Talent, Visas & Education: The Dual Strategy for Closing the Skills Gap
15:32 Sovereign LPs, Emerging Managers & The Role of Fund-of-Funds
19:20 Tech Transfer in Europe: Why Our Universities Still Struggle
25:40 US Growth Funds in Europe: Selling to America vs. Selling Out of Europe
29:12 The Liquidity Problem: Why Capital Markets Union Is an Elephant in the Room
34:45 Founders as Geopolitical Assets: Lessons for Europe’s Leaders
38:55 The VC Role: Echo Chambers Between Founders, LPs & Policymakers
44:20 Why Europe Needs Risk-Taking Politicians as Much as Risk-Taking Founders
You can watch it here or add it to your episodes on Apple or Spotify 🎧
✍️ Show Notes
Europe’s Tech Moment of Truth
Louis Dussart argues that Europe is at an inflection point. With the US and China surging ahead, Europe must treat technology as a matter of sovereignty—not just economics. The call to action: put tech at the very top of the political agenda.
From Talent to Tech Transfer
The first stage of the battle is talent. Louis outlines why Europe must double down on education and attract global talent through faster visas like France’s Passeport Talent. He also calls for a radical overhaul of tech transfer, where European universities still lag far behind the US in spinning research into startups.
Growth Capital & The Liquidity Trap
On growth, Louis highlights the paradox: while global capital exists, Europe risks losing sovereignty when its champions rely on US funds and IPO on NASDAQ. He argues that without solving the capital markets union, Europe’s flywheel will remain broken: LPs won’t recycle capital, founders will relocate, and strategic value will be lost.
Founders as Geopolitical Assets
Louis frames founders as more than entrepreneurs—they are geopolitical assets shaping Europe’s future. Their risk-taking DNA, he argues, should inspire political leaders to act with the same urgency and courage.
The VC’s Role as Echo Chamber
Rather than claiming to “change the world,” Louis sees VCs as crucial amplifiers. Sitting between LPs, policymakers, and founders, VCs must ensure information flows fast, surfacing structural challenges and channeling them into systemic change.
Want to learn how a top LP navigates the industry? Join us on September 18th at 1:00 PM CET for an exclusive AMA with Raida Daouk, founder & Managing Partner of Amkan Ventures, the only (so far) fund of funds dedicated to backing solo GPs.
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With over a decade of experience spanning banking, venture capital, and fund-of-funds investing, Raida Daouk is the Founder and Managing Partner of Amkan Ventures—the first solo GP-led fund of funds in the Gulf region. She has backed several emerging U.S. venture managers and is building a portfolio of early-stage tech funds. Her mission is to bridge Gulf-based family offices with high-performing, hard-to-access venture funds in the U.S., unlocking global opportunities for regional investors.
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