European VC Digest: Emotional Intelligence; Crisis-Proof Startups; Supporting Founders.
Capital Call #17
This is Capital Call, a weekly newsletter highlighting what investors in European startups are thinking—in their own words. We are Willy Braun 🇫🇷, Nicolas Colin 🇫🇷 and Vincent Touati-Tomas 🇫🇷. Hit reply if you want to send us feedback!
Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter to be kept in the loop at all times: @CapitalCall_. Also follow our two Twitter lists: Featured in Capital Call & Female VCs in Europe.
Pauline Brunel 🇫🇷 of Blackfin is bullish about independent board directors. She provides a framework to help choose them: Why you should add an independent director to your board.
Nathan Benaich 🇬🇧 of Air Street Capital shares why biology, as a discipline, is experiencing its “AI moment”—and changing biologists’ methods: AI-first biology.
Ophelia Brown 🇬🇧 of Blossom Capital shares learnings from COVID and the firm’s journey to change investment criteria from “recession proof” to “crisis proof”: Can companies be “crisis proof”?.
Yacine Ghalim 🇫🇷 of Heartcore launched the first article in their new long-form series “In Conversation With“, in which they interview founders in the European consumer space. This edition features Sacha Michaud, founder of Glovo.
Louisa Mesnard 🇫🇷 of Elaia has gathered the firm’s predictions for the next couple of months (and how to catch their attention): Where to invest post Covid? A VC take on the hottest sectors.
Elena Pantazi 🇨🇾 of Northzone is sharing how seasoned builders can add value to a company’s growth journey and key takeaways from portfolio companies operators during the pandemic.
Deepka Rana 🇬🇧 of Northzone lays out hidden issues and spicy questions any founder should probably ask before choosing their VC: Choosing a VC: The stuff people don’t talk about.
Alan Vaksman 🇬🇧 of Digital Horizon explains whythe dominance of traditional banks will truly face a crushing crypto disruption: Why the future of finance is finite for traditional banks.
Alice Zagury 🇫🇷 of The Family wants founders to develop their emotional intelligence, as leadership comes with more emotions: The rise of emotional intelligence.
Alice Bentinck 🇬🇧 and Matt Clifford 🇬🇧 of Entrepreneur First sat down with Reid Hoffman of Greylock (across the pond) to talk about the importance of your founding team.
Pauline Paquet 🇫🇷 of Xange explains how the firm is supporting its portfolio companies during the pandemic: How a Venture Capital Firm Is Virtually Supporting Portfolio Companies.
Nathan Benaich 🇬🇧 General Partner, Air Street Capital, London 🇬🇧 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
Alice Bentinck 🇬🇧 Co-Founder, Entrepreneur First, London 🇬🇧 LinkedIn | Twitter
Ophelia Brown 🇬🇧 Founder and Partner, Blossom Capital, London 🇬🇧 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
Pauline Brunel 🇫🇷 Investment Manager, BlackfinTech, Paris 🇫🇷 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
Matt Clifford 🇬🇧Co-Founder & CEO, Entrepreneur First, London 🇬🇧 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
Fred Destin 🇧🇪 Founder, Stride.VC, London 🇬🇧 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
Yacine Ghalim 🇫🇷 Partner, Heartcore Capital, Paris 🇫🇷 LinkedIn | Twitter
Beata Klein 🇸🇪 Associate, Creandum, Stockholm 🇸🇪 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
Louisa Mesnard 🇫🇷 CMO, Elaia Partners, Paris 🇫🇷 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
Elena Pantazi 🇨🇾 Head of Operations, Northzone, London 🇬🇧 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
Pauline Paquet 🇫🇷, Startup Success Manager, Xange, Paris 🇫🇷 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
Evgenia Plotnikova 🇷🇺🇫🇷 Partner, Dawn Capital, London 🇬🇧 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
Deepka Rana 🇬🇧 Associate, Northzone, London 🇬🇧 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
Alan Vaksman 🇬🇧 Managing Partner,Digital Horizon, London 🇬🇧 LinkedIn | Twitter
Alice Zagury 🇫🇷 Co-Founder & CEO, The Family, Paris 🇫🇷 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog