European VC Digest: Public Controversies; Europe on the Global Scene; Returns in VC
Capital Call #4
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, and you can find out more about the newsletter and who’s featured in it here: About Capital Call.
As an introduction, here’s an essay by Nicolas about why we launched Capital Call:
We applaud the fact that a small number of European tech investors are accelerating the pace in voicing their ideas, explaining their investment theses, sharing best practices with founders. But we regret that most of those who write and publish often don’t know (or ignore) each other. The result is that we have a few monologues on separate tracks rather than a vibrant European-wide conversation. And that needs to change if we don’t want Europe to lag further behind.
You can read the whole article here: European Tech: We Need More Controversies! Also, follow our two Twitter lists: Featured in Capital Call & Female VCs in Europe.
Carmen Alfonso Rico 🇪🇸 of Samaipata discusses the jewellery industry and a recent investment: Tech to unlock the power of creativity — Why we invested in Motley.
Willy Braun 🇫🇷 talks about the importance of corporate culture to adapt in difficult times when strategy and processes fall short, in his article Startups Cultures, Adaptation & Crises.
For Robin Dechant 🇩🇪COVID-19 can be seen as a trigger to re-evaluate supply chains and build new B2B marketplaces: How B2B Marketplaces are changing procurement.
Benedict Evans 🇬🇧 writes about the future of distributed work and remote communication as a venture partner with Mosaic Ventures: What comes after Zoom?
David Galbraith 🇬🇧 of Anthemis writes about the global disparities in platform usage as the world seems to be entering a new Cold War: Internet Era Global Hegemony.
Also by David, here’s an article on how to address an audience and what kind of slides you should use (hint: not the same ones as in a pitch deck): How to Present.
Benjamin Ratz 🇸🇪, an operating partner with Nordic Makers, announces a new program to turn ideas into business ventures in the Nordics: Now is the best time to start a company.
Kjartan Rist 🇳🇴, a Founding Partner at Concentric, emphasises the importance of a VC knowing their place when dealing with founders: Venture Capitalists Need To Stay Within Their Remit After Investing.
Seedtable’s Gonz Sanchez 🇦🇷, also an angel investor, published a thread for those who can’t emigrate to work in the US anymore—and who could join the European tech ecosystem instead: Looking to start or join a company in Europe? Here's a list of 40+ European visas for tech founders and employees.
Ashley Lundström 🇸🇪 from EQT Ventures, Christian Lindegård Jepsen 🇩🇰 from Heartcore Capital, and Pirkka Palomäki 🇫🇮 from Maki.vc discuss recent consumer trends as part of the Talking Tech – The Nordic View podcast: Keeping up with the consumers.
Check Warner 🇬🇧 talks about building Diversity VC in a podcast discussion with Georgia Ritter of the Out of Hours podcast: Diversity VC: building a non-profit.
Ahmad M. Butt 🇬🇧, who runs the systematic hedge fund Jetstone Asset Management in London, wrote a great series in 2018 about assessing returns in VC as an asset class. Start with Chapter 1 – Setting the Context – Unpacking Alpha in Venture Capital.
Back in June 2019, Eze Vidra 🇬🇧🇮🇱 of Remagine Ventures was discussing corporate venture capital on his blog VC Cafe: The takeover of Corporate Venture Capital.
James Wise 🇬🇧 of Balderton recently published a discussion of Marc Andreessen’s IT’S TIME TO BUILD from an institutional perspective: Marc Andreessen, Florence Nightingale and building in a vacuum.
Carmen Alfonso Rico 🇪🇸 Partner,Samaipata VC 🇪🇸🇬🇧 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
Willy Braun 🇫🇷 Operating Partner, Gaia Capital Partners & founder .exe, Paris 🇫🇷 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
Ahmad M. Butt 🇬🇧 CEO and Managing Partner, Jetstone Asset Management 🇬🇧 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
Nicolas Colin 🇫🇷 Co-Founder & Director, The Family, London 🇬🇧 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
Robin Dechant 🇩🇪 Associate, Point Nine Capital, Berlin 🇩🇪 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
Benedict Evans 🇬🇧Venture Partner, Mosaic Ventures, London 🇬🇧 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
David Galbraith 🇬🇧Partner, Anthemis Group 🇬🇧🇨🇭 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
Christian Lindegård Jepsen 🇩🇰 Partner, Heartcore Capital 🇩🇰 LinkedIn | Twitter
Ashley Lundström 🇸🇪Deal Partner, EQT Ventures 🇸🇪 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
Pirkka Palomäki 🇫🇮 Partner, Maki.vc 🇫🇮 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
Benjamin Ratz 🇸🇪 Operating Partner, Nordic Makers 🇸🇪 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
Kjartan Rist 🇳🇴 Founding Partner, Concentric, London 🇬🇧 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
Gonz Sanchez 🇦🇷 Angel investor, Barcelona 🇪🇸 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
Eze Vidra 🇬🇧🇮🇱 Managing Partner, Remagine Ventures 🇬🇧 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
Check Warner 🇬🇧 Partner, Ada Ventures 🇬🇧 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
James Wise 🇬🇧 Partner, Balderton Capital 🇬🇧 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
We are Willy Braun 🇫🇷, Nicolas Colin 🇫🇷 and Vincent Touati-Tomas 🇫🇷. We work as investors and operators in the European VC industry. Hit reply if you want to send us feedback Just reply to this email with your thoughts!