European VC Digest: SPACs. Podcasts. Revenue-Based Financing. Rebooting Businesses.
Capital Call #34
This is your 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!
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Suranga Chandratillake 🇬🇧 of Balderton Capital takes a look at what’s needed to attract venture capital: How to raise early-stage venture capital for your startup in Europe.
Matt Clifford 🇬🇧 of Entrepreneur First conveys the right message to policymakers in the UK and Germany (and elsewhere): Soft power and technological sovereignty in the 21st century.
Nicolas Colin 🇫🇷 of The Family urges Europe to experiment with SPACs, even if they might not be the future: Is it time for Europe to jump on the SPACs bandwagon?
Boris Golden 🇫🇷 of Partech writes about their investment in Sorare, the latest sensation in the NFT space: From chasing VCs for their Seed round to raising $50M with Benchmark 7 months later: Sorare's inspiring road to Series A.
Jonathan Hollis 🇬🇧 of Mountside Ventures shares a comprehensive Guide to Revenue-based financing - alternative finance options for startups.
Also by Jonathan, check out this essay: Unpopular opinion - deal fees should not be contentious.
Harri Iisakka 🇫🇮 of Wave Ventures, a leading student-run VC in the Nordics, writes about what lies ahead: In quest of next ecosystem superstars — last year’s review, vision for future and new CEO…
Balthazar de Lavergne 🇫🇷 of The Family writes about the consequences of remote work when playing the pre-seed game: Money, advice, community.
Pär-Jörgen Pärson 🇸🇪 of Northzone dives into the pop culture rabbit hole to find tactics startups should use: Pop culture wars in the age of Gen Z: What makes TikTok tick?
Jeevan Sunner 🇬🇧 of Playfair Capital is giving some tips and tricks to get started with podcasts: A rookie’s guide to creating a podcast.
Danijel Višević 🇩🇪 of Ecosia makes the case that Europe should walk the walk when it comes to tackling climate change: Why Europe could miss its biggest investment opportunity in history.
Taavet Hinrikus 🇪🇪, cofounder of Wise (formerly TransferWise) and active angel investor, is featured in Sifted: Inside Taavet Hinrikus's vast angel portfolio.
Alex Kayyal 🇺🇸 of Salesforce Ventures is featured in this podcast brought to you by Tech.eu: Alex Kayyal of Salesforce Ventures, money for Nothing, SPAC news.
Virginie Morgon 🇫🇷 of Eurazeo and many other prominent figures in private equity are the main characters of the new REBOOTED documentary about how PE firms have tackled the COVID-19 crisis and its transformational impact on our economy.
Fiona Pathiraja 🇬🇧 of Crista Galli Ventures shares her investment thesis in this in-depth profile of her firm: Driving health tech with patience and deep knowledge, a profile of Crista Galli Ventures.
Stéphane Barret 🇫🇷 Head of Global Private Capital Group & Head of Global TMT Coverage, Crédit Agricole CIB, Paris 🇫🇷 LinkedIn | Twitter
Suranga Chandratillake 🇬🇧 General Partner, Balderton, London 🇬🇧 LinkedIn | Twitter
Matt Clifford 🇬🇧 Co-Founder & CEO, Entrepreneur First, London 🇬🇧 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
Nicolas Colin 🇫🇷 Co-Founder & Director, The Family, Munich 🇩🇪 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
Fred Destin 🇧🇪 Founder, Stride.VC, London 🇬🇧 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
Boris Golden 🇫🇷 Partner, Partech, Paris 🇫🇷 Linkedin | Twitter
Michele Giddens 🇬🇧 Partner and co-CEO, Bridges Fund Management, London 🇬🇧 LinkedIn
Jonathan Hollis 🇬🇧 Managing Partner, Mountside Ventures, London 🇬🇧 LinkedIn | Twitter
Taavet Hinrikus 🇪🇪 Angel Investor, London 🇬🇧 LinkedIn | Twitter
Johannes Huth 🇬🇧 Managing Director, KKR, London 🇬🇧 LinkedIn
Harri Iisakka 🇫🇮 CEO, Wave Ventures, Helsinki 🇫🇮 LinkedIn | Twitter
James Isola 🇬🇧 Partner, Maitland/AMO, London 🇬🇧 LinkedIn
Alex Kayyal 🇺🇸 Partner, Salesforce Ventures, London 🇬🇧 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
Beata Klein 🇸🇪 Associate, Creandum, Stockholm 🇸🇪 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
Wol Kolade 🇳🇬🇬🇧 Managing Partner, Livingbridge, London 🇬🇧 LinkedIn
Piet Klop 🇳🇱 Senior Advisor Responsible Investment, PGGM, Zeist 🇳🇱 LinkedIn
Balthazar de Lavergne 🇫🇷 Director, The Family, London 🇬🇧 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
Rob Moffat 🇬🇧 Partner, Balderton, London 🇬🇧 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
Eric de Montgolfier 🇫🇷 CEO, Invest Europe, Brussels 🇧🇪 LinkedIn | Twitter
Virginie Morgon 🇫🇷 CEO, Eurazeo, Paris 🇫🇷 LinkedIn | Twitter
Pär-Jörgen Pärson 🇸🇪 General Partner, Northzone, Sweden 🇸🇪 LinkedIn | Twitter
Fiona Pathiraja 🇬🇧 Managing Partner, Crista Galli Ventures, Copenhagen 🇩🇰 & London 🇬🇧 LinkedIn | Twitter
Philippe Poletti 🇫🇷 CEO France and COMEX member, Ardian, Paris 🇫🇷 LinkedIn
Jeevan Sunner 🇬🇧 Associate, Playfair Capital, London 🇬🇧 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog
Alessandro Tappi 🇮🇹 Chief Investment Officer, European Investment Fund, Luxembourg 🇱🇺 LinkedIn | Twitter
Danijel Višević 🇩🇪 Initiator Climate Fund, Ecosia, Berlin 🇩🇪 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog