EUVC | E396 | InMotion Ventures' Mike Smeed on aligning corporate venture capital with strategic transformation

Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC podcast, where our good friends Dan Bowyer and Mads Jensen from SuperSeed have a discussion with Lomax Ward, General Partner at Outsized Ventures to cover recent news and movements in the European tech landscape. 💬Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀

In today’s episode of the European VC Podcast, we have a powerful conversation with Rupda, a trauma therapist and expert in somatic healing, to explore the profound impact of self-awareness, connection, and body-based healing on personal and professional lives.If you’re a founder, investor, or someone striving for balance, this episode offers transformative insights into navigating stress, building meaningful relationships, and reconnecting with yourself.Join the next Deep Work Retreat from April 1 to 6 in beautiful Italy. To learn more about it, go here, and to request an invitation, contact Andreas at [email protected] to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀

In this episode of the EU CVC podcast, Andreas and Jeppe, our in-house CVC expert talks with Mike Smeed, Managing Director at InMotion Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of JLR (Jaguar Land Rover).InMotion Ventures is one of the most active corporate investors in the UK, with a global presence from the UK, Bay Area, and Tel Aviv. The team focuses on Seed to Series A investments, with typical cheque sizes ranging from $250K to $2M, and has the flexibility to participate in Series B rounds when there’s strong strategic alignment with JLR.Mike and his team back exceptional startups in climate, industrial, and enterprise technologies. Today, we’ll explore how InMotion Ventures leverages venture investing to accelerate innovation, the unique opportunities within their focus geographies — UK/Western Europe, North America, and Israel — and the role of corporate venture capital in driving impactful solutions.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀

Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC podcast, where our good friends Dan Bowyer and Mads Jensen from SuperSeed in a discussion with Andrew J. Scott, Founding Partner at 7percent Ventures and Lomax Ward, General Partner at Outsized Ventures, cover recent news and movements in the European tech landscape 💬Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀

For today’s episode, Andreas is joined by Hampus Jakobsson, General Partner at Pale Blue Dot, Michael Smith, General Partner at Regeneration VC, and Tobias Seikel from Planet A to discuss the future of climate tech in the wake of Trump’s reelection. Together, they analyze how shifting narratives and geopolitical dynamics will impact the climate agenda and the broader venture ecosystem.Together, they analyze how shifting narratives and geopolitical dynamics will impact the climate agenda and the broader venture ecosystem.The conversation covers:📌 Adapting to uncertainty: How portfolio companies are navigating mistrust and unpredictability while focusing on solving real business problems.📌 Lessons from China: Insights into China’s strategic focus on solar, EVs, and battery production, and how Europe can adopt similar multi-decade planning while fostering cross-border unity.📌 The role of big bets: Reflecting on the fallout of Lilium and Northvolt, the group emphasizes the importance of learning from failures and continuing to back transformative projects in Europe.📌 Stimulating growth: What an ideal EU stimulus plan could look like, from collaborative cross-border energy grids to dual-use strategies between defense and green tech.Go to eu.vc to read the core take-aways.

In this episode of the EUVC podcast, Dan Taylor, former journalist and Director of Content at CEW Communications is joined byItxaso del Palacio, General Partner at Notion CapitalNico Goulet, Founding Partner at Adara VenturesStefan Mores, Managing Partner at Indico Capital Partners.Together, they explore the dynamics of the Iberian startup and VC ecosystem, highlighting the region's strengths, challenges, and future potential.The conversation dives into what makes Iberia an attractive hub for tech talent and investment, the unique advantages of Portugal and Spain, and the critical role of local and global markets in shaping the success of startups.Go to eu.vc to read the core take-aways.

Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC podcast, where we’ll cover recent news and movements in the European tech landscape with Dan Bowyer and Mads Jensen from SuperSeed.Go to eu.vc to read the core take-aways.

In today’s episode, Andreas talks with Nico Schoenenberger, part of the Investment Team at 10x Founders, a Munich-based fund with €160M AUM in Fund I. 10x Founders focuses on early-stage investments (Pre-Seed/Seed) across Europe and the US, with a portfolio spanning sectors like B2B SaaS and Fintech. Notable investments include Ixana, magic, Ivy, Fernride, and cylib.Nico dives into the dynamics of entrepreneurial communities that form funds, sharing insights on decision-making for entrepreneurs, the strategic use of follow-on reserves, and the advantages of round pre-emption. Drawing from his experience, Nico provides actionable advice for founders navigating early-stage funding and growth.Together, we explore:The story behind 10x Founders and its entrepreneurial community-driven approach.Entrepreneurial decision-making and what it takes to succeed at the early stage.How to structure follow-on reserves and why round pre-emption matters.Lessons from Nico’s journey and the success stories from 10x Founders’ portfolio.

In today’s episode, Andreas talks with Christian Meermann, Founding Partner at Cherry Ventures and a Forbes Midas Lister. ith a €320M fund size and €1B in AUM, Cherry Ventures has made its mark across Europe by backing companies like Flixbus, Auto1, Flaschenpost, Finimize, and Ninetailed. Headquartered in Germany, the fund focuses on early-stage investments (Pre/Seed/Seed+) across both B2B software and consumer verticals.Christian shares the secrets behind Cherry’s culture of excellence, navigating competition in venture capital, and how to underwrite new managers in today’s market. He also dives into the art of decision-making for follow-on rounds, discussing what to look for and how to support portfolio companies effectively.With deep entrepreneurial roots, including his role as CMO of Zalando—scaling it from small revenues to over €2 billion at IPO—Christian brings a wealth of operational experience, strategic insight, and passion for founders with global ambitions.Together, we explore:Cherry's founding journey and Christian’s entrepreneurial background.Building a culture of excellence while competing in a dynamic venture market.Underwriting new managers: What investors should look for in emerging talent.The decision-making process for follow-on investments and how Cherry approaches it.Lessons from Christian’s career and success stories, including one of Germany’s largest exits with Flaschenpost.

In today’s episode, Andreas talks with with Kaari Kink, Investment Manager at Superangel and Chair of EstVCA, and Margus Uudam, Partner at Karma Ventures and a long-time pioneer in venture capital, to uncover the secrets behind Estonia’s rise as one of Europe’s most dynamic startup ecosystems.Estonia, known for producing global champions like Skype, Bolt, and Wise, has become a model for entrepreneurial success thanks to forward-thinking policies, minimal bureaucracy, and a bold mindset. Kaari and Margus share their experiences, reflect on Estonia’s journey, and highlight the policies and initiatives that other European ecosystems can learn from.Together, we explore:The key policies, like Estonia’s progressive stock option framework, that attract and retain tech talent.The “Skype Effect” and how it transformed Estonia’s ecosystem.Europe’s challenges in harmonizing policies to compete globally with the U.S. and China.The role of cross-border collaboration and fund-of-funds in building a resilient VC landscape.Go to eu.vc to read the full show notes.