VC | E449 | Isomer Capital's Chris Wade on Navigating The Venture Landscape in 2025

In this episode of our Behind European Unicorns series, David Cruz e Silva talks with Dan Vahdat, the founder and CEO of Huma, to unpack the journey behind one of Europe’s standout digital health scaleups. Founded in 2011, Huma is headquartered in London and has grown to approximately 500 employees and has raised over €275 million to date. Dan shares how the company evolved from supporting rare diseases to building a disease-agnostic, globally scalable platform used by healthcare systems, research institutions, and pharmaceutical giants. Here’s what’s covered:07:09 The Evolution of Huma09:56 Challenges and Future Vision22:16 The Challenges of Starting a Digital Health Company22:40 Geographical Focus and Strategy29:57 Navigating Regulatory Challenges in Digital Health36:12 Partnerships and Organizational Growth41:26 Future Vision and Expansion Plans for Huma

Welcome to a new episode of our podcast series focused on impact, where August Soliv, author of Impact Supporters, and Douglas Sloan, Managing Director at Better Society Capital, talk with Marie Ekeland, Founder and CEO of 2050 and one of Europe’s most forward-thinking impact investors.In this episode, Marie shares how her path, from coding at J.P. Morgan to founding France Digitale and now 2050, has been driven by a deep curiosity and a passion for building businesses that matter. She discusses why the classic VC model falls short in addressing today’s biggest challenges and how she is rewriting the rules with a regenerative, evergreen fund that aligns profit with purpose.Here’s what’s covered:05:53 Challenges and Systemic Issues in Tech and Impact VC10:15 The Concept of Alignment in Impact VC28:17 Reinventing the VC Model for a Sustainable Future33:17 Rethinking the VC Model: Extending Time Horizons37:14 Evergreen Model: Diversifying Risk and Liquidity39:53 Understanding the Science Behind Climate Change

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, cover recent news and movements in the European tech landscape 💬

In this episode, Andreas Munk Holm talks with Karma Samdup, Head of Private Funds and Venture in Europe in Haynes Boone's London office, and Vicki Odette, Partner in Dallas and New York, at Haynes Boone. They discuss the legal considerations in launching and managing venture capital funds. They also provide a detailed overview of key issues such as fund structuring, regulatory compliance, cornerstone LP dynamics, GP commitments, default provisions, and expense policies. They also discuss practical guidance on compensation models for key employees, using side letters, and negotiating with different types of investors.Here’s what’s covered:03:59 The Importance of Legal Expertise in Fund Management10:58 Key Legal Considerations for Fund Managers26:31 Navigating LP Negotiations35:57 Effective Communication with LPs40:48 Compensation Strategies for Key Employees45:00 Hiring from Competitors: Best Practices47:11 Protecting Your Firm from Departing Employees

In this episode of our CVC series, Andreas Munk Holm and our CVC in-house expert, Jeppe Høier, talk with Marika King, Head of PINC, the corporate venture arm of Paulig.Marika shares how PINC was born to accelerate core innovation and deliver long-term impact across health, sustainability, and food security. She explains why PINC goes earlier than most CVCs and how they leverage Paulig’s R&D and cultural DNA to validate, support, and scale startups. Marika also offers candid reflections on governance structures, founder dynamics, and how her journey through burnout shaped her values as an investor.Here’s what’s covered:03:10 Early Stage Investments and Validation16:54 Governance and Structure of Pink Ventures24:00 Lessons in Structuring a Corporate Venture Fund26:34 Understanding the Role of a CVC27:03 Misconceptions About CVCs28:49 Flexibility and Patience in CVC Investments31:29 The Importance of Founder-Friendly A

In this episode we're spotlighting Emerging Manager of the Year finalist Concept Ventures. Andreas talks with Reece Chowdhry, Founding Partner of Concept Ventures, about his bold approach to pre-seed: leading rounds, writing big checks early, and building founder trust from day one. Curious who else made the shortlist? Stay tuned—the big reveal’s coming soon.Reece shares his journey into early-stage investing and explains how his approach to pre-seed funding means writing big lead checks when others hesitate, building trust and momentum with founders right from the start. He also opens up about his early experiences in tech investing, which shaped his conviction to back talented teams and innovative ideas in a maturing European ecosystem. Reece also dives into the heart of his investment philosophy, focusing on the power of a strong people process and unwavering conviction. He outlines how his team’s careful evaluation of team dynamics and growth mindset helps startups skip rounds of dilution and accelerate their progress.Chapters:03:02 Reece's Journey into Investing06:35 The Evolution and Philosophy of Concept Ventures09:44 Challenges and Strategies in the Pre-Seed Ecosystem23:38 Collaborative Investment Strategies25:00 The Importance of People in Venture Capital26:25 Father-Son Partnership Dynamics28:52 Public Markets Insight in Venture Capital

In this episode of the EUVC podcast, Andreas talks with Carmen Alfonso Rico, a self-described VC turned angel at Cocoa Ventures. and Evan Finkel, Head of Venture Capital Investments at Integra Global Advisors.Evan outlines a framework for how LP expectations evolve across different fund stages, highlighting key criteria like thesis clarity, team credibility, track record, and consistency of execution. Carmen shares her experience raising Cocoa Fund I during a peak market and the challenges of navigating a very different environment for Fund II. Together, they explore practical strategies for targeting the right LPs, understanding different LP profiles, and managing long-term relationships.Here’s what’s covered:11:36 Challenges in the European LP Ecosystem29:51 Long-term Commitment and Strategy38:46 Evaluating the Product: Key Considerations39:54 Importance of Historical Track Record41:22 Decision-Making Process in Investments54:14 The Role of LPs in Fund Management01:02:15 Challenges of Being a Fund Manager

Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC podcast, where our good friend Dan Bowyer from SuperSeed meets with Andrew J. Scott, Founding Partner at 7percent Ventures, Lomax Ward, General Partner at Outsized Ventures, and Dilek Dayınlarlı, General Partner at ScaleX Venture,s to cover recent news and movements in the European tech landscape 💬Here’s what’s covered:01:31 Recent News and Highlights02:38 European Defense and Tech Investments07:41 UK and Turkish Startup Ecosystems30:42 Capital Efficiency in Europe vs. Silicon Valley31:34 Navigating the Middle of the Portfolio34:57 Insights from the 2024 PitchBook Report45:17 The Rise of the Turkish Startup Ecosystem

In this episode of our CVC series, Andreas Munk Holm talks with Bruno Moraes, Managing Director at Wayra, Telefónica’s corporate venture capital arm. With nearly 15 years of experience, Wayra stands out for its focus on driving strategic business value by connecting startups with Telefónica’s core operations across Europe and Latin America.Here’s what’s covered:03:40 Investment Strategies and Goals04:51 Fund Management and Structure06:32 Geographical and Vertical Focus08:28 Team Structure and Operations19:54 Evolution and Growth of WRA22:56 Incentives and Compensation in CVC

In this episode of the EUVC podcast, our host, David Cruz e Silva, talks with Chris Wade, Co-Founder of Isomer Capital, to explore the evolving European venture landscape in 2025. Reflecting on a decade since Isomer’s inception, Chris shares insights on the industry's growth and how Europe has expanded from just 20 unicorns in 2014 to nearly 400 today.Here’s what’s covered:02:25 Celebrating 10 Years of Isomer05:39 The Growth and Future of European Venture Capital08:43 Challenges and Opportunities in the VC Landscape17:56 Transparency and Communication in Venture Capital25:57 The Role of VCs on Company Boards27:17 Understanding DPI and Secondary Transactions39:16 The Future of European VC and Emerging Managers