EU-Startups Podcast
- Episodes
- 201
- Released
- weekly
- Latest episode
- Nov 12, 2026
About the podcast
The official Podcast of EU-Startups.com - the leading online magazine about startups in Europe.
Episodes 201
Meet the Canva of AI Content
Fraser Bell, CEO of Wondercraft Key Points: How Fraser’s transition into the CEO role came about, and what his first conversations with the outgoing co-founder looked like What’s different about leading a …
Show notes
Fraser Bell, CEO of WondercraftKey Points:
- How Fraser’s transition into the CEO role came about, and what his first conversations with the outgoing co-founder looked like
- What’s different about leading a startup you didn’t found, and how to respect the original vision while making it your own
- Who’s using Wondercraft today - creators, small businesses or enterprises - and how adoption compares with expectations
- How Wondercraft attracted backers like Steven Bartlett and ElevenLabs, and what their involvement brings beyond capital
- Why customers would still choose Wondercraft if major AI model providers launched a competing product
- AI slop and the challenge of AI generated content
Inside Europe's Bet on Drones
Károly Ludvigh, CEO and co-founder of ABZ Innovation Key Points Why existing agricultural drones on the market fell short on reliability, and why ABZ decided to build its own hardware from the ground up How …
Show notes
Károly Ludvigh, CEO and co-founder of ABZ InnovationKey Points
- Why existing agricultural drones on the market fell short on reliability, and why ABZ decided to build its own hardware from the ground up
- How technology is transforming the day-to-day work of farmers, even in a sector that looks traditional from the outside
- Building for customers who prioritise reliability over exciting technology, and the engineering lessons that come with it
- How the war in Ukraine has reshaped Europe's drone industry: manufacturing capacity, investment, and the shift toward local production
- ABZ's stance on dual-use and defence applications versus staying focused on agricultural and civilian industrial use cases
- Scaling across 40+ countries with divergent UAV regulations, and a look at what drones may routinely do in agriculture within five to ten years
Why Europe is Ahead on Impact
Jack Mardack, co-founder of Oyster Key points: Why impact should be treated as a design problem built into a business model from day one, rather than a values commitment bolted on later The difference between …
Show notes
Jack Mardack, co-founder of OysterKey points:
- Why impact should be treated as a design problem built into a business model from day one, rather than a values commitment bolted on later
- The difference between impact by intention and impact by design — and how founders and investors can tell the difference
- What it takes to prove impact with evidence, and why investors should fund proof rather than claims
- What replaces the ESG scorecard as the scorecard era comes to an end
- A ten-year vision for the European workforce if talent, capital, and opportunity finally connect across borders
How European BioTech is Changing Cancer Care
Roundtable episode Key points: Bridging the gap between scientific breakthroughs and real-world cancer care remains one of Europe's biggest challenges Sustainable, microalgae-based biomanufacturing could become …
Show notes
Roundtable episodeKey points:
- Bridging the gap between scientific breakthroughs and real-world cancer care remains one of Europe's biggest challenges
- Sustainable, microalgae-based biomanufacturing could become a serious alternative for producing antibodies and other biologics
- Moving cell therapy from highly personalised treatments to scalable, "off-the-shelf" solutions is key to reaching far more patients
- AI and generative chemistry open up RNA as a drug target that traditional discovery has struggled to reach Europe excels at world-class research, but scaling BioTech companies still faces friction in funding, infrastructure, and ecosystem support
- Practical lessons from founders on turning research into a company - and how Women TechEU creates impact well beyond the grant itself
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
The Women TechEU scheme is an EU-funded project supporting women leading deep tech startup companies from Europe. As part of the consortium team implementing the programme, our mission is to foster inclusive innovation by supporting women-led startups, including under-represented deep tech sectors and European regions. We believe that diversity drives innovation, and we are here to provide women in deep tech with more opportunities, resources, and support in order to build market-shaping companies at global level.
Between 2026-2028, the current project consortium will run a continuous open call with 4 cut-off dates. Following a rigorous evaluation process, 160 total beneficiaries will be selected. Each beneficiary will receive €75k grants (non-dilutive finance), as well as a tailored package of mentorship, training, expert guidance, matchmaking and networking opportunities, and support in bridging the gap to other EIC funding and support schemes.
The Glasses Helping the Blind See
Cornel Amariei, CEO and founder of .lumen Key Points: How the .lumen glasses actually work: 3D environment perception, human-centered path planning, and in-house mapping and semantic surface understanding The …
Show notes
Cornel Amariei, CEO and founder of .lumenKey Points:
- How the .lumen glasses actually work: 3D environment perception, human-centered path planning, and in-house mapping and semantic surface understanding
- The guide dog comparison - where the glasses match its benefits today, where the analogy ends, and why .lumen aims to complement canes and dogs rather than replace them
- What blind users taught the team that engineers alone could never have discovered, and how organisations for the visually impaired are responding to the product
- The road to commercial availability: what still stands between today and a pair anyone can buy and use in everyday life
Where Podcasting Meets Venture Capital
Paul Bonnet, General Partner at 20VC Key Points The media-first model of 20VC is a real advantage for deal sourcing and building founder relationships. Keeping a small core team is a deliberate choice: it …
Show notes
Paul Bonnet, General Partner at 20VCKey Points
- The media-first model of 20VC is a real advantage for deal sourcing and building founder relationships.
- Keeping a small core team is a deliberate choice: it preserves conviction, keeps decision-making fast, and keeps the firm close to founders.
- As venture firms become publishers and investors break their own news, independent journalists and traditional tech publications still play a role - but it's a changing one.
- European founders who say the continent lacks funding should look closely at what capital is actually available at each stage and position themselves accordingly.
Building a Defence Against Drones
SDTH Winner (3 Month Challenge) Vaikesh Manimaran, Maelstrom Key Points: Real-time defensive systems force hard trade-offs between speed, accuracy, cost, and reliability - there's no perfect solution, only …
Show notes
SDTH Winner (3 Month Challenge) Vaikesh Manimaran, MaelstromKey Points:
- Real-time defensive systems force hard trade-offs between speed, accuracy, cost, and reliability - there's no perfect solution, only chosen compromises
- Working directly with operators and defence experts surfaces problems and constraints that pure lab development would never reveal
- If the prize funding is being used to accelerate MAELSTROM's development beyond the hackathon prototype
Controlling Robots with Your Brain
Singapore Defence Tech Hackathon Winner (48hr Challenge) Wayne Lin, NeuroMech Key Points: Hands-free control of unmanned ground vehicles could change how operators manage systems in situations where their hands …
Show notes
Singapore Defence Tech Hackathon Winner (48hr Challenge) Wayne Lin, NeuroMechKey Points:
- Hands-free control of unmanned ground vehicles could change how operators manage systems in situations where their hands and attention are needed elsewhere
- Brain-computer interfaces are notoriously difficult to make reliable, and rapid prototyping under hackathon pressure exposes those weaknesses fast
- A working prototype is only the first step — the real question is whether a hackathon project can become a viable company
- Prize funding is being used to push NeuroMech beyond a demo and toward a serious product
Inside the New DefenceTech Race
Gary Ang, Professor of Practice, Defence Innovation & Applications Key points: Defence technology often struggles to move from R&D into real-world use for reasons that span procurement, culture and …
Show notes
Gary Ang, Professor of Practice, Defence Innovation & ApplicationsKey points:
- Defence technology often struggles to move from R&D into real-world use for reasons that span procurement, culture and organisational incentives - not just technical maturity
- Genuine dual-use value means a technology works credibly across both civilian and defence markets, not just carrying the label Europe's rising focus on defence innovation and Singapore's long-standing, integrated approach to technology, government and industry create strong opportunities for collaboration
- European DefenceTech founders should see Singapore as a partner, a market and a gateway to the wider Asian region - each role comes with different expectations
- Universities are becoming central to defence innovation, and turning research into venture-backed companies requires deliberate investment in talent, capital access and international scaling paths
What Europe Can Learn from Asia
Helmut Schönenberger, co-founder & CEO, UnternehmerTUM Key points: Turning strong academic research into companies that actually scale requires more than world-class science - it takes a deliberately built …
Show notes
Helmut Schönenberger, co-founder & CEO, UnternehmerTUMKey points:
- Turning strong academic research into companies that actually scale requires more than world-class science - it takes a deliberately built university venture ecosystem
- Munich and Singapore support founders and commercialise deep tech in notably different ways, and each has lessons to offer the other
- Singapore's model of connecting universities, government, investors and industry offers practices European ecosystems could adopt
- Europe's strengths in engineering, industrial technology and long-term research are assets that Asian innovation hubs can learn from - the exchange runs both ways
- Helping European DeepTech companies expand into Asia is a concrete role universities and innovation centres should own, from talent bridges to market access
Turning Research Into Billion-Dollar Startups
Prof. Benjamin Tee, Vice President at NUSX Key points: Entrepreneurship teaches lessons that academia can't - insights that only come from trying to turn ideas into companies Deciding whether breakthrough …
Show notes
Prof. Benjamin Tee, Vice President at NUSXKey points:
- Entrepreneurship teaches lessons that academia can't - insights that only come from trying to turn ideas into companies
- Deciding whether breakthrough research should stay in the lab or become a real company is a skill in itself, and one that can be learned
- The journey from lab to market for first-time founders can be structured and supported
- The biggest opportunities in physical AI sit at the intersection of AI, robotics and the physical world over the next few years
- Working at the frontier of research on technologies like electronic skin reveals just how long DeepTech really takes to reach the market
- University spin-outs rarely fail because of weak science - scaling globally requires doing things differently, from ecosystem support to commercial ambition
From Google Glass to Dementia Care
Dr. Babak Parviz, CEO and founder of NewDays.ai Key points: After building everything from Google Glass to healthcare businesses at Amazon, dementia represented a deep, human problem worth building a company …
Show notes
Dr. Babak Parviz, CEO and founder of NewDays.aiKey points:
- After building everything from Google Glass to healthcare businesses at Amazon, dementia represented a deep, human problem worth building a company around
- AI can already make a meaningful difference for dementia patients and their families, but the real goal is improving lives, not impressive demos
- Europe and Asia's ageing populations at scale make them especially important testing grounds for new models of dementia care
- Small companies can do things in healthcare that tech giants sometimes cannot
- Cautious approach to health data and AI regulation may not just slow innovation - it could help build better and more trusted products
How to Win the Global AI Race
Dr. Orna Berry, Technical Director, Google Cloud Key points: Working across government, venture capital, large technology companies and national research programmes reveals what truly makes an innovation …
Show notes
Dr. Orna Berry, Technical Director, Google CloudKey points:
- Working across government, venture capital, large technology companies and national research programmes reveals what truly makes an innovation ecosystem function
- The biggest bottleneck in AI today often lies not in the models themselves, but in the slower-moving underlying systems of compute, infrastructure, data and talent
- The "talent supply chain" has weak links, and understanding them is essential for national competitiveness in AI
- Building specialised expertise in AI, biotech and quantum domestically is only part of the answer — the strongest ecosystems increasingly depend on attracting global talent
Can Singapore Build Global Tech Giants?
Dr. Tan Sian Wee, Senior Vice President (Innovation & Enterprise) at NUS Key points: Success for NUS's innovation and enterprise ambitions goes far beyond the headline billion-dollar goal and A5X vision The …
Show notes
Dr. Tan Sian Wee, Senior Vice President (Innovation & Enterprise) at NUSKey points:
- Success for NUS's innovation and enterprise ambitions goes far beyond the headline billion-dollar goal and A5X vision
- The biggest gap between university research and real-world impact lies in the journey from lab to market, where most brilliant ideas fail to scale
- Singapore offers DeepTech founders from Europe and the US strategic advantages as a launchpad into Asia that are often underestimated
- Nova, NUSX's new full-stack AI platform, aims to transform how universities discover which ideas are worth building companies around
- For Singapore to become a place where world-leading DeepTech companies are born and built - not just funded - deliberate steps are needed over the next five to ten years
Why Ukraine is Europe's DefenceTech Lab
Andreas Flodström, co-founder, Varangians Key Points: • The story behind the Varangians name and its connection between Sweden and Ukraine.. • How building Beetroot shaped Andreas Flodström’s relationship with …
Show notes
Andreas Flodström, co-founder, VarangiansKey Points: • The story behind the Varangians name and its connection between Sweden and Ukraine.. • How building Beetroot shaped Andreas Flodström’s relationship with Ukraine.. • Why Ukraine has become an important centre for DefenceTech innovation.. • The balance between pure DefenceTech and dual-use technologies.. • What Europe can learn from Ukraine about drones, electronic warfare and rapid innovation.. • How investors evaluate technology, teams, governance and risk.. • Whether today’s DefenceTech investment surge marks the beginning of a new European industrial era.
The Shopify of Venture Capital
Patrick Ryan, co-founder of Odin Key Points: • The moment of realisation that traditional investment systems are unnecessarily complex and ripe for disruption. • The practical meaning of Odin’s "VC in your …
Show notes
Patrick Ryan, co-founder of OdinKey Points: • The moment of realisation that traditional investment systems are unnecessarily complex and ripe for disruption. • The practical meaning of Odin’s "VC in your pocket" approach for users worldwide. • The diverse target audience for Odin, from first-time fund managers to seasoned angel syndicates. • How Odin is challenging and redefining the traditional venture capital model. • The cultural and ideological nuances of investing in the US versus Europe.
How Europe is Helping Startups Succeed
Momchil Sabev, Director of the EIC and EISMEA Key Points: EISMEA’s role in fostering a cohesive and inclusive startup ecosystem across Europe Addressing the fragmentation that limits startups’ ability to scale …
Show notes
Momchil Sabev, Director of the EIC and EISMEAKey Points:
- EISMEA’s role in fostering a cohesive and inclusive startup ecosystem across Europe
- Addressing the fragmentation that limits startups’ ability to scale beyond their local markets
- The EIC’s potential to empower DeepTech founders through targeted support and resources
- Non-financial assistance - mentorship, partnerships, and expertise - as critical drivers of startup success
Meet the World's Tallest Autonomous Robots
Oana Jinga, co-founder at Dexory Key Points Insights from Oana’s career at Telefónica and Google that continue to shape Dexory’s growth and commercial strategy. The evolution of Dexory’s mission, from its …
Show notes
Oana Jinga, co-founder at DexoryKey Points
- Insights from Oana’s career at Telefónica and Google that continue to shape Dexory’s growth and commercial strategy.
- The evolution of Dexory’s mission, from its original goals to its current focus on scalable, AI-driven warehouse solutions.
- Addressing concerns about job replacement and how robotics can complement rather than replace human work.
- The balance between human responsibility and machine automation in modern warehouses.
- Ethical considerations in robotics and AI, including the industry’s blind spots and the need for unbiased systems.
Can Bacteria Solve Fashion's Pollution Problem?
Karin Fleck, CEO and founder of Vienna Textile Lab Key Points The motivation behind transitioning from oil and energy to sustainable textile innovation. The process of transforming cultivated microorganisms …
Show notes
Karin Fleck, CEO and founder of Vienna Textile LabKey Points
- The motivation behind transitioning from oil and energy to sustainable textile innovation.
- The process of transforming cultivated microorganisms into usable pigments for fabrics.
- The areas where bio-based pigments deliver the most significant environmental and social impact.
- The current state of industrial adoption and the challenges that remain.
- The primary concerns manufacturers have when evaluating new pigments.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
The Women TechEU scheme is an EU-funded project supporting women leading deep tech startup companies from Europe. As part of the consortium team implementing the programme, our mission is to foster inclusive innovation by supporting women-led startups, including under-represented deep tech sectors and European regions. We believe that diversity drives innovation, and we are here to provide women in deep tech with more opportunities, resources, and support in order to build market-shaping companies at global level.
Between 2026-2028, the current project consortium will run a continuous open call with 4 cut-off dates. Following a rigorous evaluation process, 160 total beneficiaries will be selected. Each beneficiary will receive €75k grants (non-dilutive finance), as well as a tailored package of mentorship, training, expert guidance, matchmaking and networking opportunities, and support in bridging the gap to other EIC funding and support schemes.
She Turned Plastic Waste Into Opportunity
Angela Ivanova, co-founder and CEO of LAM’ON 🔑 Key Points The current state of women in entrepreneurship and where the gender gap remains most pronounced. The motivation behind focusing on biodegradable …
Show notes
Angela Ivanova, co-founder and CEO of LAM’ON🔑 Key Points
- The current state of women in entrepreneurship and where the gender gap remains most pronounced.
- The motivation behind focusing on biodegradable laminating films as a career dedication.
- Critical observations from the pre-press and printing industry that inspired the need for change.
- The biggest challenges in developing LAM’ON’s product, from science to market adoption.
- The primary barriers to widespread adoption of compostable materials, including infrastructure and systemic limitations.
Enabling People. Not Replacing Them
In this exclusive interview, we sit down with Nikita Miller, Chief Product Officer at Perk, formerly TravelPerk, to discuss the company’s evolution into an AI-native travel and spend management platform and its …
Show notes
In this exclusive interview, we sit down with Nikita Miller, Chief Product Officer at Perk, formerly TravelPerk, to discuss the company’s evolution into an AI-native travel and spend management platform and its global ambitions. Nikita joined Perk in September 2025 as the Barcelona-founded scale-up was expanding beyond travel into spend and expense management, integrating acquisitions such as Yokoy, and accelerating its growth in the US. Central to Perk’s strategy is eliminating what Nikita calls “shadow work”: repetitive tasks such as reconciling receipts, managing invoices, booking travel and navigating company policies. By automating these processes, Perk aims to give employees more time for higher-value work. Nikita argues that the debate around AI should go beyond whether it replaces jobs. While AI can handle repetitive tasks and improve reporting, strategic judgement, decision-making and understanding why a company should pursue a particular direction remain fundamentally human. The conversation also explores how AI is changing hiring and company structures. Rather than simply reducing headcount, Nikita believes AI is creating demand for new skill sets, particularly systems thinking as businesses develop increasingly interconnected AI-driven products. Perk is already moving towards a more agentic future, connecting travel, spend, invoices and events while investing in personalisation. Its years of travel and spending data allow it to improve recommendations for travellers and give CFOs and administrators greater visibility over policies, approvals and costs. Nikita also discusses Perk’s expansion into the US, arguing that its experience operating across complex European markets has prepared it well for localisation abroad. The company’s recent €300 million credit facility is supporting investment across AI, product development, invoicing, corporate cards and new products. Looking ahead, Nikita describes Perk’s ambition to build a “100-year company” focused on removing administrative complexity and helping people use their time more meaningfully. Key Points • Perk’s evolution from TravelPerk into an AI-native travel and spend management platform. • Eliminating “shadow work” by automating repetitive travel, expense and invoicing tasks. • Why AI should be judged by the higher-value work it enables, not only its impact on headcount. • How AI and personalisation are improving recommendations, approvals, reporting and spend visibility. • Perk’s US expansion and long-term ambition to build a global “100-year company”.Spider Silk in BioTech
Interview with Jekaterina Romanova, founder & CEO of PrintyMed For today’s podcast, produced in association with the Women TechEU scheme, we sit down with Jekaterina Romanova, CEO and co-founder of Latvian …
Show notes
Interview with Jekaterina Romanova, founder & CEO of PrintyMed For today’s podcast, produced in association with the Women TechEU scheme, we sit down with Jekaterina Romanova, CEO and co-founder of Latvian biotech startup PrintyMed, to discuss biomimetic spider silk, its medical potential, and the challenges of scaling deep-tech innovation in Europe. The Women TechEU scheme is an EU-funded project supporting women leading deep tech startup companies from Europe. As part of the consortium team implementing the programme, our mission is to foster inclusive innovation by supporting women-led startups, including under-represented deep tech sectors and European regions. We believe that diversity drives innovation, and we are here to provide women in deep tech with more opportunities, resources, and support in order to build market-shaping companies at global level. Between 2026-2028, the current project consortium will run a continuous open call with 4 cut-off dates. Following a rigorous evaluation process, 160 total beneficiaries will be selected. Each beneficiary will receive €75k grants (non-dilutive finance), as well as a tailored package of mentorship, training, expert guidance, matchmaking and networking opportunities, and support in bridging the gap to other EIC funding and support schemes. EU-Startups is a proud member of the consortium implementing the Women TechEU Programme from 2026 to 2028. In this podcast, Jekaterina reflects on her unconventional path into biotechnology. After studying economics and working in banking, she entered entrepreneurship at 18 through a posture-correction clothing startup. She later founded a company developing 3D-printed bone grafts, gaining experience in medical regulation, funding, and commercialisation. At PrintyMed, Jekaterina leads grants, investment, partnerships, and strategy, while scientists and doctors oversee laboratory research. The company’s biomimetic spider silk technology originated at the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis and replicates aspects of how spiders naturally produce silk. PrintyMed’s long-term ambition is to support artificial organs and biological scaffolds. It has developed an artificial heart-valve prototype and is exploring artificial nerves, wound dressings, and regenerative medicine. Its first commercial focus is membranes for organ-on-a-chip systems, which help pharmaceutical companies and researchers test drugs while reducing animal testing. PrintyMed is already running pilot projects, although products intended for patients will require several more years of certification. Jekaterina also discusses the importance of European funding. PrintyMed has secured about €2 million in grants, including €75,000 from Women TechEU and roughly €700,000 through a European Innovation Council programme. This support strengthened the company’s expertise in regulation, intellectual property, scaling, and fundraising. The conversation also covers expansion beyond Europe. PrintyMed is building relationships in Saudi Arabia, where government-backed biotechnology initiatives, research partnerships, and certification opportunities could support international growth. Jekaterina argues that Europe’s medical-device regulations can slow innovation and calls for controlled fast-track testing environments. She also highlights spider silk’s potential in cosmetics and skincare, following discussions with Chanel about a regenerative cosmetic glove. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.How Europe can Win in Tech
Interview with Tom Wehmeier, Partner and Head of Intelligence at Atomico For today's podcast we sit down with Tom Wehmeier, Partner and Head of Intelligence at Atomico, to discuss European technology, the …
Show notes
Interview with Tom Wehmeier, Partner and Head of Intelligence at Atomico For today's podcast we sit down with Tom Wehmeier, Partner and Head of Intelligence at Atomico, to discuss European technology, the firm’s investment philosophy, and the influential State of European Tech report. Tom reflects on his unconventional route into venture capital. Before joining Atomico, he worked in telecommunications, witnessing shifts such as the emergence of 3G and internet-based calling. This taught him to recognise hype cycles, adopt a patient long-term view, and understand why established companies often struggle to respond to disruption. He explains that breakthrough technologies are frequently underestimated. Early forecasts predicted a market of only around one million mobile phones, yet the technology eventually reached billions of users. For Tom, this shows the importance of recognising innovations that can fundamentally change behaviour. The conversation explores the origins of Atomico’s State of European Tech report. What began as a PowerPoint presentation became a major annual platform covering investment, talent, liquidity, regulation, and entrepreneurship. It was created to address the lack of shared, evidence-based information about Europe’s technology ecosystem. Tom previews themes expected in the next edition, including progress in funding innovation, reducing regulatory friction, empowering talent, and encouraging greater risk tolerance. The report will also examine technological sovereignty and resilience across energy, computing, and defence. He argues that Europe suffers from a “commitment gap”. Policymakers and industry leaders may support initiatives such as EU Inc. and greater institutional investment in technology, but implementation is often slowed by political deadlock. Progress therefore requires decisive leadership at national and European levels. Tom also explains how the report serves different audiences. Investors may focus on funding and liquidity, while policymakers are more interested in regulation and ecosystem sentiment. By making its data downloadable, Atomico enables journalists, founders, investors, and researchers to develop their own interpretations. The report has become a year-round initiative involving research partnerships, newsletters, roundtables, and wider industry engagement. Atomico also experiments with new formats, including synthetic audience tools, interactive question-and-answer features, and video content. The interview concludes by reflecting on Atomico’s 20-year history. When the firm was founded, the idea that Europe could produce globally significant technology companies and establish venture capital as a major asset class was far from certain. Tom believes the ecosystem has since exceeded expectations, while Atomico has helped place European entrepreneurship on the global map. Key Points • Tom’s telecommunications background shaped his analytical, long-term approach to venture capital and disruption. • Breakthrough innovations are often underestimated before reaching mass adoption. • The State of European Tech report provides a shared, evidence-based view of Europe’s technology ecosystem. • The next report will examine funding, regulation, talent, risk tolerance, sovereignty, and resilience. • Europe must close the gap between political commitments and implementation through stronger leadership. • Atomico’s belief in European technology has been validated by the ecosystem’s growth and global relevance.The Future of European Payments
Interview with Lena Hackelöer, founder & CEO at Brite Payments In this exclusive interview, we sit down with Lena Hackelöer, founder & CEO at Brite Payments, to explore the company’s growth, the future of …
Show notes
Interview with Lena Hackelöer, founder & CEO at Brite Payments In this exclusive interview, we sit down with Lena Hackelöer, founder & CEO at Brite Payments, to explore the company’s growth, the future of European payments, and the challenges facing fintech founders. Lena shares how Brite has evolved from a Swedish startup founded in 2019 into a leading pay-by-bank provider operating across 27 European markets. Following its Series A round, the company expanded into Germany and France. She reflects on how her early career shaped her entrepreneurial approach. Her experience at Klarna during its hypergrowth phase taught her how to build and internationalise a fast-moving fintech company, while a later role in a listed financial services business exposed her to operating in a highly regulated environment. Lena also discusses European payment sovereignty. Brite is building a pan-European instant payment network that reduces reliance on non-European infrastructure, but she argues that sovereignty alone will not drive adoption. Merchants and consumers ultimately prioritise convenience, reliability, conversion rates, and lower processing costs. The conversation examines the difficulty of scaling across Europe. Differences in language, culture, banking systems, regulation, and consumer behaviour mean the continent cannot be treated as a single market. Although licences can be passported across the European Union, requirements may still vary between regulators. Lena explains why localisation is essential. German consumers often place greater emphasis on security and data protection, while Swedish users are more comfortable with digital transparency. Brite therefore combines centralised technology with local expertise, adapting its strategy to each market. Looking ahead, Lena sees convenience as the main driver of pay-by-bank adoption. Improvements in mobile banking, app-to-app authentication, and instant payments are making the experience faster, enabling instant confirmation, rapid refunds, and quicker payouts. The interview concludes with a discussion about female entrepreneurship and representation in fintech. Lena believes progress is being made as more women gain senior experience and professional networks. However, funding inequalities, limited access to technical careers, and low female participation in engineering remain significant barriers. Key Points • Brite Payments has grown from a Swedish startup into a pan-European pay-by-bank platform operating across 27 markets. • Lena’s experience at Klarna helped shape her entrepreneurial approach and payments expertise. • European payment sovereignty matters, but adoption depends on convenience, reliability, conversion rates, and commercial value. • Fragmented regulation, banking infrastructure, and consumer behaviour make European expansion complex. • Mobile banking, instant payments, and app-to-app authentication are making pay-by-bank services faster and more attractive. • Greater female representation will require better access to funding, technical careers, and senior leadership opportunities.The Fund Selling Climate to Skeptics
Tim Schumacher, Managing Partner at World Fund Key Points The evolution of saas.group from its first acquisition to a global platform of independent SaaS brands, driven by a founder-friendly ethos and a focus …
Show notes
Tim Schumacher, Managing Partner at World FundKey Points
- The evolution of saas.group from its first acquisition to a global platform of independent SaaS brands, driven by a founder-friendly ethos and a focus on niche, revenue-focused businesses.
- The critical role of cultural alignment and shared values in successful acquisitions, ensuring smooth integration and long-term collaboration.
- saas.group’s tailored, transparent approach to acquisitions, prioritizing honest conversations about founders’ motivations and customising deals to fit their personal and professional needs.
- The importance of the bootstrapper mindset- resourcefulness, efficiency, and a focus on monetization - as a defining trait for companies acquired by saas.group.
- Insights into the challenges of acquiring companies, from managing price expectations to navigating due diligence and maintaining open, honest communication throughout the process.
Is the Office Era Over?
Job van der Voort, CEO and co-founder of Remote Key Points How scientific training influences decision-making and problem-solving at Remote The mindset shift from academia’s precision to startups’ speed and …
Show notes
Job van der Voort, CEO and co-founder of RemoteKey Points
- How scientific training influences decision-making and problem-solving at Remote
- The mindset shift from academia’s precision to startups’ speed and action
- What personal experiences revealed about what employees truly need from employers
- The hidden costs of traditional office work and the freedom gained through remote flexibility
- The balance between global hiring and the necessity of human overlap in distributed teams
- The future of global work beyond the remote vs. in-office debate
From Dining Table to $700M Exit
Jos White, co-founder of Notion Capital Key Points Early entrepreneurial conversations and their lasting impact on mindset and ambition Recognising the pivotal moments when a business idea gains real traction …
Show notes
Jos White, co-founder of Notion CapitalKey Points
- Early entrepreneurial conversations and their lasting impact on mindset and ambition
- Recognising the pivotal moments when a business idea gains real traction and scalability
- Why firsthand entrepreneurial experience gives VCs a unique edge in advising founders
- The intangible traits - beyond metrics and pitch decks - that define exceptional founders
- How the founder landscape has evolved since 2009, including the rise of AI and its new blind spots
- Key differences between European and American founders in approach, ambition, and execution
From Getting Scammed to Building a Unicorn
Tarek Müller, co-founder & co-CEO, ABOUT YOU 📌 Key Points The early motivations and pivotal moments that shaped Tarek’s entrepreneurial path. How ABOUT YOU’s unicorn status impacted both the company and …
Show notes
Tarek Müller, co-founder & co-CEO, ABOUT YOU📌 Key Points
- The early motivations and pivotal moments that shaped Tarek’s entrepreneurial path.
- How ABOUT YOU’s unicorn status impacted both the company and Hamburg’s startup ecosystem.
- The biggest opportunities for AI in e-commerce, from personalisation to operational efficiency.
- The intersection of customer choice, convenience, and sustainability in fashion retail.
- Tarek’s vision for the emotional and technical future of online shopping in five years.
The Startup Turning Swamps Into Fashion Gold
Interview with Julian Ellis Brown, CEO & co-founder of Ponda **Key Points Ponda’s mission was sparked by a bold idea: materials should restore, not deplete, their environments, with wetlands as the ideal …
Show notes
Interview with Julian Ellis Brown, CEO & co-founder of Ponda**Key Points
- Ponda’s mission was sparked by a bold idea: materials should restore, not deplete, their environments, with wetlands as the ideal starting point for this vision.
- BioPuff is a plant-based insulation derived from bulrush, offering a regenerative, high-performance alternative to goose down and synthetic fills.
- Regeneration goes beyond sustainability by actively healing ecosystems - such as rewetted peatlands - while creating materials, rather than just minimising harm.
- BioPuff can disrupt fast fashion by demonstrating that regenerative materials can be scalable, cost-effective, and viable for mainstream adoption, not just premium brands.
- Partnering with farmers revealed the critical role of collaboration, traceability, and shared long-term vision in building a truly regenerative supply chain from the ground up.
- Rewetting and farming degraded peatlands transforms them from carbon sources into carbon sinks, while enhancing biodiversity and flood mitigation.
The Airship Startup NATO is Backing
Interview with Janne Hietala, CEO of Kelluu Key Points Janne’s journey into airships, autonomy, and aerial data Why Kelluu chose airships over drones and satellites, and their unique advantages Modernising the …
Show notes
Interview with Janne Hietala, CEO of KelluuKey Points
- Janne’s journey into airships, autonomy, and aerial data
- Why Kelluu chose airships over drones and satellites, and their unique advantages
- Modernising the concept of airships for cutting-edge applications
- The operational workflow of Kelluu airships, from deployment to landing
- The environmental benefits of Kelluu’s near-silent, emission-free technology
- The future impact of persistent aerial intelligence on global understanding
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