Why You Venture Capital (YUVC)

Marianne Abib-Pech is the Managing Partner at Transitions First, an early-stage deep tech venture fund accelerating industrial transitions, backing industrial start-ups from advanced deep-tech ecosystems such as Silicon Valley, France, and Israel.

Takeaways ✨

Venture Capital to Marianne

• Finance with a twist (everything is finance)
• Creativity incorporated
• A strong focus on people and relationships

Why industrial startups?

• a market representing a $3 trillion opportunity
• only 1% of venture capital dollars in
• potential for acquisition by multinationals made it a venture case

Now listen in for more insights! ❤

Sandro Stark is Co-Founder and General Partner at Vanagon Ventures, backing digital solutions that confront the climate and biodiversity crisis head-on. Previously, he was the Global Innovation Lead at Allianz and Industry Executive at Microsoft.

Takeaways ✨

1. Vanagon’s approach to startup evaluation

• Distribution capability is now the key differentiator, not just technical innovation
• Customer "stickiness" and deep industry understanding
• The solution must demonstrate both climate impact and profit potential

2. Why is Munich's ecosystem strategic?

• Part of DACH region - third-largest market globally after China and US
• Rich concentration of technical talent and corporate headquarters
• Untapped potential in Mittelstand venture engagement

3. What's the philosophy behind sustainable success?

• Don't postpone happiness for future achievements
• True leadership creates more leaders, not followers
• Consistent effort matters more than breakthrough moments

Now listen in for more insights! ❤

Outline 😎

Christian Guba is Principal at Extantia’s flagship €204M Fund and previously Principal at Foodlabs, leading their €100M foodtech investments.

Eugene Foo: What are the major obstacles hindering Germany's and Europe's progress in the tech race? Christian Guba: 1) a need for a mindset shift towards greater ambition and salesmanship 2) the lack of a unified European domestic market leading to country-by-country regulatory hurdles 3) excessive regulation hindering innovation (exemplified by the anecdote about plastic bottle cap regulations) Now listen in for more insights! ❤

Jing Wang is the venture investor of recently Nasdaq-listed WeRide, the World's First IPO of Universal Autonomous Driving Technology Company. A partner at Sky9 Capital with 15 years of experience, Jing joined YUVC for an in-depth podcast.

Eugene Foo: You classify founders based on traits, similar to how Olympic events are categorized into three types: systematic image, extreme breakthrough, and environmental. What is the basis for this classification?

Jing Wang: The classification reflects event characteristics: systematic image events (e.g., football) rely on strong systems, extreme breakthrough events (e.g., track and field) focus on individual performance, and environmental events (e.g., snow sports) emphasize adaptability. This showcases the diverse demands on founder profile. 00:20 - Venture Capital: US vs. China

00:43 - Jing’s Background and 15-Year Journey

04:34 - Founding the Venture Campus

04:55 - Evolution and Growth of the Venture Campus

08:23 - Investment Philosophy and Strategies

12:38 - Challenges in Venture Capital

18:58 - Evaluating Entrepreneurial Projects

23:59 - The Obsession Factor in Investments

24:35 - Experience and Its Role in Decision Making

25:09 - Managing Conflicts and Discussions

25:58 - Assessing Project Risks and Opportunities

26:46 - The Power of Thorough Discussions

28:13 - Unpacking the Concept of Risk Investment

31:06 - Evolving Investment Strategies Over Time

34:58 - Role of the Combat Intelligence Center

41:20 - Future Trends in Risk Investment

47:16 - Human Nature and Technological Innovation

49:04 - Reflections on Life and Experience

Danijel Višević is Co-Founder and General Partner at World Fund, Europe’s Largest 1st-Time Climate Tech Fund.

Danijel Višević shares his journey working with Angela Merkel, transitioning from journalism to founding one of the largest first-time climate tech funds, and the importance of bold investments in decarbonization technologies.

Eugene Foo: What edge does being an immigrant investor give you? Danijel Višević: Coming from a less privileged background instilled a resilience and lack of fear regarding hardship. A sense of gratitude for opportunities and empathy and the ability to shift perspectives, leading to better understanding and decision-making. Now listen in for more insights! ❤

00:00 - European Climate Fund Challenges 00:38 - Personal Journey 01:34 - Climate Tech 06:06 - Immigrant Investor 08:59 - Failures and Lessons 14:47 - Angela Merkel’s Influence 16:44 - Transitioning into Venture Capital 19:04 - A Day in the Life of a General Partner 22:15 - The Genesis of World Fund 28:21 - Scalability Challenges for European Companies 28:53 - Spotlight on Portfolio Companies 30:41 - The Significance of Battery Recycling 31:54 - Dietary Choices and Environmental Impact 33:54 - Contrarian Perspectives on Impact and Profit 37:59 - The Future of World Fund and Berlin’s Startup Scene 42:23 - Germany and Europe: Challenges and Opportunities 52:12 - Personal Reflections and Philosophy