In this episode, we catch up with Benedikt von Schoeler, General Partner of VSquared Ventures, a leading early-stage Deep Tech fund, backing some of Europe’s most promising Deep Tech companies, including Isar Aerospace, Zama, IQM Quantum, Inbrain Neuroelectronics and The Exploration Company.
Vsquared recently announced the successful closing of their latest fund, Vsquared II, which got oversubscribed at €214 million, above the initial target size of €165 million. It’s the largest European early-stage Deep Tech fund to date, cementing the Deep Tech momentum in Europe. Vsquared continues its commitment to fostering a sovereign and resilient European Deep Tech ecosystem, which the fund has promoted since its inception. The closing of Vsquared II brings their assets under management to around €450 million.
Benedikt talks about the Deep Tech boom in Europe and how they decide which moonshot ideas to invest in. He emphasises the importance of market potential, technology diligence, and the right team. He also talks about the challenges of navigating regulations and the need for a more unified European market. Benedikt highlights the importance of staying curious, and humble and supporting founders through the ups and downs of their entrepreneurial journey.
Video version of episode 80:
Audio version of episode 80:
Key takeaways
- There are 3 things that matter when making the investment decision: diligence on market potential, technology, and the team.
- Deep Tech startups often work towards inflexion points rather than traditional revenue metrics.
- Europe needs a more unified market to compete with the US in Deep Tech.
- Building trust and staying on the same side of the table is key in supporting Deep Tech founders.
- Staying curious, humble, and unique is key to staying ahead of the curve in the tech space.
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