Jeroen Sluiter’s Post

You know something - it is very true, in some ways, since European/British VCs do ask for such metrics because they are happy (often) with 5X or 10X returns. But consider the drivers of (some) EU/UK VCs: 1. Need to generate a "reasonable" return (see earlier metric) and often can not get a big winner here without having a MUCH LARGER market to be able to win. 2. Taking a BIG swing on smaller funds is HARD - simply compare the top 10 funds in the US to top 10 funds in the UK for AUM and see how large a ticket could actually be as a percentage of the major investment. 3. Access to additional capital - note that most of the capital for larger investments are around Series A, B and further. 4. Access to veteran entrepreneurs - where are they located after they succeed? Where are the people to fill in the lower ranks? Is it the VC's responsibility to invest in the education of 2nd and 3rd level staffing - versus having access to a plethora of them in the US? I think innovation and BIG SWINGS for major initiatives are here in Europe/UK - especially in the starting of ideas, BUT expansion and access to the continuing funding/BIG market access is offshore for various reasons.

Ever walked out of a pitch feeling like you have no idea what the startup does OR what upside there might be for you to invest in them? Way too many times for me! One time in my life I heard a great pitch and was genuinely impressed, Kenny Hawk pitch for Mojio. It was crystal clear. No questions. The pitch was perfect! #Startups #Pitching #Entrepreneurship

This! By mid 2010s "AI" was fundable (and Alex had us put the .ai on it!). The differences in EU funding and US - especially San Francisco is growing. In security and AI we are seeing EU rules for accessing data (like securing access to the kernel and private systems) is a huge risk and far more expensive for startups and established companies right now - assuming the geopolitical risks can be overcome to allow for scale across continents. Also seeing EU VCs "working the portfolio" more than ever. Everyone is chasing mostly same problems, very often the same way they "heard" worked before. All looking for that Royale with cheese! (I have to say - Alex is one of the very few handful of founders who can scale both sides of the ocean and solving problems novelly. The unique ones get funded and usually work through taking the smart funding with the right team to scale the business from Le Seede through Le Series A and beyond!)

Finally AI generated video is being used for something useful

Vision or KPI?

Some truths in here.

Difference between VCs in the US vs. VCs in Europe:

Too often, we see communities adopting ‘parrot learning’ of dos and don’ts, idolizing foreign models without understanding the context behind them. This mindset leads to poor copies rather than original innovation, stifling creativity and critical thinking. It’s crucial to not only learn the rules but also to grasp the reasons behind them, adapting and evolving these ideas to fit our unique contexts and new realities. While some contexts must evolve beyond imitation and attachment to existing practices, it's equally important to strive for genuine understanding and innovation. We must also be willing to unlearn retrograde practices and drive alignment where needed, balancing respect for established wisdom with the need for progress and adaptation. (Balancing is the Key Term ) Regardless of all of the Above , the video is quite funny , and they have a point . And the problem is much bigger than the European and US Context in my opinion.

I love this parody. It's accurate, but I need to remind our American colleagues that Europe is not a single country with a unified legal system; notaries aren't involved everywhere. One thing is clear: funding is limited here, and most VCs are very cautious before signing a term sheet. #vc #venturecaptal #notaries #kpis #metrics #unicorn #Europe #investments #termsheet

When you think about how AI will change the world, and you cone across something like this. 😂 For fans of Quentin Tarantino’s *Pulp Fiction* and those experienced in assessing startups, you might find this amusing—or at least a great topic for debate and discussion. Thanks for sharing Justinas Pasys, agree in the balance of being a believer and a skeptic. #M&A #Startups #VC #Investment #businessDevelopment #AI