Roundtables

Catalyzing Europe's Angel Networks and Next Wave of Angel Investors: Building Stronger Local Communities and Cross-Border Collaboration

Transforming Non-existent Ecosystems into Unicorn Breeding Grounds: Highlighting practical methods to build vibrant angel investment ecosystems in regions historically lacking support, and demonstrating how young founders can stay and succeed locally, reversing brain drain trends, how young founders can stay and succeed locally, reversing brain drain trends.

Investor-Backed Expansion: How Smart Capital Accelerates International Growth

Capital can either fuel scale—or slow it down. This roundtable explores how investors can be active partners in international growth, offering more than just funds. From opening doors to new markets to navigating unfamiliar regulatory environments, we’ll discuss how the right investor syndicate and support structure can de-risk and accelerate global expansion for scaleups.

Scaling Energy Tech: From breakthrough to buildout What does it take to grow resilient energy-tech startups in Europe?

As Europe races toward a cleaner, smarter energy future, early- and growth-stage startups face a new kind of challenge: not invention, but scale. This session brings together founders and investors to explore what it takes to grow energy tech companies from early traction to Series B and beyond. With a spotlight on software, AI, and system resilience, we’ll dive into how startups can accelerate deployment, navigate infrastructure realities, and build for long-term impact. FEV draws on deep energy systems expertise and corporate experience to ask: What separates the scalability from the stalled in Europe’s energy tech landscape?

Greentech Grit: Investing Through the Volatility of the Energy Transition

Greentech is no longer a niche—it’s essential. But with shifting policies, long payback cycles, and tech risk, the path to returns can be bumpy. This roundtable dives into how investors are navigating the volatility of the energy transition while staying conviction-led. Investors will share perspectives on how to accelerate commercialization, unlock scale capital, and build the conditions for enduring success. We’ll explore lessons learned from early bets, portfolio construction strategies, and what it takes to back climate innovation with long-term capital.

Narratives that Attract Dealflow and Capital

A VC’s brand is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a strategic asset. This roundtable explores how strong public positioning, thoughtful storytelling, and PR can dramatically influence deal flow, LP confidence, and founder perception. From building thought leadership to becoming the investor of choice for top-tier startups, we’ll unpack how VCs can use media, messaging, and narrative to elevate their firm’s influence and access.

Join us to discuss the tactics, tools, and mindset shifts required to turn visibility into deal velocity.

From Lab to Market: How Investors Can Back DeepTech Startups Built on Real Demand, Not Just Breakthroughs

DeepTech startups often face the dual challenge of proving both scientific rigor and market relevance. This investor-focused roundtable explores how to identify and scale DeepTech ventures that are driven by urgent, sustained industry demand—rather than just technological novelty. We’ll share real-world insights on how to Spot market pull signals that indicate a clear path to cost-competitive scale, De-risk early-stage DeepTech through structured collaboration with industry stakeholders, Assess traction and commercial potential in complex, B2B or regulated markets, Rigorously evaluate scalability, engineering risk, techno-economic viability, and IP defensibility.

Drawing on live case studies and patterns from past investments, this session avoids hypotheticals and focuses on practical frameworks for building conviction and driving returns in the most ambitious frontier technologies.

Financing Rounds & Exits: The European late-stage exit and IPO landscape

In a tighter capital environment, late-stage financing and exit strategies require more precision than ever. This roundtable will explore how investors are structuring larger growth rounds, navigating flat or down valuations, and preparing portfolio companies for strategic exits or secondary transactions. Expect candid insights on timing, buyer appetite, and how to optimize outcomes in a shifting M&A and IPO market.

Winning Bets: Where Europe’s AI Unicorns Will Emerge Next

From foundational models to vertical AI solutions, which sectors are primed for breakout growth in Europe? This roundtable will spotlight emerging AI categories—such as AI for industry, health, and climate—and discuss where capital is flowing, what makes an AI startup defensible, and how to evaluate talent, tech, and traction in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Accelerators as Enablers: Supporting CVCs in Balancing Strategic Goals and Financial Returns in Europe

As European corporates ramp up their venture activities, the lines between strategic alignment and financial return in Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) are increasingly blurred.

This session will explore how accelerator programmes can support CVCs in redefining their mandates and addressing the challenges of integrating external innovation, building diverse portfolios, and strengthening supply chains. The roundtable will discuss bringing Outside Innovation, Building a Valuable Portfolio, Diversifying the Supply Chain, Leveraging Accelerator Programmes.