Why You Venture Capital (YUVC)

Hosted by Eugene Foo | Entrepreneur | Investor

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Mar 2025

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About the show

Here's why global VCs, LPs, founders venture capital. YUVC asks global investors Why You Venture Capital - VCs, LPs, Founders who rethink venture capital . Venture Capital is a mindset, why you?

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28 recent

March 6, 202551 min

Marianne Abib-Pech: t1st.vc's Managing Partner on Leadership, Industrial Transition | YUVC Podcast #29

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! ❤ 00:07 Introducing Marianne and Her Background 00:37 Early Influences and Career Path 02:41 The Journey from CFO to Venture Capitalist 03:58 The Role of Finance in Venture Capital 08:51 Leadership and Its Evolution 14:21 The Importance of Diversity in Leadership 20:15 Transitioning to Venture Capital 20:29 Focus on Industrial Venture Capital 23:31 Investing Across Europe and the US 26:51 Challenges in French Venture Capital 28:09 Navigating Market Barriers 28:56 Strategic Market Entry 31:17 Criteria for Investment 32:54 Innovative Startups and Technologies 39:58 Philosophy and Future of the Fund 44:48 Personal Insights and Leadership 50:47 Conclusion and Final Thoughts PODCAST LINKS: Podcast Website: https://www.whyyouvc.com Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3V4FyQN Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4hYSvpg RSS: https://bit.ly/whyyouvcrss Podcast Playlist: https://bit.ly/whyyouvc SOCIAL LINKS: X: https://x.com/whyyouvc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whyyouvc RED: https://bit.ly/whyyouvcred Bilibili: https://bit.ly/whyyouvcbili Email: whyyouvc@gmail.com GUEST LINKS: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianneabibpech/ Transitions First: https://t1st.vc

December 5, 202435 min

Sandro Stark: GP at Vanagon.vc Backing FrontierTech from Munich/DACH to the World | YUVC Podcast #27

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 😎 🎬 00:00 Introduction and Tough Timing 💡 00:55 Early Signs of Entrepreneurship 💻 02:05 Career at Microsoft and Transition to Venture Capital 🚀 03:45 Defining Frontier Tech and Investment Focus 🏢 05:03 Founding Vanagon VC 💪 08:58 Challenges and Resilience in Fundraising 📈 11:19 Investment Strategies and Success Stories ⚖️ 19:06 Balancing Work and Personal Life 🧠 30:03 Reflections and Philosophical Insights 🎤 34:16 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Links 🔗 PODCAST LINKS: Podcast Website: https://www.whyyouvc.com Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3V4FyQN Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4hYSvpg RSS: https://bit.ly/whyyouvcrss Podcast Playlist: https://bit.ly/whyyouvc SOCIAL LINKS: X: https://x.com/whyyouvc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whyyouvc RED: https://bit.ly/whyyouvcred Bilibili: https://bit.ly/whyyouvcbili Email: whyyouvc@gmail.com GUEST LINKS: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandrostark/ Vanagon: https://www.vanagon.vc/ Vanagon on X: https://x.com/vanagon_vc Vanagon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vanagon/

December 1, 202456 min

Christian Guba: Most Opinionated Climate Tech VC@Extantia's €204M Fund | YUVC Podcast #26

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! ❤ 00:00 - Introduction to ClimateTech Challenges 00:20 - Introduced by Han Shen at iFly.vc 01:49 - Career Journey and Early Influences 04:38 - Venture Capital Insights 05:37 - International Experience in Taipei 07:52 - Lessons from Different VC Firms 10:46 - Specializing in ClimateTech and FoodTech 14:36 - Alternative Protein Technologies 20:09 - Investor Perspectives on FoodTech 28:10 - Tackling Market Inefficiencies in Renewable Energy 28:39 - Exciting Startups and Technological Innovations 30:40 - Challenges in Germany’s Energy Sector 31:53 - Technology’s Role in Solving Daily Pain Points 32:41 - Investment Strategies and Nuclear Fusion 34:16 - Berlin as a Tech Hub 38:50 - Mindset and Market Challenges in Europe 43:48 - ClimateTech and Green Solutions 48:59 - Personal Reflections and Lessons Learned 51:31 - The Meaning of Life and Future Ventures PODCAST LINKS: • Podcast Website: https://www.whyyouvc.com • Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3V4FyQN • Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4hYSvpg • RSS: https://bit.ly/whyyouvcrss • Podcast Playlist: https://bit.ly/whyyouvc SOCIAL LINKS: • X: https://x.com/whyyouvc • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whyyouvc • RED: https://bit.ly/whyyouvcred • Bilibili: https://bit.ly/whyyouvcbili • Email: whyyouvc@gmail.com GUEST LINKS: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianguba/ • Extantia: https://www.extantia.com/

December 1, 202449 min

Jing Wang: WeRide’s Venture Investor, 15 Years VC Investing in China | YUVC Podcast #25

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 PODCAST LINKS: • Podcast Website: https://www.whyyouvc.com • Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3V4FyQN • Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4hYSvpg • RSS: https://bit.ly/whyyouvcrss • Podcast Playlist: https://bit.ly/whyyouvc SOCIAL LINKS: • X: https://x.com/whyyouvc • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whyyouvc • RED: https://bit.ly/whyyouvcred • Bilibili: https://bit.ly/whyyouvcbili • Email: whyyouvc@gmail.com GUEST LINKS: • Sky9 Capital: https://www.sky9capital.com/

November 30, 202456 min

Danijel Višević: Building Europe’s Largest 1st-Time ClimateTech VC, 5 Yrs Working with Angela Merkel | YUVC Podcast #24

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 PODCAST LINKS: • Podcast Website: https://www.whyyouvc.com • Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3V4FyQN • Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4hYSvpg • RSS: https://bit.ly/whyyouvcrss • Podcast Playlist: https://bit.ly/whyyouvc SOCIAL LINKS: • X: https://x.com/whyyouvc • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whyyouvc • RED: https://bit.ly/whyyouvcred • Bilibili: https://bit.ly/whyyouvcbili • Email: whyyouvc@gmail.com GUEST LINKS: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/visevic/ • Medium: https://visevic.medium.com/ • Personal Website: https://www.visevic.de/ • World Fund: https://www.worldfund.vc/

November 30, 20241 hr 4 min

Tilo Bonow: Investor of 60+ VCs, Founder of Piabo Helping DJI, Stripe Conquer EU | YUVC Podcast #23

Tilo Bonow is Founder at Piabo Communications with global clients like Stripe, Google, DJI. Meanwhile, he is an active LP in 60+ global VCs, like Headline, HV Capital, 3VC, and more. Tilo Bonow joined YUVC to discuss the pivotal role of effective communication in the startup and venture capital ecosystem. As the founder and CEO of Piabo Communications, Europe’s leading tech PR agency, Bonow explains why 50% of startup valuation is narrative. Eugene Foo: What are the key criteria you use to evaluate and select solo GPs for investment? Tilo Bonow: Solo GPs who demonstrate a clear positioning and focused expertise within a specific industry, ideally showcasing a career path aligning with their chosen sector. A history of entrepreneurship is highly valued, as is the ability to effectively communicate and leverage their LP community for mutual benefit. Now listen in for more insights! ❤ 00:00 - Intro 00:57 - Exploring a Historic Office Location 02:15 - Tilo Bonow’s Background and Piabo’s Mission 03:19 - The Role of Communication in Business 06:30 - Building Trust and Transparency 08:15 - Storytelling’s Impact on Startups 14:49 - Challenges and Strategies in PR 23:49 - Piabo’s First Client and Philosophy 31:27 - Criteria for Investment Decisions 31:45 - Founder Relationships and Their Importance 32:17 - Active LP Community and Relationship Leverage 33:17 - Honesty and Transparency in Venture Capital 36:55 - Perspectives on Global Investments 37:54 - Identifying Red Flags in GPs 45:18 - Berlin’s Rise as a Startup Hub 49:06 - Challenges and Opportunities in Europe 53:14 - PR Strategies for Startup Success 56:59 - Personal Reflections and Insights PODCAST LINKS: • Podcast Website: https://www.whyyouvc.com • Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3V4FyQN • Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4hYSvpg • RSS: https://bit.ly/whyyouvcrss • Podcast Playlist: https://bit.ly/whyyouvc SOCIAL LINKS: • X: https://x.com/whyyouvc • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whyyouvc • RED: https://bit.ly/whyyouvcred • Bilibili: https://bit.ly/whyyouvcbili • Email: whyyouvc@gmail.com GUEST LINKS: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tilobonow/ • Piabo: https://piabo.net/

November 28, 202449 min

Chun Xia: GP of TSVC, Fund Returner Zoom’s Eric Yuan Said 10X Minimum | YUVC Podcast #22

Chun Xia is Founding Partner at TSVC alongside Eugene Zhang (YUVC#19) based in Silicon Valley. Seed investor in Zoom, Carta, Ginkgo Bioworks and more. Dr. Xia Chun joined Eugene Foo and Yuyan Wang at YUVC discussing the intricate dynamics of Chinese entrepreneurs seeking financing in the U.S. amidst geopolitical tensions to focusing on the qualities needed to become a category leader. Eugene Foo: TSVC’s approach to evaluating founders? Dr. Chun Xia: We prioritize founder traits like integrity, resilience, and alignment of values, ensuring the best chance of success. Now listen in for more insights! ❤ 00:00 - Intro 00:14 - Insights on Entrepreneurship and Investment 02:11 - Personal Interests and Hobbies 07:44 - Journey and Experiences in the U.S. 18:55 - Challenges and Advice for Chinese Entrepreneurs 25:51 - Understanding People in Teams 26:27 - Challenges for Technical Founders 26:45 - Client Interviews and Engineer Mindset 27:25 - Investment Insights and Benchmarks 30:45 - The Trust Economy and Sharing Economy 35:56 - AI's Impact on Jobs and Industries 39:37 - The Future of Technology and Education 44:47 - Philosophical Reflections on Life and Media PODCAST LINKS: • Podcast Website: https://www.whyyouvc.com • Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3V4FyQN • Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4hYSvpg • RSS: https://bit.ly/whyyouvcrss • Podcast Playlist: https://bit.ly/whyyouvc SOCIAL LINKS: • X: https://x.com/whyyouvc • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whyyouvc • RED: https://bit.ly/whyyouvcred • Bilibili: https://bit.ly/whyyouvcbili • Email: whyyouvc@gmail.com GUEST LINKS: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chunrayxia/ • TSVC: https://www.tsvcap.com/

September 11, 20241 hr 39 min

Ertan Can: Investor of 48 MicroVCs, 2000+ Funds Screened, Secret Sauce of VC Success | YUVC Podcast #21

Ertan Can is Founder at Multiple Capital based in Luxembourg and Frankfurt backing Micro VCs with a focus on Europe. 2100 funds screened, 1000 GP relationships, 50+ sectors, 48 funds invested, 103 GPs/Partners, 1359 portfolio companies, 156 outliers, 23 unicorns, 1 decacorn. Eugene Foo: Your take on Masayoshi Son and SoftBank? Ertan Can: The longer SoftBank remains active as such, the higher the chances of success. Eugene Foo: What factors set a seed fund apart from others? Ertan Can: They become known as the go-to investors within their respective regions or verticals. Now listen in for more insights! ❤ 00:00 - Roadtrip Across China and Beyond 08:12 - The Rise of MicroVCs 16:15 - Randomness in Venture Capital 24:44 - Unfair Advantage in Venture Capital 32:42 - Fund Size and Investment Strategy 42:05 - Beyond Track Record 53:36 - Skin in the Game 59:00 - Large Funds Struggle at Seed Stage 1:06:05 - On MicroVCs 1:12:00 - Disruption, Transparency 1:19:07 - Meaning of Life 1:24:00 - Advice for YUVC 1:27:24 - Global Venture Rac 1:31:51 - Future of Venture Capital PODCAST LINKS: • Podcast Website: https://www.whyyouvc.com • Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3V4FyQN • Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4hYSvpg • RSS: https://bit.ly/whyyouvcrss • Podcast Playlist: https://bit.ly/whyyouvc SOCIAL LINKS: • X: https://x.com/whyyouvc • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whyyouvc • RED: https://bit.ly/whyyouvcred • Bilibili: https://bit.ly/whyyouvcbili • Email: whyyouvc@gmail.com GUEST LINKS: • X: https://x.com/rtancan • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ertancan/ • Multiple Capital: https://www.multiple.capital/

September 3, 202457 min

Cyrus Yari: Britannic-Achaemenian Podcaster-turned-VC with 0 Management Fee | YUVC Podcast #20

Cyrus Yari is Co-Founder at Rational VC, formerly a podcast going deepdives with VCs, now investing $250,000 to $1 million in pre-seed to series-A rounds. Cyrus Yari joined Eugene Foo at YUVC sharing his journey from one of the UK’s lowest-performing schools to co-investing with silicon valley big-name VCs. Eugene Foo: Your take on VC as of today? Cyrus Yari: Many VCs operate like a Ponzi scheme, raising funding without significant personal investment and depending on management fees. Skin in the game is the name of the game. Now listen in for more insights! ❤ 00:00 - Cyrus's Journey to Rational VC 06:19 - Positive Black Swans and Asymmetric Bets 11:35 - Rational VC: A Different Approach to Venture Capital 17:58 - Media Company Around Timeless Ideas 25:15 - A Focus on Impact 33:26 - Freedom, Growth, and Impact PODCAST LINKS: • Podcast Website: https://www.whyyouvc.com • Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3V4FyQN • Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4hYSvpg • RSS: https://bit.ly/whyyouvcrss • Podcast Playlist: https://bit.ly/whyyouvc SOCIAL LINKS: • X: https://x.com/whyyouvc • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whyyouvc • RED: https://bit.ly/whyyouvcred • Bilibili: https://bit.ly/whyyouvcbili • Email: whyyouvc@gmail.com GUEST LINKS: • X: https://x.com/CyrusYari • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cyrusyari/ • Rational VC Pod: https://www.rationalvc.com/ • Rational VC Fund: https://rational.fund/

August 24, 202441 min

Eugene Zhang: 1st VC Ticket in Zoom, 9 Unicorns, Top Angel Fund in US per Pitchbook | YUVC Podcast #19

Eugene Zhang is Founding Partner at TSVC (formerly TEEC Angel), 1st angel fund in Silicon Valley founded by Chinese American investing the ticket ticket into global Chinese and beyond. With 9 unicorns in the portfolio, TSVC is named a top unicorn investor in the US by PitchBook. Yuyan Wang: How long does it take to invest in a case? Eugene Zhang: Sometimes within a day. We have a talk in the morning and we invest in the afternoon. Otherwise, it takes longer. But we try to satisfy the founder’s needs. Now listen in for more insights! ❤ 00:00 - Always about Startup 06:01 - Challenges startup up 08:30 - Angel to VC 11:01 - First Deal 14:35 - Investing in Zoom 21:19 - Decision-Making 24:48 - Success Factors 29:56 - Valuation 31:04 - Lessons Learned 32:42 - The AI Era 35:22 - Silicon Valley’s Future 39:01 - Meaning of Life PODCAST LINKS: • Podcast Website: https://www.whyyouvc.com • Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3V4FyQN • Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4hYSvpg • RSS: https://bit.ly/whyyouvcrss • Podcast Playlist: https://bit.ly/whyyouvc SOCIAL LINKS: • X: https://x.com/whyyouvc • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whyyouvc • RED: https://bit.ly/whyyouvcred • Bilibili: https://bit.ly/whyyouvcbili • Email: whyyouvc@gmail.com GUEST LINKS: • X: https://x.com/eugene_zhang • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eugenezhang/ • TSVC: https://www.tsvcap.com/