Explore every episode of the podcast Venture Lab with Luis

Filip Dames, co-founder of Zalando and Managing Partner at Cherry Ventures (€500M fund), reveals how he went from opera singer to failed founder to scaling Europe's largest fashion marketplace to backing deep tech startups in fusion energy, AI, and robotics. We cover startup failure lessons, seed fundraising strategy, hiring mistakes founders make, and why Europe will build trillion-dollar companies. 

In this episode, Filip shares: 

• His first startup failure (Tamundo) and Zalando's near-death fundraising moments before IPO 

• The #1 hiring mistake that destroys early-stage startups and why firing fast saves companies  

• "Dream in decades, execute in weeks" - his framework for deep tech investing (Proxima Fusion, The Exploration Company) 

• How to overcome founder fear: the best founders act before fear wins 

• Cherry Ventures' operator-first approach: talent network, go-to-market support, daily founder support 

• "Skip the theory, start building" - stop writing business plans, start talking to customers 

For founders raising pre-seed/seed, VCs investing in Europe, startup operators, and deep tech builders. 

Mo Chahin, founder of Twain, reveals how he went from dropping out of university to raising millions from Sequoia before building a product and how he closed a full seed round in just 24 hours. We cover his journey from refugee roots to co-founding EatClever, fighting imposter syndrome, walking away from a million dollar startup, and finally building his life’s work with Twain. If you’re a founder, operator, or VC, you NEED to watch this.In this episode, Mo shares: • Why Sequoia backed Twain pre-product and how to position yourself for world-class investors. • The crazy story of closing a seed round in 24 hours (and why leverage only matters if you use it well). • How to turn imposter syndrome into a founder superpower through resilience and relentless learning. • The brutal lessons of hiring mistakes, restructuring a team, and why emotional investor support can save founders. • Twain’s radical culture: no managers, no promotions, no feedback and how it makes 7 people feel like 70.

Christian Nagel, co-founder of Earlybird Venture Capital, unpacks 28 years of European VC: how to build top-performing funds, pick founders when product isn’t enough, and why real VC “education” costs $50M. We cover Earlybird’s evolution from the dot-com crash to €2.5B AUM, category-defining exits, and a data-driven future of founder discovery and portfolio construction. If you’re a VC, operator, or ambitious founder, you NEED to watch this. In this episode, Christian shares:

• Why “lose $50M” is the tuition great investors pay and what it teaches about portfolio construction.

• The playbook for surviving VC’s “nuclear winter”: using management fees for winners in 2000

• How to avoid being “dumb money” in co-invests and win by leading and staying close to founders.

• The next era of European VC: specialization and AI-enabled sourcing

Ondrej Bartos, co-founder of Credo Ventures, shares what most VCs won’t say out loud: venture capital is broken. In this episode, he reveals why the industry lost its edge, how he built a fund against all odds in Eastern Europe, and what the rise of solo founders means for the future of investing. If you're a founder, aspiring VC, or builder who questions the status quo, this is a must-watch.In this conversation, Ondrej breaks down: • Why there’s too much capital and not enough conviction • The surprising truth behind his first exposure to VC • How growing up under socialism shaped his contrarian mindset • What actually matters when evaluating founders • Why single-person unicorns will change venture forever • How to stay grounded in a hype-driven industry

Ophelia Brown, founder of Blossom Capital and former Index Ventures investor, reveals how she’s reshaping European venture capital with conviction-led investing and elite founder support. In this episode, she unpacks why the best VCs operate like founders, how to build a differentiated fund, and what most investors still get wrong about ambition in Europe. If you’re a VC, operator, or ambitious founder, you NEED to watch this.In this episode, Ophelia shares: • Why she left a top-tier fund at 30 to build her own • How conviction and speed are her edge in winning deals • The one mistake founders make in investor updates • Why most VCs lie about being “hands-on” • What makes European founders world-class

Sam Tidswell-Norrish, former private equity operator, shares how he’s rebuilding venture capital with value creation at the core. In this episode, he breaks down the future of VC, why the best founders are obsessed, and how community is the next edge in early-stage investing. If you are a VC, operator, or ambitious founder, you HAVE to watch this. In this episode, Sam shares:• Why the traditional VC model is broken• How value creation is replacing capital as a differentiator• The biggest mistake investors make when pitching founders• Why AI is essential to every fund's future• The mindset behind building one of the world’s strongest networks

Co-Created founder Oliver Yonchev, formerly co-founder of Flight Story with Steven Bartlett and ex-Managing Director at Social Chain, shares how AI is disrupting venture capital, why creative founders will thrive, and the future of startup building. A must-watch for VCs, operators, and early-stage founders.In this episode he shares: • Why the traditional VC model is broken • The #1 trait of successful founders • AI’s impact on team building and product development • How obsession outperforms capital • The human edge in an automated world

Salomon Aiach is an investor and founder who’s reshaping what it means to break into venture capital. After working at Goldman Sachs and leading startup partnerships at Facebook, Salomon co-founded Origins Fund alongside World Cup winner Blaise Matuidi and Ilan Abehassera. Together, they’ve built one of Europe’s most unique early-stage funds, backed by athletes and celebrities, and focused on supporting consumer-facing companies with global potential. Salomon’s multicultural background, having lived across the US, France, and Israel, is deeply influencing his investment philosophy and global perspective on entrepreneurship. In this episode, we explore the "golden cage" mentality that traps high-achievers, why he chose intrapreneurship as his bridge to building companies, and how combining sports celebrity with venture expertise creates unprecedented value for founders.

Saul Klein is a husband, father, founder, operator, and one of the most influential investors in European tech. After co-founding LoveFilm (acquired by Amazon), Klein established himself as a cornerstone of the European tech ecosystem by co-founding Local Globe, one of Europe's most successful early-stage venture funds, alongside his father Robin Klein.Local Globe's impressive portfolio includes investments in nearly every major unicorn at seed stage across the EMEA region. Saul’s purpose-driven approach to innovation is deeply shaped by his upbringing in apartheid-era South Africa. In this episode, we explore how technology needs a human lens, why inequality should be tackled through innovation, and how building ecosystems, not just companies, is key to creating long-term change.

Erik Huberman is an entrepreneur, investor, and bestselling author who bootstrapped his marketing company, Hawke Media, to over $150M. In this conversation, he gives you the secrets and the exact framework behind his success.