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INTERVIEW: EIF’s Merete Clausen on Europe’s geopolitical awakening, risk allocation, and unlocking pension capital

INTERVIEW: EIF’s Merete Clausen on Europe’s geopolitical awakening, risk allocation, and unlocking pension capital

HAAPSALU — For European technology startups looking to scale into regional and global champions, the chronic shortage of late-stage growth capital remains a central challenge. Founders often face a difficult choice: seek Silicon Valley-aligned capital or risk stalling out on growth tickets. Fomo.Observer sat down (literally, on a

Europe’s untapped capital: Baltic VCs eye €500 million pension windfall amid “Index bashing”

Europe’s untapped capital: Baltic VCs eye €500 million pension windfall amid “Index bashing”

As European venture capital scrambles to retain its top tech champions, local fund managers are turning their attention to the region's largest, yet most cautious, pool of capital: pension funds. But unlocking these institutional billions is sparking fierce debate over political meddling, the rise of passive index investing,

Escaping the local capital trap with global ambition and unified public markets

Escaping the local capital trap with global ambition and unified public markets

HAAPSALU - To survive an increasingly competitive global fundraising environment, venture capital fund managers across the Baltics and Nordics must look beyond local private capital and embrace the unifying power of regional public markets, industry leaders warned. Speaking at the "From Baltics to New Nordics" panel at Baltic VCA

Europe’s sovereignty challenge: Can institutional capital bridge the growth gap?

Europe’s sovereignty challenge: Can institutional capital bridge the growth gap?

HAAPSALU - As geopolitical tensions accelerate the unbundling of global supply chains and capital flows, Europe's tech ecosystem faces an existential challenge: building indigenous technological sovereignty while overcoming its chronic shortage of late-stage growth capital. At the Baltic VCA Summit in Haapsalu, venture capitalists and institutional policymakers converged

SmartCap announces Patrik Louko as new CEO

SmartCap announces Patrik Louko as new CEO

SmartCap, Estonia’s state-owned fund manager, has announced its new CEO. Patrik Louko will step into the vacant position, replacing Sille Pettai. Louko brings 20 years of experience in investment, venture capital, and growing technology companies. Since 2023, he has served as Chief Investment Officer at the University of

Kärt Klein takes over as head of EstVCA

Kärt Klein takes over as head of EstVCA

TALLINN — The Estonian Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (EstVCA) has tapped Kärt Klein as head of the organisation from September, taking over from Madis Lehtmets, who ran the operations for the last two years. Klein brings a comprehensive background spanning community management, foreign direct investment, and venture capital to

Why a16z is keeping a close AI on Estonian founders

We recently caught up with Gabriel Vasquez, Investment Partner at a16z, who spearheads their global AI investment strategy. He shared why the global VC titan keeps coming back to Estonia. How do investors see the new Nordics for a place to invest? We've been investing in Estonia for