taavet hinrikus
@taavet
Building @pluralplatform to have GDP level impact on Europe. Previously built @Wise @Skype @KoodJohvi @certific. From #Estonia, love adventure.
Launching @PluralPlatform where experienced company builders come together to invest and build the future of Europe. The investor I wish I had when building @Wise… more below … 1/
1. Our mission at @pluralplatform is to back the most ambitious founders building companies that could change the future and have GDP-level impact. That’s why we’re investing $8.5m in @sunriserobots, as it emerges from stealth to transform European manufacturing.
It was an honour to be invited to 10 Downing Street yesterday for @LDNTechWeek, where one little Starship robot met the Prime Minister, @Keir_Starmer, his Cabinet, and even Larry the cat!
1/ In less than 2 years since it was founded, @proximafusion has raised a $150M Series A - the largest private investment into fusion that Europe has ever seen. For first time founders to pull this off so quickly is unusual, so here's how they did it:
1/As an Estonian, from a country on NATO’s Eastern flank, you naturally think a lot about defence. It follows that I see a lot of defence companies. Today we’re announcing a $20m Series A into Labrys, to build defense and security coordination for the future. Here's why:
Excellent behind-the-scenes look at @BuildMonumental in the latest episode of @andreasklinger's "Europe’s Most Ambitious Startup" series, where he interviews CEO @salar about automating the $10tr construction industry and building hard tech in Europe youtube.com/watch?v=DOo8n1…
1/ The $200bn eyewear industry, serving 2.2bn people with vision impairment, has seen little innovation in 750 years. That's why @Plural is co-leading a $35.5m round for @ixieyewear which is bringing frontier tech to this glacially slow-moving market 🧵
This was fun, @HarryStebbings, and we covered a lot of ground. Thanks for having me on @twentyminutevc - it was worth the wait! 🔥
Honestly, I have had enough of placid BS podcast episodes where people sit on the fence. “The 2:20 fee and carry model of venture is broken”. “VCs are spreadsheet monkeys”. “It is likely Putin will want more and to expand”. We cannot trust US tech, we need European…
.@HarryStebbings and I finally sat down for a @twentyminutevc far-reaching conversation to cover everything from global conflict, scar tissue, repeat founders, the future of European tech and misalignment in VC. Huge thx to Harry for having me - the episode drops this afternoon.
Thrilled to see HARDLIST launch today to showcase the most hardcore hardware startups being built right now across Europe - companies at the frontiers of energy, defense, food, transport, construction, space, robots and AI. hardli.st
'We have to be prepared' - @torstenreil talks to @johnthornhillft about democracy, defence and the future of Europe. An unmissable Lunch with the @FT ft.com/content/5b917d…