#15 Bastian R. Larsen - Founder & CEO of BlackWood Ventures on AI-Driven VC, Community Capital & Europe’s Startup Edge
Description
Ever wondered how venture capital can scale smarter with technology and community?
In this episode of Campus To Capital, we sit down with Bastian R. Larsen, Founder & CEO of BlackWood Ventures, to unpack how AI, data, and a strong angel community are reshaping early-stage investing in Europe.
From working on the globally fastest growing hedge fund at BlackRock to launching his own VC fund, Bastian shares the operator lessons and contrarian lens behind building BlackWood.
We talk about:
• The founder’s lens: what it takes to launch a first-time fund in a cold market
• AI in venture: separating noise from signal in thousands of startups
• When conviction beats the algorithm – and why it matters
• Designing a community-driven portfolio strategy at scale
• Where contrarian alpha is hiding across European venture markets
• Lessons from Oxford, HEC & Inhouse Research
• Career advice for students and young professionals entering VC
A conversation on rethinking venture capital – powered by intelligence, strengthened by community, built for Europe’s next generation of founders.
Many thanks to Bastian for joining the conversation!
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