Episode 120: Antonia Eneh: CEO of Wave Ventures - Gen Z Is Taking Over

Episode 120: Antonia Eneh: CEO of Wave Ventures - Gen Z Is Taking Over

Author: Thomas Ohr June 5, 2025 Duration: 26:38
This week on the EU-Startups Podcast, Marcin Lewandowski interviews Antonia Eneh, CEO of Wave Ventures, the trailblazing Gen Z-led VC fund that just launched Wave III — their boldest fund yet to invest in the world’s most ambitious Gen Z founders backed by the people behind Bolt, Slack, Wolt, and Supercell. We dive deep into what makes this generation of entrepreneurs tick: 🌍 Their hunger for purpose 💥 Their refusal to accept the status quo 🚀 And their vision to build the world they want to live in Antonia also pulls back the curtain on Wave Ventures’ radically personal investment model, why relationships beat ideas, and how VC must evolve to reflect the diversity and creativity of a new era. If you're building the next big thing — or just want a window into the minds shaping tomorrow — don’t miss this one. 🧠 Takeaways: 1. Gen Z is actively building a world that reflects their values 2. Gen Z founders are driven by purpose, not perks 3. Wave Ventures backs people, not just traction 4. Grit, ambition, and the "X-factor" matter more than resumes 5. The best VCs build with founders — not just write checks 📍Chapters: 00:00 Intro to Wave Ventures & Gen Z Founders 01:46 Building a Better World 03:42 Spotting Wave Material 05:52 A Fund by Students for Students 07:48 People Over Ideas 09:40 Relationship-Driven VC 11:57 Personalized Investment Process 13:45 The Future of VC 19:10 Rapid Fire Game If you haven't already.... Subscribe to the EU-Startups Podcast on YouTube! Or follow along on your other favorite podcast platforms... Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4QU85dN... / Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/ee/podcast... Follow EU-Startups on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eu-startups-menlo-media/ Visit our Website: https://www.eu-startups.com/ Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://www.eu-startups.com/newsletter/

Hosted by Thomas Ohr, the EU-Startups Podcast pulls back the curtain on the continent's most dynamic and innovative companies. This isn't about abstract theory; it's a direct line to the founders, investors, and operators who are actually building the future across European cities. Each conversation digs into the tangible details-the early struggles for funding, the strategic pivots, the challenges of scaling across borders, and the personal journeys behind the headlines. You'll hear candid stories about what works and what doesn't in the intersecting worlds of technology and business, offering real insights for entrepreneurs at any stage and anyone curious about the mechanics of startup culture. As the audio companion to the leading online magazine EU-Startups.com, this podcast delivers depth and context you won't find elsewhere, turning each episode into a practical case study. Tune in for an authentic, unvarnished look at the ideas and people driving Europe's entrepreneurial landscape forward.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

EU-Startups Podcast
Podcast Episodes
The Christmas Trip that Built BlaBlaCar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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In this edition of the EU-Startups Podcast we had a cht with Tyler Edwards, the ex-MI6 founder who set out to secure AI Agents.
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Duration: 39:10
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Duration: 55:10
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How Factorial Became Barcelona's HRTech Unicorn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:18
This interview features Jordi Romero, Founder and CEO of Factorial, offering an in-depth look at the evolution of one of Europe’s leading HRTech scaleups. Based in Barcelona, Romero shares his journey from engineer to en…
Why Female Founders Are Still Overlooked [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:23
In this episode, Rupa Popat, founder of Arāya Ventures, shares her vision for redefining early-stage venture capital. Rupa discusses the persistent under-allocation of capital to diverse founders, highlighting that femal…
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Duration: 27:42
In this interview, Jan Oberhauser, Founder and CEO of n8n, talks about how a personal frustration with repetitive coding led him to build one of Europe’s best-known workflow automation platforms. From the early pain poin…
Inside the Tech Hacking Brain Health [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:12
This episode features Ana Maiques, CEO and co-founder of Neuroelectrics, a Barcelona-based neurotechnology company pioneering non-invasive brain stimulation for neurological and psychiatric conditions. Founded in 2011 as…