Deal Makers (& Fakers)

A $400M Fund's Contrarian Bet Against AI Startups | Denis x spectup

What happens when a rocket scientist reviews over 11,000 pitch decks to completely challenge mainstream venture capital trends, and what is the venture capital strategy behind funded startups? In this exclusive episode, we reveal why a $400M New York fund is passing on standard software loops to invest heavily in the physical industries building the future. In this powerful episode of Deal Makers & Fakers, Niclas Schlöpsna sits down with Denis, the visionary lead behind 2BF Global Ventures, a premier New York-based venture capital firm commanding over $400 million in assets under management. Drawing from his fifth consecutive fund and an impressive portfolio featuring market leaders like ServiceTitan and Fubo, Denis shares a contrarian investment thesis that directly opposes standard industry logic. As a former rocket scientist holding dual Master's Degrees from the prestigious Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, he has built one of the world's most foundational global communities for SpaceTech founders. What You'll Learn in This Video Podcast • How to align your goals with the expectations of an experienced investment fund manager - The $400M Fund Thesis: Inside the capital allocation strategy of 2BF Global Ventures' fifth active fund - 11,000 Pitch Decks Decoded: The core patterns, fatal errors, and traction markers analyzed across 12 years of venture profiling - The Frontier Tech Paradox: Why a trained rocket scientist focuses on heavy foundational industries over fleeting digital trends - Building a SpaceTech Community: Deconstructing how specialized global networks help niche tech operators scale efficiently - The Contrarian Investor Mindset: Overcoming standard analyst groupthink to capture exceptional value in uncrowded, high-barrier markets About spectup At spectup, we provide premium, high-stakes capital advisory for founders looking to scale their impact. We believe in building a future where innovation and responsibility go hand-in-hand. Subscribe for weekly startup funding advice and analysis. Tell us in the comments which part of the venture capital strategy process you want us to cover next. #spectup #VentureCapital #FrontierTech #SpaceTech #StartupFundraising #InvestorPsychology #CorporateFinance #Entrepreneurship #CapitalAdvisory

From €15M market operator to a €30M VC – Secrets of a Venture Capitalist

How a €30M Fund Backed by Europe's Biggest Investor Became the Ultimate VC Gatekeeper In this episode of Deal Makers, Niclas Schlopsna sits down with Vlad Sarca, General Partner at Sparking Capital, to unlock the raw, behind-the-scenes mechanics of early-stage venture capital. What actually goes through a venture capitalist's mind when they review your pitch deck? Vlad breaks down the exact framework he uses to evaluate founders, moving past the superficial "AI" buzzwords that often ruin otherwise strong pitches. For founders navigating capital advisory and venture capital, understanding these dynamics is crucial for improving your startup's quality of life and survival rate in a competitive market. We also dive deep into the Eastern European tech ecosystem, deconstructing the secret price arbitrage giving regional startups a massive edge and how the "EU-Inc" initiative could stop founders from fleeing to Delaware. This perspective is essential for driving regional economic development and building a sustainable legacy in global tech. What You'll Learn in This Video Podcast * The 10% Pass Rate: Why the vast majority of pitch decks are immediately rejected during the initial screening process. * The "AI" Trap: Why forcing tech buzzwords into your deck is killing your credibility with experienced investors. * Cap Table Death Traps: The specific equity splits, unengaged academic mentors, and broken ownership structures that make your startup completely uninvestable. * VC Syndicates & Partnerships: How venture capitalists simultaneously compete and collaborate behind the scenes to close high-quality deals. * The Price Arbitrage Advantage: How Eastern European startups leverage lower operational costs to achieve massive scalability with less capital. * Term Sheet Realities: The exact founder behaviours, unrealistic projections, and lack of responsibility that cause VCs to pull out of a deal. About Spectup At spectup, we provide high-stakes capital advisory for founders looking to scale their impact. Capital advisory for companies raising from institutional investors (family office, VC, private equity) and for GPs raising a new fund and need intros to Limited partners.

Inside secrets of €30M VC ecosystem

In this insightful discussion, Vlad Sarca from GP Sparking Capital and Niclas Schlopsna, Partner at spectup, discuss key investment strategies. They addressed the prevalent "artificial intelligence" buzzword and compare the active investor pool in smaller ecosystems to larger ones, emphasising the nuances of capital allocation. This episode offers valuable perspectives on business strategy from experienced executive leadership. We explored a lot of topics. From the uncoachable founder behaviours that get your term sheet pulled to why slapping fake "AI" metrics on your business strategy kills your credibility, Vlad shares the strict frameworks he uses to scan 50+ decks monthly. We also explored the massive growth of the Eastern European tech ecosystem, the secret price arbitrage giving regional startups an edge, and why structural moves like the "EU-Inc" initiative matter for regional economic development. Stay tuned for the full video. About spectup:At spectup, we provide premium, high-stakes capital advisory for founders looking to scale their impact. We believe in building a future where innovation and responsibility go hand-in-hand. Learn more at: www.spectup.com

From Academic Research at UCL to Raising €4.5M Capital

The wellness industry is growing rapidly, with unique sensory innovations now leading the way in sleep health. In this episode, Niclas Schlöpsna, Managing Partner at spectup, sits down with Dr. Emanuela Maggioni, CEO of Hynt Labs, to discuss how a sophisticated lab project secured €4.5M in total capital. Emanuela, an expert with 20 years of experience in olfactory science and neuroscience, shares her journey from researching at Sussex and University College London (UCL) to leading a high-growth deep tech company. We explore how Hynt Labs utilises real-time scent interventions to optimise sleep stages by integrating via APIs with established wearables like Oura, Samsung Watch, and WHOOP. What You Will Learn: * The €4.5M Funding Strategy: Hynt Labs' €3.4M equity and €1.1M grant strategy for global scaling. * The Pivot to Sleep Tech: Why moving from general sensory widgets to targeted sleep intervention was the key to commercial success. * Davos & Global Marketing: How demonstrating technology at the World Economic Forum acted as a massive growth multiplier. * Lab to Boardroom: Overcoming the academic mindset to embrace B2B licensing and business clarity. * Deep Tech Landscape: Navigating the differences between European and US investment risks About spectup: High-stakes capital advisory for founders scaling their impact. We drive fundraising strategy, ensure investor readiness, and manage outreach to VCs, family offices, and angels. Learn more: spectup.com [https://spectup.com]

She raised €4.5M in AI-powered Sleep Tech

In this episode, Niclas Schlopsna sits down with Dr. Emanuela Maggioni, founder of Hynt Labs, to explore how wearable data is being transformed into real-time sensory interventions tech for better sleep. Dr. Maggioni reveals how Hynt Labs integrates data from Oura, Samsung Watch, and WHOOP to optimize human rest through neuroscience and AI sleep technology with API integrations. This conversation bridges complex deep tech innovation with practical consumer wellness solutions. KEY TOPICS: * Hynt Labs' €3.4M equity and €1.1M grant strategy for global scaling.  * Wearable API integration for personalized interventions * Strategic partnerships with major global corporations About spectup: Neo-investment bank for comapnies raising from institutional investors (family office, VC, private equity) and for GPs raising a new fund and need intros to Limited partners Learn more: www.spectup.com [https://www.spectup.com]