The Power of Experience: Nicola McClafferty’s Journey from Investor to Founder and Back as a Series A+ Investor

An insightful discussion on the state of European entrepreneurship and how current market conditions create opportunities for strong businesses.

Oct 09, 2024

Transcript

Welcome to a new episode of our special series, At The Cap Table Series, on EUVC.

Today, Sarah Finegan, Senior Investor at Antler has a discussion with Nicola McClafferty, Partner at Molten Ventures. Molten Ventures, formerly Draper Esprit, is a venture capital firm investing in high-growth technology companies with global ambitions, with offices in London and Dublin. Molten is publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange and takes flexible and patient capital to invest across primary, secondary, and fund funds. Molten invests ~$200 million a year across Seed - Series B stage companies with ~$2 billion AUM.

Nicola spent 5 years as a venture capital investor with Balderton Capital and media consultancy Ravensbeck, focusing on early-stage technology and digital consumer investments. She graduated from University College Dublin with a degree in International Business and French.

In this episode, Nicola shares her personal journey, including her transition from VC to founder and back again, and how that experience shapes her approach as a leading venture capitalist today. She discusses her experiences as a founder, including scaling companies from zero to one and through later stages.

We’ll explore Molten Ventures’ unique model, which encompasses everything from Fund of Funds investments to secondaries and Series A-C funding, as well as the current state of entrepreneurship in Europe and beyond.

The episode also covers trends in consumer software, vertical SaaS, and B2B2C, along with Nicola’s insights on the future of marketplaces and e-commerce. To wrap things up, we’ll have some fun with rapid-fire questions, gaining personal insights from Nicola, including her advice to her younger self.

So, whether you're a founder, an investor, or just fascinated by the tech ecosystem, stay tuned for an engaging and insightful conversation. Let's get started!

Watch it here or add it to your episodes on Apple or Spotify 🎧 chapters for easy navigation available on the Spotify/Apple episode.

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✍️ Key Takeaways

Nicola's journey from VC investor to founder and back underscores the value of firsthand experience in building and scaling companies. This unique perspective has enhanced her ability to empathise with founders and make informed investment decisions.
Current market conditions create opportunities for strong businesses.
AI represents a significant platform shift in technology.
Molten Ventures' model allows for flexible investment strategies.
Distribution is crucial for scaling a business successfully.
Founders must focus on product-market fit in the early stages.
The Irish market is evolving with increased local talent and potential for global opportunities.
Investing in consumer software with AI is becoming more promising.

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