As Endeit marks 20 years of backing and building some of Europe’s most innovative companies, we’ve been reflecting on our journey so far. But in venture capital, the real focus is always on what comes next. To look ahead, we asked the opinion of the most relevant people in our team - those in the early stages of their career who will help shape and define the future of our industry: what do they expect and hope to see in the world of VC & innovation in the next 20 years?
Emmelie Meurs, Associate, Climate Tech:
“Over the next 20 years, climate tech will become central to how industries and infrastructure operate. Venture capital should target technologies that deliver resilience and strong economic returns at scale. Opportunities lie in software and systems that manage physical operations at scale, including stabilizing grids, automating circular supply chains, and optimizing industrial processes. Addressing climate impacts is now an operational necessity, not a future concern. AI can unlock solutions that were previously uneconomic, making efficiency and adaptation profitable by design. The vision is clear: make sustainability inseparable from operational excellence, funding the tools that drive a more efficient, cleaner, and resilient world.”
Fredrik Brändström, Associate, Fintech:
“Venture's greatest weakness is its short memory. We chase momentum on the way up and abandon conviction on the way down. I want to see investors who treat volatility as opportunity, not obstacle, and who back founders building businesses that compound steadily rather than spike dramatically. The last few years taught us that sustainable economics outlast growth narratives. AI will make us better at spotting familiar patterns, but the outlier returns come from unfamiliar ones. What excites me is a future where "patient capital" isn't a euphemism for slow. It's a genuine competitive edge.”
Silvia Ersetti, Associate, Future of Work:
“I expect the European VC landscape to undergo massive fundamental changes over the next 20 years: institutional money flowing into this asset class will grow, boosting Europe’s competitiveness, while funds will polarize into either large multi-stage platforms or hyper-specialized players, offering founders truly unique value propositions; on top, a shift towards 50-50 female representation at both the partners’ and founders’ table will (finally) close the diversity gap in tech. As the 'Future of Work’ starts from education, I believe today's education system will be fundamentally transformed to unlock individual potential and prepare people for an AI-first economy. AI companions will become the new standard across all professions, and radically transform every role into more dynamic, creative, and value-adding versions of their present-day selves.”
Berend van Nieuwland, AI Developer:
“I believe the AI shift is still underestimated; I imagine shifts across every layer of society. Cognitively, we are changing from thinkers to 'instructors' of LLMs. Economically, we may move toward a positive-sum world; as AI solves for basic needs, money may cease to be a survival commodity, which may redefine human purpose. In board rooms, the static pitch is dead; 'vibe coded' React HTMLs will replace PowerPoint. Informationally, in a world of infinite realistic generation, discerning historical truth from synthetic fiction will be our hardest battle. The next 20 years of VC should focus on anticipating and enabling this revolution by backing founders who see the world through first principles, which is essential for this new era.”
Boris Copraij, Finance Assistant:
“The future of venture capital in Europe holds great potential. Compared to the United States, investments in promising companies are still relatively small, but steps in the right direction are being made - thanks to certain initiatives like the European Investment Fund, which will make it more attractive to support the growth of these companies. Yet the opportunity ahead remains vast; innovations in sectors like climate tech and fintech are promising. To unlock their potential, Europe must broaden access to risk capital and build an environment where entrepreneurship feels both possible and rewarding. If this succeeds, we can keep competition alive and create the next generation of great companies.”
Tuomas Rekonen, Investment Manager, Cybersecurity:
“I hope venture capital moves beyond the boom-bust cycles we've become accustomed to. Capital flooded certain sectors during unprecedented times, then quickly retreated when conditions shifted. What I want to see: more patient capital that doesn't demand hypergrowth at all costs. Companies that endured recent volatility had sustainable unit economics, not just viral adoption. VCs should reward founders who build for resilience, not just scale. AI will optimizefor what worked before, but venture returns come from venturing off the beaten path. Backing a founder everyone else passed on requires human intuition algorithms can't replicate. I hope we develop stronger convictions to fund through downturns. The best opportunities emerge when capital flees. Fundamentally, venture needs to rediscover that "long-term" means longer than 18 months.”
