“There is no absolute knowledge when it comes to predicting which innovation is going to be successful and which one is not” – Mike Beunder, Managing Partner of the corporate finance company TD Shepherd & Co. B.V. (Utrecht, Netherlands), during his interview with Robert Huntley, MIET in EE Times | Electronic Engineering Times.
EE Times | Electronic Engineering Times has recently published an insightful article titled “Venture Capital in Europe: Picking the Right Wave to Ride.” This feature includes exclusive interviews with key players in the venture capital landscape, such as Mike Beunder, Managing Partner of TD Shepherd; Manjari Chandran-Ramesh, PhD, from Amadeus Capital Partners; and Michael Dimelow from Bloc Ventures. The interviews shed light on the challenges and strategies involved in navigating the unpredictable realm of innovation.
To access the full article, visit https://www.eetimes.eu/venture-capital-in-europe-picking-the-right-wave-to-ride/
The TD Shepherd team is happy to congratulate the Qualinx B.V. team on successfully raising €20 million from Dutch investors. TD Shepherd has provided strategic support to Qualinx over the years (starting in 2018), witnessing each step of their journey; their growth and success, makes us truly proud of their outstanding achievements.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned about surviving the Valley of Death in deep tech, it’s this: don’t go it alone. This stage is all about leveraging relationships, and corporate partnerships can be your most valuable lifeline. The key is to think beyond customers.
The so-called “Valley of Death” in deep tech isn’t just about running out of cash—it’s about navigating a period where expectations clash with reality. Investors want to see traction, but your tech isn’t market-ready. Customers are intrigued, but they’re not ready to commit. And your R&D costs? They’re still burning through cash like it’s a bonfire.