Direct ocean capture may be the next frontier for carbon removal

Europe's Deep Tech sector just hit a milestone: nearly €15 billion invested in 2024, cementing its position as one of venture capital's hottest sectors. Yet for founders building hardware-first companies, from quantum processors to industrial robotics, the path to funding remains frustratingly opaque.

We’ve joined Sequoia and Westly Group in backing Magentic, which is building enterprise-grade AI agents that autonomously recover millions in lost procurement value. Founded by a supply chain veteran and an ex-OpenAI engineer, Magentic blends industry insight with AI excellence.

In this episode, Lukas shares his journey from a mechanical engineering student rejected from aerospace programs to spending 14 years at DLR before selling his motorbike to raise startup capital.