Olav Ostin on EUVC, TempoCap: Europe’s Secondaries Boom

“Who isn’t selling?” That’s the question reshaping European venture today.

Our Managing Partner, Olav Ostin, recently joined the EUVC Podcast to discuss why secondary directs have become the most dynamic corner of venture – and how we’re helping to solve Europe’s liquidity challenge.

The market context is striking. Corporate VC investment skyrocketed from $18 billion in 2014 to $173 billion at the 2021 peak. Those portfolios now need exits, but traditional paths aren’t delivering. This creates an opportunity for those who understand how to navigate complex transactions.

As Olav discussed:

–  Discounts aren’t automatic – pricing reflects exit prospects, not arbitrary percentages

–  The best deals come from relationships, not auctions

–  Corporates’ offloading of strategic investments represents a massive opportunity

–  Keeping incumbent GPs involved creates better outcomes

Olav shares candid insights about our evolution from a 2016 startup to a 12-person team across London and Berlin (Paris coming soon). He explains our focus on €10-30M ARR businesses, why we prefer AI, enterprise software, and fintech, and how we structure everything from €5M single deals to €100M+ portfolio deals.

For founders seeking liquidity options and investors managing mature portfolios, secondaries are no longer Plan B – they’re becoming the primary liquidity engine for European venture.

The next decade will see unprecedented secondary activity as 2020-21 vintages mature. We’re positioned to lead that transformation.

Full conversation on EUVC Podcast
Deep dive on EUVC Substack