logo
episode-header-image
Today
35m 17s

E559 | From Saving the World to Backing ...

The European VC
About this episode

Welcome to the Impact Highlight series, powered by EUVC, where we bring you the people and perspectives shaping European venture.

Today, we sit down with Chloe Dagnell from Isomer Capital, one of Europe’s most active LPs, to unpack what institutional investors are looking for, how impact sits alongside returns, and what makes a GP truly stand out.

With more than six years at Isomer Capital and a background that started in international development before moving into venture, Chloe brings a unique perspective on building portfolios that balance financial performance with sustainability, diversity, and long-term alignment.

🎧 Here’s what’s covered:

  • 01:34 Chloe’s Journey: From international development to venture and why local context matters.

  • 06:12 Isomer’s Strategy: Building a diversified portfolio across pre-seed and seed in Europe.

  • 11:08 Impact in the Portfolio: Why ~30% of Isomer-backed companies are SDG-aligned — and how impact sits alongside returns.

  • 17:55 Returns vs. Impact: Revolut, scale, and why the biggest value drivers aren’t always in impact funds.

  • 23:41 Good vs. Great GPs: Evidence over slides, specialist edge, and values alignment.

  • 31:26 Diversification & LP Interests: Corporate LPs and the green transition — why Isomer doesn’t get pushed into one theme.

  • 37:14 DEI as the Next Frontier: Ownership, accountability, and why female-led teams in Isomer’s portfolio are top performers.

  • 44:58 Advice to Emerging Managers: How to prove differentiated access and cut through generic pitch decks.

  • 51:02 Closing Takeaways: Evidence, access, values — what LPs really want in Europe’s next generation of funds.

Up next
Today
E560 | Will Wells on Deep Tech, Sovereignty, and Joining Speedinvest
Welcome back to another episode of the EUVC Podcast, where we bring together Europe’s venture family to share the stories, insights, and lessons that drive our ecosystem forward.This week, we sit down with Will Wells, founder-turned-VC, and now Partner at Speedinvest, where he le ... Show More
43m 57s
Yesterday
E558 | Omri Benayoun, Partech: Growth Equity in Europe
Welcome back to another episode of the EUVC Podcast, where we gather Europe’s venture family to share the stories, insights, and lessons that drive our ecosystem forward.Today’s guest is Omri Benayoun, General Partner at Partech, one of Europe’s premier investment platforms. Sinc ... Show More
56m 20s
Aug 25
E557 | EUVC Summit 2025 | Mehmet Atici, Bek Ventures: Europe is Not Monolithic
At the EUVC Summit 2025, Mehmet Atici from Bek Ventures aimed a popular narrative—that Europe is underperforming as a tech region. Not because it’s untrue, but because it’s incomplete.“Yes, there’s catching up to do. But you can’t argue there’s no dynamism in Europe—it’s just not ... Show More
12m 31s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2024
How to Become the AI Early Adopter
Ready to take the reins and lead your company into the AI era?  Our panel discusses the traits of early adopters, the importance of fostering a culture of innovation, and practical steps to get started with AI in your organization. Special guest Can Turan, CEO and founder of Pebb ... Show More
26m 7s
Mar 2025
Applied AI: Proactive Leadership with AI
The best leaders don’t wait for problems to arise - they anticipate them before they happen. But how do you shift from a reactive leadership style to a proactive one? AI might just be the key. In this episode, host Courtney Baker is joined by Knownwell CEO David DeWolf, and Chief ... Show More
34m 18s
Feb 2024
The EU’s AI Act: Creating Legislation That Will Survive Over Time
Gabriele Mazzini, Team Leader - AI Act at the European Commission, discusses the risk-based approach they took when crafting specific rules for the Artificial Intelligence Act (versus simply opposing the technology as a whole). He also discusses the complexities involved in regul ... Show More
35m 8s
Jul 4
AI and Cybersecurity: A Deep Dive into Enterprise Applications and Digital Sovereignty with Krish Banerjee
In this episode of Cybersecurity Today, host Jim Love engages in a comprehensive conversation with Krish Banerjee, the Canada Managing Director at Accenture for AI and Data. They delve into the stark difference between perceived and actual preparedness for cybersecurity in the fa ... Show More
50m 50s
Nov 2024
The Role of Change Management in AI
Implementing AI is about more than just adopting technology—it’s about bringing people along for the journey. Why is change management a critical competency for successful AI initiatives? How can organizations go beyond early adopters to drive full-scale adoption? And what are th ... Show More
34m 9s
Feb 2024
The AI Advantage: Redrawing the Map of Business Success
What makes harnessing the power of AI in the near term all but an imperative for executives? How is the disruption artificial intelligence is bringing about different from the digital transformation we've seen impact so many industries in the last several decades? This episode of ... Show More
32m 55s
May 19
Is Every Company Now an AI Company?
The buzz is deafening—every company is now an AI company...or are they? Knownwell CMO Courtney Baker is joined by CEO David DeWolf and Chief Product and Technology Officer Mohan Rao to unpack whether the AI revolution is as widespread as the hype suggests. They explore what it re ... Show More
34m 5s
Apr 2025
AI Agents: The Truth Behind the Hype
Nicolas de Bellefonds, BCG’s global AI leader, unpacks the myths, challenges, and real potential of AI agents. They can transform how work gets done if companies stop chasing shortcuts, rethink outdated processes, and prepare for the costs and complexity that come with real chang ... Show More
19m 7s
Jun 28
Bridging the Gap: AI and Cybersecurity in the Enterprise
In this episode of Cybersecurity Today, host Jim Love is joined by Krish Banerjee, the Canada Managing Director at Accenture for AI and Data. They begin the discussion with a report from Accenture that highlights the gap between the perceived and actual preparedness for cybersecu ... Show More
50m 50s
Jan 2025
What DeepSeek Means For Markets & The The Future Of AI | Alex Campbell
In this episode, Alex Campbell joins the show to discuss the market implications of the latest DeepSeek innovation, the evolving AI geopolitical game theory, and the winners and losers of the AI race. We also delve into the tension between AI productivity and employment, a framew ... Show More
53m 30s