For this week’s episode of the EU-Startups Podcast, we sat down with Yaron Valler, Founder & Partner at Target Global, a pan-European technology investment firm with over €3 billion in assets under management.
Target Global invests in companies across all stages of their life cycle, from pre-seed to pre-IPO. Since 2012, the firm has backed global winners such as Delivery Hero, Revolut, Auto 1 Group, Copper, Rapyd, Flink, and Cazoo. With a team of experienced investors — many of whom began as founders and operators — Target has supported 15 unicorns, achieved 21 exits, and seen 7 IPOs. The firm operates globally, with investment offices in Berlin, London, Tel Aviv, and Barcelona.
In this episode, Yaron discusses the current state and future of European defence technology. He explores the challenges Europe faces in building a competitive defence ecosystem, drawing lessons from Israel’s approach to defence and innovation. The conversation also touches on the importance of education, the role of immigration in revitalising Europe, the potential of AI and DeepTech startups, and much more.
Video version of episode 111:
Audio version of episode 111:
Key takeaways:
- A fundamental shift in mindset is needed for success in Europe.
- Success should be redefined beyond just work-life balance.
- Education systems must adapt to support innovation and entrepreneurship.
- Investors should focus on strategic industries like semiconductors and AI.
- Immigration can drive economic growth and innovation in Europe.
- Europe must leverage its manufacturing strengths to remain competitive.
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