#90: Flipping the Mic: My Journey into CVC with Francesco Di Lorenzo

Hi, I'm Jeppe and welcome to my podcast/newsletter on Corporate Venturing. My aim is to provide a comprehensive perspective on the latest developments in the field and its related topics, drawing from the insights of top management, venture capitalists, founders, LPs, and family offices. I aim to offer valuable information and thought-provoking content that will aid in understanding the importance of Corporate Venturing in business strategy.

In this special episode of the EUVC Podcast, I step out of the host chair and into the hot seat. My good friend, Associate Professor Francesco Di Lorenzo from Copenhagen Business School , interviews me as part of his innovation course. What follows is a candid conversation about how I stumbled into corporate venture capital at Maersk Growth , what I learned along the way as CFO at Heartcore Capital , and why I believe community is key to moving the industry forward.

💡 CVC is a Long Game—Play Like It The average lifespan of a CVC unit is just 3.7 years. Surviving 3 CEOs is a badge of honor—and often a requirement for real impact. If you want your program to endure, it’s not just about structure—it’s about relationships, patience, and internal politics.

🤝 Why I Built EU CVC From a Substack newsletter to a summit bringing together Europe’s top CVC leaders, EU CVC was born out of a simple need: I couldn’t find the open, honest conversations I was craving—so I created them. Today, it's grown into Europe’s go-to community platform for corporate venture professionals.

📈 Start with Fund-of-Funds Many corporates are still nervous about direct investments. A fund-of-funds model offers exposure, learning, and ecosystem access without the pressure of picking winners. It's a smart entry point—and a powerful way to onboard internal stakeholders.

🧬 Avoiding “Organ Rejection” My go-to metaphor? CVC is like a liver transplant. It can save the organization—but only if the body accepts it. That’s where strong C-level sponsorship comes in. If leadership doesn’t send consistent signals of support, the immune system will kill the effort.

🎓 Advice to Young Professionals Master the boring stuff. Learn how ICs work. Get comfortable with legal docs. Build stakeholder trust. CVC isn’t a game of quick wins—it’s a long game. If you’re into tech and politics, you’ll love it here.

📣 Join Us in Copenhagen All of this—and much more—will be on stage at the EU CVC Summit on August 26th. If you're serious about corporate innovation, strategic investing, and learning from the best (and worst!) in CVC, this is your room. Come for the frameworks, stay for the network.

hope you enjoyed this newsletter. If you have any suggestions or contributions that you would like to share with me, please do not hesitate to reach out. I would be delighted to hear from you.

/Jeppe