Chief Communications Officer at Tesonet, co-lead of EU–INC, formerly comms and policy @IndexVentures and advisor to founders and CEOs from seed to IPO.
London
Joined October 2007
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🚨 Some personal news: I'm joining Tesonet, the Founders' Office of two exceptional European founders, as their Chief Communications Officer.
Tomas and Eimantas have built multiple global tech companies, including two unicorns, with combined annual revenues in the billions and 4,200 employees worldwide.
In addition to founding and scaling its own companies, Tesonet backs founders and VC funds, applying lessons from building technology businesses to ventures beyond tech.
Much more to come. Let's go! 🚀
"100 tech founders and investors told us just last week to get EU–INC right!"
President of the @EU_Commission @vonderleyen
"We have to be very careful." Von der Leyen warns capitals against creating more fragmentation. "Let's get EU Inc done, let's get it done right!"
🙏 to 26k+ @euinc_petition supporters @antonosika, @ipaananen, @eldsjal, @martinmignot, @EleonorePigment, @jcsamuelian, @nzennstrom, @brenthoberman, @WorkMJ, @patrickc, @cape, @Thom_Wolf, @arthurmensch, @JohannesReck, @tom_okman, @HannoRenner, @vithorky, @sonalidr, @EnricoLetta
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A supporter of @euinc_petition is asking for your views. 👇
A quick EU founder survey: eusurvey.vercel.app.
40+ unicorn founders and Europe's leading investors are writing to Europe's policymakers today, urging them to get EU–INC right! @euinc_petition
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After more than 12 wonderful years, this will be my last month @IndexVentures.
When I joined in 2013, Index was just beginning its journey to build the first truly transatlantic VC firm. We'd just opened our SF office, an ambitious goal for a European upstart taking on the titans of Sand Hill Road. Our brand colour was blue. Single-digit billions were impressive exit valuations, not early funding rounds. The European ecosystem was finding its feet. Back then, I was just getting to know the founders of our new seed investments: Revolut, Deliveroo, Figma and Robinhood.
In the decade-plus that followed, I was lucky enough to work with more than 200 founders and their teams, bring entrepreneurs together at countless events in Europe and the US, organise 13 Index AGMs, launch 13 funds, and build Index Press. I also led two policy campaigns for Index: Not Optional and @euinc_petition — the first time a VC in Europe directly campaigned for, and won, legislative change in support of startups.
Behind each of these was a mammoth team effort: the work of my colleagues, the support of many external champions, the trust of the Index partners, and collaboration that goes well beyond the walls of Index.
As I say goodbye to the firm Bloomberg recently called “Silicon Valley’s Quiet Kingmaker”, my main feeling is one of gratitude: to the Index crew I learned so much from, the startups I was lucky enough to work with, the journalists who listened to my seventeen-thousandth pitch, the politicians who did something that earned them exactly zero votes, and the founders who dived with me — often for the first time – into the world of brand and comms.
I'll admit, I'm addicted. This world has my heart. Working with people mad enough to shape the future never gets boring.
Thank you ❤️
Pleased to be back in London after @British_Airways BA673 had to abort landing at @HeathrowAirport because the approach was intercepted by a @metpoliceuk @NPASLondon helicopter. Coincidentally our BA672 last week had to abort before touchdown after being blown off course.
@British_Airways I forgot my Kindle on a flight to LAX. I called your lost and found number +13102945065 for more than a week and left multiple voicemails. Nobody ever answers or calls back.
Your customer service response: “I'm afraid all we can advise is to keep trying.”
cc @HeadForPoints
🚨 The UK now has the best stock option scheme of any major economy.
🇬🇧 Following changes introduced today in the UK Budget, Britain has the most attractive employee ownership scheme of all major economies, making it easier for startups to attract and retain the talent they need to succeed. #notoptional
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Europe doesn’t lack ideas. It lacks permission to move fast! Entrepreneurs should be celebrated, not slowed down - because when businesses can compete and innovate, everyone wins. We're backing @euinc_petition to help Europe rediscover its competitive edge.
Welcome to @IndexVentures, Sahir! 👋
We’re thrilled to welcome Sahir Azam as our newest partner! A true dot-connector across product, engineering & GTM, Sahir helped scale MongoDB and brings an interdisciplinary perspective that will be invaluable to founders. So good to have you, Sahir!
indexventures.com/perspectiv…
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Figma Goes Public: Thirteen Unforgettable Years with Dylan Field (@zoink)
By @dannyrimer
tip @Techmeme
indexventures.com/perspectiv…
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Great to take our new book “Winning in the US — The Founder’s Guide to Building a Global Company from Europe” to @RaiseSummit in Paris.
Back stage with @martinmignot, @guilleflorvs and @rdominguezibar. Podcast coming soon.
Catch Martin live on stage at 3:20pm!
winningintheus.com
The latest book from @indexventures "Winning in the US: The Founder's Guide to Building a Global Company from Europe" is out! Lessons from 500 startups, 40+ founder interviews and three decades of investing.
👉 winningintheus.com
Congrats to @cradlebio on their $73m round! @IndexVentures' @sofiadolfe talks to @stefvangrieken about his vision for making scientific research up to 10x faster, reducing costs from $50–100M to $5–10M, and increasing success rates. Tip @Techmeme
indexventures.com/perspectiv…
Thank you to the UK's Secretary of State @SciTechgovuk @peterkyle for his comments on @tessl_io's funding led by @IndexVentures.
Tessl today announced it raised $125m to transform how software is created in the AI era.
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Which country makes it easiest for startups to attract and retain top talent? @NotOptional today publishes an updated ranking of stock option policies!
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