Welcome back to EUVC Live powered by Woven Capital at The Drop, where we bring you the candid conversations with the investors shaping Europe’s venture ecosystem.
In this episode, Nicole LeBlanc, Partner at Woven Capital, joins us on stage in Malmö to share why Toyota’s $800M global fund is doubling down on Europe. From talent pools and global mindsets to climate tech leadership, Nicole explains why Europe is the testbed for scaling climate, mobility, and automation solutions worldwide.
🎧 Here’s what’s covered:
00:30 Why Europe matters: 15% of global VC and growing deal sizes.
01:00 Diversification — why global funds can’t rely on just one market.
01:30 Talent in Europe: strong engineering pools and founders thinking global from day one.
02:30 Climate tech in Europe’s DNA — regulation, partnerships, and net-zero by 2050.
03:30 Inside Woven Capital: Toyota’s $800M LPGP fund, financial-first approach, and global mandate.
04:30 Toyota Open Labs: Europe-exclusive program giving startups structured access to Toyota.
05:30 Portfolio spotlight: Corvus, zero-emission shipping with batteries + hydrogen.
06:30 What’s next: circularity, advanced materials, and figuring out AI.
You can listen to the full session on Apple Podcasts and Spotify 🎧
✍️ Show Notes
Woven Capital
$800M global fund backed by Toyota.
LPGP structure with Toyota as sole LP.
Team from finance + engineering backgrounds, not Toyota insiders.
Focus areas: automation, mobility, climate.
Why Europe
15% of global VC, deals scaling fast.
Diversification in a volatile geopolitical landscape.
Engineering talent pools across the continent.
Founders with global mindset from day one.
Climate Leadership
Toyota sees Europe 10 years ahead on regulation + innovation.
Net-zero 2050 goals drive startup momentum.
Partnerships across OEMs, universities, and ecosystems.
Portfolio Spotlight
Corvus: zero-emission shipping using batteries and hydrogen fuel cells.
Example of climate + deep tech scaling from Europe to the world.
💡 One-liner takeaway: For Woven Capital, Europe isn’t just a region — it’s the launchpad where climate and deep tech go global.
