Sam launches ReGen Ventures in Europe

Thoughts on regenerative technology and the Europe opportunity

I am thrilled to announce that I am joining ReGen Ventures, where I will lead our efforts in Europe.

The regenerative technology opportunity

ReGen Ventures exists to become the world’s foremost early-stage regenerative technology investor. We are obsessed with the potential for regenerative technologies to enhance and enrich the lives of people everywhere.

But what is regenerative technology?

Regenerative technology represents a transformative approach to solving the world’s hardest problems. While traditional clean and climate technology often focuses on incrementally decarbonising existing systems, regenerative technology reimagines those systems entirely. It moves beyond defensive innovation (as Tyler Cowen describes it)¹ to transformative innovation: creating fundamentally new paradigms and extending human capabilities.

Regenerative technologies reimagine our way of life from the atom up, building products, services and experiences that are mind-blowingly more awesome in every single way. No compromises. Better everything.

To illustrate, some examples of regenerative technology are:

Instead of decarbonising beef production, how can we rethink the very nature of food systems? Think Aigen, Circe Bioscience, or Meati.

Instead of decarbonising steel, cement and other heavy industry, what new materials can we invent, discover and develop to replace them entirely? Think Anthrogen or PACT.

At ReGen Ventures, we believe venture capital exists to find and fund these types of transformative, step change innovations to create a world where every product you touch, every bite you take, every experience you have is exponentially superior to anything that came before.

At times it can feel venture capital has forgotten this path—settling for incrementalism.

Looking at climate venture capital, there is a clear shift underway, with funding down 14% year-over-year, following a 24% decline the prior year. The broader venture capital asset class is also experiencing a consolidation, with 25% fewer active investors in the last year and predictions that 30-50% of managers will not survive this current cycle.

By partnering with the most ambitious founders who are daring to build regenerative technology and not settling for an incremental approach, there’s a much higher probability that we join the journey of many generation-defining companies.

Europe’s regenerative technology potential

Despite the mainstream pessimism, we believe Europe is teeming with founders who dare to reimagine our relationship with the physical world and build regenerative technology.

We are beyond optimistic about the unique moment in history we’re experiencing: the coalescence of many exponential technologies. We believe future historians will marvel at the convergence of inflection points we’re witnessing across technology, climate, and society.

ReGen has been investing in Europe since day one, partnering with some of the continent’s most promising companies, including PACT, Rhizocore and Ulysses.

And now, we’re doubling down with a permanent presence. With a deep commitment to the region and its founders, we are here to earn the right to partner with the most ambitious builders in Europe.

Sam’s journey to ReGen

My relationship with the ReGen Ventures team spans seven years, forged through shared investments and a mutual obsession with transformative innovation. Over that time, I’ve seen first hand how the regenerative approach to venture capital has led to a different kind of partnership with world-class founders.

Joining ReGen feels like a natural home and one that aligns with how I want to spend my time: partnering with the impatient optimists, who refuse to wait for permission to build an abundant future.

To Europe’s founders building regenerative technology: we’d love to talk. ReGen Ventures exists to be your first believer and long-term partner. If you’re daring to reimagine the human relationship with the physical world, let’s build something extraordinary together.

1. Tyler Cowen defines defensive innovation as “technological or strategic advancements developed primarily to address threats, risks, or vulnerabilities rather than to create entirely new opportunities or expand the frontier of human capability.”