Welcome back to the EUCVC Summit Talks, where we bring you candid conversations with Europe’s leading founders, corporate leaders, and investors shaping the future of venture collaboration.

In this episode, Andreas Munk Holm sits down with Kasper Hulthin, serial founder now at Future Five (and co-founder of Peakon, Podio, and others), and Heini Zachariassen, founder of Vivino, the world’s largest wine app and marketplace. Both have experienced firsthand what it means to be acquired by a corporate—and they don’t hold back on the reality behind the headlines.

From culture shock and governance friction to the trade-offs of autonomy versus scale, Kasper and Heini share the inside story of what happens post-acquisition. They also reflect on when collaboration works, how to preserve founder spirit, and what corporates must do to retain the trust and agility of entrepreneurial teams.

This is essential listening for any corporate venturer, founder, or investor navigating M&A.

🎧 Here’s what’s covered

00:00 Day one after the deal — founders’ first impressions and unexpected shocks.
03:12 Culture clash — how startup speed collides with corporate red tape.
06:18 Strategic alignment — beyond vision decks: the hidden gaps that appear post-acquisition.
09:05 Autonomy vs. scale — the trade-offs founders underestimated.
12:41 Too many cooks — when governance and compliance create friction.
16:02 What works well — corporate behaviors that actually preserve startup speed and energy.
19:27 Advice to corporates — how to earn founders’ trust and avoid killing innovation.
23:15 Founder legacy — how Kasper and Heini preserved their voice and culture inside bigger organizations.
26:40 Looking forward — what both founders wish corporates and founders would do differently in future deals.

E595 |EUCVC Summit 2025: Kasper Hulthin & Heini Zachariassen: Getting Acquired by a Corporate

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