Deep tech is not about complexity. It is about compounding R&D that builds defensibility and demands a different approach to investing. This is the lens Sasha Vidiborskiy, Partner at Atomico, applies to backing frontier technologies.

In this episode, Andreas Munk Holm speaks with Sasha, a quantum physicist turned VC investing in complex products and deep tech.

They explore what defines deep tech, how to assess founders, and how Atomico underwrites and invests in technically complex companies, from diligence to timelines and risk.

Key highlights

Why deep tech is driven by compounding R&D, not complexity

Why timelines are hard to predict, especially in areas like quantum computing

What sets great deep tech founders apart

How Atomico evaluates and underwrites deep tech opportunities

Why Europe is gaining ground in deep tech

Why deep tech requires a different investment approach

Timestamps

(00:00) Intro & Sasha’s background
(03:00) From quantum physics to venture capital
(07:30) Quantum computing timelines
(12:00) What defines deep tech
(18:30) Founder traits
(26:00) Evaluating deep tech investments
(34:00) Atomico’s investment framework
(42:00) Europe’s deep tech moment

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E724 | Sasha Vidiborskiy, Partner at Atomico: How to Think About Deep Tech Investing

EUVC

E724 | Sasha Vidiborskiy, Partner at Atomico: How to Think About Deep Tech Investing