EU-Startups Podcast

In this exclusive interview, we sit down with Julian Ellis-Brown, CEO and co-founder of Ponda, the innovative biomaterials company developing the world’s first wetland-regenerating material supply chain.

Julian shares the story behind Ponda’s mission to transform how we think about materials - starting with BioPuff, a plant-based insulation made from bulrush grown on restored wetlands.

Discover how Ponda is redefining sustainability in fashion by linking material innovation with ecosystem restoration. Julian discusses the challenges and breakthroughs of scaling a regenerative supply chain, the role of farmers and landowners in their journey, and why wetlands are the key to a more resilient, carbon-negative future.

Learn about Ponda’s collaborations with major brands like Stella McCartney, Berghaus, Sheep Inc., and Parley for the Oceans, and how their crowdfunding campaign is accelerating the shift from pilot to commercial scale.

In this exclusive interview, Janne Hietala, CEO of Kelluu, discusses how his company is pioneering the use of autonomous, hydrogen-powered airships to revolutionise aerial monitoring.

Unlike traditional drones or satellites, Kelluu’s fleet delivers persistent, high-accuracy environmental data in extreme conditions - from Arctic temperatures to GPS-denied environments. Learn how these near-silent, emission-free platforms are reshaping intelligence, surveillance, and environmental monitoring for defence, infrastructure, and beyond.

From its humble beginnings in a Finnish farm shed to its recent €15 million Series A funding, Kelluu has proven its platform in real-world conditions, including NATO exercises and Arctic operations.

The company’s autonomous airships aim to bridge the gap between satellites and drones, offering unmatched persistence and precision for critical missions.

Join us for a deep dive with Frédéric Mazzella, founder of BlaBlaCar, as he reflects on the origins of the world’s leading carpooling platform and shares insights on the future of shared mobility, sustainability, and entrepreneurship in Europe.

From a personal Christmas trip that sparked a global movement to redefining how we travel, Frédéric discusses the vision, challenges, and impact of BlaBlaCar - and how it’s shaping the way we think about transportation, community, and innovation.

In this interview, Frédéric explores the balance between practicality and purpose, the role of technology in fostering human connections, and the unique opportunities and hurdles for startups in Europe today. Whether you’re a founder, a mobility enthusiast, or simply curious about the future of travel, this conversation offers valuable perspectives on building scalable, impactful businesses.

Join us for a deep-dive conversation with Dr Emil Kendziorra, CEO of Tomorrow.bio, as we explore the cutting edge of cryopreservation and medical biostasis.

Dr Kendziorra, who began his career in cancer research with a summa cum laude degree from the University of Göttingen, shares his remarkable journey from academic science to entrepreneurship, and ultimately to founding Tomorrow.bio - a company he considers his life’s work.

In this interview, he discusses the motivations behind his pivot from traditional longevity research to the frontier of cryomedicine, the operational and emotional lessons learned from cryopreserving over 20 human patients and 10 pets, and his vision for making this technology more accessible in the future.

Tomorrow.bio stands as Europe’s fastest-growing cryopreservation company, with over 800 members across 200+ cities and 45+ countries. The company offers both whole-body cryopreservation and brain-only preservation, using a transparent pricing model designed for long-term value.

With a recent €5 million Seed round and a mission to advance medical biostasis, Emil discusses the unique challenges and opportunities of operating in this space, the ethical considerations of a technology that may not achieve revival for decades, and his long-term vision for the field

In this edition of the EU-Startups Podcast we had a cht with Tyler Edwards, the ex-MI6 founder who set out to secure AI Agents.