Sesame Summit 2026 – application open

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Raph Crouan

This week’s guest, Monsieur Raph Crouan, comes in as a double header.

A seasoned veteran of the tech event space, Raph recently had the opportunity to blaze new trails, as he saddled up and headed off to Dubai to attend GITEX 2020. He gives as a rundown of the entire experience and what the future of “live” events holds.

Likewise, Raph breaks down the state of Venture Capital in the midst of a global pandemic, what happened at the onset, what’s been going on, and his outlook for the future.

He also humoured your humble author and host with a brake down what Venture Capital is exactly and what function it serves in the entire ecosystem.

“So if I get this straight,  wealthy people give you their money to gamble with?” – Dan Taylor

Selected – The Sesamers Podcast – Episode 006 Show Notes

0:01 – NEW intro music!

1:01 – A very mysterious DJ

1:43 – Je parle un petit peu de Français

2:29 – What’s been goin’ on?

2:55 – Arthur C. Clarke didn’t see this one coming did he?

3:18 – Maybe the Monolith got COVID?

3:28 – Raph’s “other”

4:38 – The PERFECT podcast length. 35 to 40 minutes. #nailedit

5:00 – Raph is quarantined

5:24 – Git Ex? GeeTex? Guy Tex?

5:39 – “It was freaking awesome to be at an event”

6:42 – #exitrowposse

7:08 – Heathrow is full

8:20 – Travel feels like you’re going back in time

8:50 – Welcomed by Aliens

9:22 – Full plane, full house, full mask

10:12 – No entry to the UAE without a negative COVID test result

11:06 – It’s up the nose!

12:54 – Raph wants to go running. In 29° heat. … Not so much.

14:53 – The state of GITEX (and live events)

16:40 – Crowded? Cramped in your space?

17:20 – A quarter of the normal numbers, and double the amount of space

20:08 – Was there an advantage of physically being at the event?

21:30 – Did you meet new individuals?

22:13 – Peace in the Middle East

22:39 – Will the “old” event world ever return?

24:37 – BREAK

25:42 – What function does Venture Capital serve in the startup ecosystem?

27:16 – Wealthy people give you their money to gamble with?

28:05 – Juan Pablo Escobar as LP?

28:20 – You’re doling out the money, you’re constantly looking to refill the tank.

28:44 – 5 years period of investment, 10 years of the fund.

29:26 – What are you looking for these days?

30:45 – Is there a magic formula?

32:00 – Where are you looking to get your data to make a sound investment?

33:07 – Where do I sign up? I want to be a VC!

33:20 – How has the market reacted to COVID? How has the VC world changed?

33:46 – The three stages of VC reaction.

36:15 – The startups that got MORE money from investors due to the pandemic.

36:44 – What gets Raph out of bed in the morning.

37:57 – Where to find Raph on TikTok.

38:30 – This HAS been the Selected Podcast, I AM Dan Taylor, and I. Am. Outta here.

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Walking through the sprawling halls of IFA Berlin 2025, it’s immediately clear that this isn’t just another trade show. This year’s edition solidified IFA Next as Europe’s premier showcase of consumer technology startups, an event where innovation meets practical applications in a comprehensive hardware-focused startup environment. The heart of European consumer tech innovation IFA Next has evolved into Europe’s hub for the latest on consumer tech. It’s where the continent’s most promising hardware startups converge with global visionaries and industry pioneers. This isn’t just marketing speak — Hall H25, dedicated entirely to consumer-focused hardware, was in many ways the largest and most influential gathering of consumer technology startups in Europe. The centerpiece was the Dream Stage, where bold ideas are shared through keynotes, panels, and highly anticipated pitch battles. Unlike other tech conferences, IFA Next maintains laser focus on technologies that will directly impact how people live, work, and interact with their environments. The Dream Stage is also where Europe’s next consumer tech unicorns are spotted far before they take flight. The finale of this year’s IFA Next Pitch Battle 2025: Breakthrough Battle saw founders presenting concepts to investors, media, and industry experts, competing for visibility, investment, and growth opportunities. Complementing the Dream Stage was the IFA Lab, an interactive testing ground where exhibitors, investors and industry  professionals collaborate to bring innovations from prototype to store shelves. The Lab is where Europe’s startups refined their ideas, engaged with industry experts, and pushed new technologies from concept to market reality. Hall H25: Europe’s consumer tech capital Hall H25 was home to what has become Europe’s largest dedicated consumer technology startup space. Beyond the sheer numbers, the hall is an indicator of how mature Europe’s hardware ecosystem has become. IFA Next specifically champions hardware solutions that people can touch, use and integrate into their daily lives. The diversity and ambition on display were remarkable. Both European and international startups presented solutions spanning healthcare, sustainable products, and cutting-edge tech for everyday use.  What stood out Addressing a critical gap in healthcare technology that affects families across the world, Coro, which won an IFA Innovation Award, accurately measures milk supply in real-time during breastfeeding. This is exactly the kind of practical, user-oriented innovation that defines IFA Next’s positioning. LeydenJar Technologies‘ groundbreaking battery technology deserves special mention for fundamentally rethinking energy storage for everyday devices. 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The startup’s user-centric approach to VR and AI reflects its emphasis on practical applications over pure technological spectacle. Broadcasting innovation: IFA’s Twitch strategy One of the most forward-thinking aspects of IFA 2025 was the creation of dedicated Twitch live rooms for presenting products and news in real-time. Modern users expect interactive, accessible content about the products that will impact their lives, so this integration of live streaming represents a crucial evolution in how innovations reach their intended audiences. Sessions like “Retro Tech Rewind” with IFA CEO Leif Lindner were specifically designed for Twitch, demonstrating IFA Next’s commitment to making innovation accessible beyond the convention floor. This approach to content delivery could set new standards for how European startups engage with their markets. Europe’s consumer tech ecosystem at scale What makes IFA Next compelling is its comprehensive approach to nurturing consumer-focused innovation. 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Take for example Its AI-enabled refrigerator: besides keeping your groceries fresh, it can propose recipes, and even identify missing ingredients — it’s a masterclass in how established brands are setting the bar for startups to reach and surpass. Samsung also showcased its expansion beyond traditional consumer electronics into B2B applications. Its IoT systems and 3D building visualization software demonstrated how consumer tech innovations can scale into commercial applications — a pathway many European startups at IFA Next are actively pursuing. The future of European consumer tech IFA 2025 has demonstrated that Europe’s technology startup ecosystem isn’t just thriving — it’s defining global trends. From sustainable packaging solutions to revolutionary healthcare devices, European startups at IFA Next are solving real problems with practical, scalable solutions. The combination of established electronics giants setting innovation benchmarks, ambitious startups developing market-ready solutions, and innovative presentation formats showed that IFA Next has become more than Europe’s largest consumer tech startup showcase: It’s evolved into an essential preview of European technology leadership. For anyone interested in understanding where European consumer technology innovation is heading, IFA Next represents the definitive annual checkpoint. The innovations showcased here by European and international startups will likely be the everyday products of tomorrow, and Europe’s leadership in making that transformation happen is becoming undeniably clear. As Europe’s premier consumer tech startup showcase, IFA Next

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