Odyssey Ventures: Bridging the Europe-US Valuation Gap with a Bold $75M Mission
- ByStartupStory | October 19, 2025
A new venture firm has entered the scene with a clear mandate: level the playing field between Europe and the U.S. in startup valuations. Odyssey Ventures, founded by seasoned investors Ali Mitchell and Michelle Robson, has just launched with a $75 million fund aimed at supporting ambitious European founders and helping them compete globally.
Founders with a Vision
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Ali Mitchell, previously with EQT Ventures, boasts a history of investing in early-stage companies that have grown into unicorns, including Pleo, Beamery, and AnyDesk.
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Michelle Robson, a chemical engineer by training, has invested deeply in clean power and deep tech, with a strong track record in scaling science and industrial startups.
Together, they believe European startups often lag behind in valuation – not due to talent or innovation, but due to structural gaps: less risk capital, slower funding rounds, and limited access to U.S. markets.
What Makes Odyssey Different
Odyssey Ventures isn’t just writing checks; it’s promising a U.S-style VC experience for European founders, combined with practical support and fast decision-making. Key elements of their approach:
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Rapid early checks, sometimes within hours
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Ongoing support as companies evolve from pre-seed through Series A and beyond
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Operational help and scaling expertise, particularly for “physical industries” – think manufacturing, chemicals, neurotechnology
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Bicoastal presence — offices in both London and San Francisco to give portfolio companies access to U.S. networks and markets
Why Now & Why It Matters
According to recent reports, European startups are typically valued 29–52% lower than comparable U.S. ones. [Data from the State of European Tech] underscores this persistent gap. Odyssey writes its thesis against this backdrop: Europe has the founders, the research, and the innovations — what’s often missing is capital with enough risk appetite, speed, and global reach.
Mitchell frames it as more than investment: “We’re at the start of a 20-year venture supercycle… What we need are breakthroughs in science, deep tech, compute, energy, human and planetary health…” The idea is that industries which have been traditionally slower, or undercapitalized in Europe, now have a chance to sprint ahead with the right support.
Early Examples & Portfolio Focus
Although newly launched, Odyssey already has early bets showing the kind of impact it aims to have:
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Flow Engineering (London) – reimagining machine design
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Viridi — spun out of university research, targeting sustainability within the massive chemical sector
These are illustrative of its emphasis: industrial, hard tech, scalable science sectors, combined with sustainability and global ambition.
Challenges & Opportunity Ahead
Of course, closing the valuation and funding gap isn’t easy. Some of the headwinds include:
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Convincing founders used to slower European standards to adopt more aggressive scaling strategies
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Ensuring adequate pipeline of deep tech / physical industry startups that can absorb rapid capital infusion
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Managing cross-border regulatory, market, and operational challenges
But the opportunity is huge. If Odyssey Ventures succeeds, it could serve as a template for VCs who believe European innovation can match U.S. performance – not by copying, but by combining local strengths with global ambition.
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