Insights from the Physical World

Analysis, investment perspectives, and fund news across energy transition and resilient infrastructure systems.

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Startup Insider Podcast: Iran crisis, energy prices, venture capital: Where to invest now?

Startup Insider Podcast: Iran crisis, energy prices, venture capital: Where to invest now?

The Strait of Hormuz is closed. Energy prices are spiking. Supply chains are under pressure again. And in the background, a geopolitical order that Europe spent decades taking for granted is quietly being dismantled.

April 3, 2026
Startup Insider Podcast: The SaaS apocalypse: From system of record to agentic AI

Startup Insider Podcast: The SaaS apocalypse: From system of record to agentic AI

Zero native SaaS investments in 18 months – and Salesforce loses 60% of its market capitalization. Is the SaaS era really over?On this Startup Insider episode with Jan Thomas, VCs Nikolas Samios (PT1) and Fabian Heilemann (AENU) speak frankly.

February 16, 2026
How AI Is Supercharging Productivity in the Built World

How AI Is Supercharging Productivity in the Built World

Artificial intelligence is transforming the built environment at an unprecedented pace. What was once dismissed as hype is now delivering measurable productivity gains across property management, transactions, construction, and asset optimisation. This report examines how AI is reshaping real estate operations, presents a market map of key players, and offers tangible productivity metrics that investors and operators can use to evaluate opportunities.

February 10, 2026
Europe’s InfraTech Moment

Europe’s InfraTech Moment

Europe faces a €6 trillion infrastructure transformation over the next decade—the largest since post-war reconstruction. The convergence of aging infrastructure, €2+ trillion in committed public funding, and mature AI/robotics technology creates an unprecedented opportunity for InfraTech companies to emerge as the next generation of industrial champions. Private capital is already flowing, with companies like Hometree and Terra One proving that venture-backed startups can build and scale essential infrastructure. With its unique LP base of European industrial leaders and deep infrastructure expertise, PT1 is positioned to back the bold founders who will define this new era.

November 24, 2025
Startup Insider Podcast: Voltfang's 250 million deal

Startup Insider Podcast: Voltfang's 250 million deal

Voltfang has achieved what many thought impossible: a quarter of a billion euros in investment commitments from institutional investors for physical battery storage systems made from second-life batteries.

September 24, 2025
Startup Insider Podcast: „One Big Beautiful Bill“, Tibo Energy: Is the energy transition about to collapse?

Startup Insider Podcast: „One Big Beautiful Bill“, Tibo Energy: Is the energy transition about to collapse?

In this episode of Startup Insider, Nikolas Samios, Managing Partner at PT1, and Fabian Heilemann, Founder & CEO of AENU, discuss the position paper “5 for ‘25” - an initiative by leading investors to strengthen Germany as a hub for innovation.

July 10, 2025
Startup Insider Podcast: Position paper "5 for '25"

Startup Insider Podcast: Position paper "5 for '25"

In this episode of Startup Insider, Nikolas Samios, Managing Partner at PT1, and Fabian Heilemann, Founder & CEO of AENU, discuss the position paper “5 for ‘25” - an initiative by leading investors to strengthen Germany as a hub for innovation.

January 31, 2025
Positionspapier: "5 for ‘25" – Grundlagen & Maßnahmen zur Sicherung der innovativen Wirtschaft in Deutschland

Positionspapier: "5 for ‘25" – Grundlagen & Maßnahmen zur Sicherung der innovativen Wirtschaft in Deutschland

Deutschland steht zwangsläufig vor grundlegenden Transformationsprozessen: Fortschreitender Klimawandel, die notwendige Energiewende, geopolitische Risiken, der demographische Wandel und das schleichende Erodieren der globalen Wettbewerbsfähigkeit bei gleichzeitig knappen Staatskassen erfordern beherztes Handeln im Schulterschluss privater und staatlicher Kräfte. Nur so kann die Wirtschaftskraft Deutschlands und damit auch die Basis unseres gesellschaftlichen Wohlstandes und Friedens in den kommenden Dekaden erhalten bleiben oder ausgebaut werden.

January 30, 2025
Startup Insider Podcast: Voltfang & the innovation agenda

Startup Insider Podcast: Voltfang & the innovation agenda

In this episode of Startup Insider, Nikolas Samios, Managing Partner at PT1, and Fabian Heilemann, Founder and CEO of AENU, analyze the Voltfang funding round and the German Startups Association's Innovation Agenda 2030.

October 7, 2024