Henrietta Hearth, VP of Global Acceleration at Big Idea Ventures, joins Ben to explore what it takes to invest in the future of food. From rethinking infant nutrition to building truly scalable alt-protein startups, Henrietta unpacks where VCs should be looking and why startups need to get laser-focused on their customers.

In this episode recorded live at VivaTech 2025, Ben sits down with Nicolas Morin-Forest, CEO and co-founder of Gourmey, to talk about the evolution of cultivated meat. They explore how the company started, why foie gras was their first product, the economics of Deep Tech innovation, and what’s next for the FoodTech startup as it scales globally.

In this episode recorded live at VivaTech 2025, Ben sits down with Marion Carré, entrepreneur, educator, artist, and co-founder of Ask Mona. Marion shares her unique journey into AI and culture, how her company helps make artworks and objects "talk," and why curiosity is the key to building meaningful AI tools. They also explore Marion’s multidisciplinary career, her book about forgotten AI pioneer Alice Recoque, and her views on the future of AI in society.

At VivaTech 2025, Ben sits down with Ilias Benjelloun - Canadian entrepreneur, corporate innovation leader, and ecosystem builder - to unpack his journey, lessons from bridging startups and corporates, and his new mission: unlocking the potential of the African diaspora in innovation. They discuss the state of global startup ecosystems, corporate venture strategies, and how inclusion can be reframed as a business opportunity rather than a charitable gesture.

In this special episode of the Selected Podcast, recorded live at VivaTech 2025, world-renowned chef and modern gastronomy pioneer Yannick Alléno joins host Ben Costantini to share a deeply personal and powerful mission: turning tragedy into systemic change. Following the devastating loss of his son in a road accident caused by a repeat offender, Yannick co-founded an association that launched Impact, a civil tech initiative uniting startups, policymakers, artists, and corporations to fight road violence. He discusses how tech, art, and activism can converge to save lives, and why exhibitions like VivaTech are key to accelerating that movement.

We chat with Ben Joffe, Senior Partner at SOSV, one of the world’s most prolific early-stage deep tech investors. Live from Hello Tomorrow 2025, the conversation explores the rise of deep tech funding, SOSV’s unique accelerator-first model, and the growing role of AI in biotech, food systems, climate innovation, and beyond. Ben shares his thoughts on building founder-investor matchmaking systems, why speaking at events is a strategic advantage, and how "vibe coding" and custom-built tools are giving VC firms an edge in dealflow.

In this episode of the Selected Podcast, Ben Costantini sits down with Andres Mitnik, co-founder and CEO of Strong by Form, recorded live at JEC World 2025—where the company was named one of the three Startup Booster Winners for their sustainability-driven innovation. Andres unpacks the story behind Woodflow, a timber-based biocomposite designed to replace steel and concrete in construction and mobility. From overcoming investor skepticism to reshaping the structural material market, Strong by Form’s journey blends architecture, engineering, and entrepreneurship into a narrative about building a more circular, lightweight future—out of wood.

In this episode, Linn Kretzschmar, Head of CERN Venture Connect, breaks down how one of the world’s leading scientific institutions is enabling deep tech startups to commercialize groundbreaking technologies born from fundamental physics research. Recorded live at Hello Tomorrow 2025 in Paris, Linn shares how CERN is bridging the gap between particle accelerators and entrepreneurship—offering real-world use cases, founder-friendly licensing, and access to a powerful innovation network.

In this episode, we meet François Jaubert, founder of Airboard (formerly Trashboard), a startup creating high-performance composite materials from recycled cardboard. Recorded live at JEC World 2025, François shares how his background in architecture and marine engineering led him to develop a lightweight, sustainable alternative to wood, metal, and traditional composites—and why he's betting on low-energy manufacturing and distributed microfactories to scale globally.

In this episode, Matt Jones, Managing Partner at Syensqo Ventures, dives into the role of corporate venture capital in scaling breakthrough materials for a more sustainable future. With over two decades of experience in energy and climate tech, Matt shares his insights on deep tech investing, the evolving startup landscape in materials science, and how large corporates like Syensqo are partnering with startups to accelerate innovation across the circular economy.

In this episode of the Selected Podcast, Ben Costantini speaks with Sam Staincliffe, co-founder of Uplift360, a cleantech startup pioneering chemical recycling solutions for high-performance materials. With a background spanning the UK Ministry of Defence, the UN, and the American Red Cross, Sam’s journey into entrepreneurship is anything but conventional. Live from JEC World 2025, Sam shares the mission behind Uplift360, the challenges of building a deep tech startup with roots in defense and sustainability, and why marketing is the unexpected key to growth—even for companies made almost entirely of scientists.

In this episode, we meet with Michiel Scheffer, President of the Board of the European Innovation Council (EIC), during Hello Tomorrow 2025 in Paris. With a €10.1 billion budget under the Horizon Europe program, the EIC is Europe’s flagship deep tech funding body. Michiel shares his journey from textiles and regional policy to leading one of the world’s largest innovation instruments. The conversation dives into how the EIC supports deep tech startups, how European innovation policy is evolving, and why regulation, resilience, and scale are central to Europe’s competitiveness.

We sit down with Sébastien Léger, founding partner at Slate Venture Capital, a €250M climate tech fund investing in startups driving sustainability in materials, energy, and industrial systems. Recorded live at JEC World 2025 in Paris, the conversation explores how climate-focused investors evaluate deep tech innovation, particularly in advanced materials and composites, and the opportunities and challenges in scaling climate solutions. Sébastien shares his journey from clean energy consulting to launching a VC fund, his approach to measuring climate impact, and what startups need to demonstrate to attract funding in today’s complex market landscape.

In this episode of the Selected podcast, Ben Costantini interviews Ben Saada, the founder and CEO of FAIRMAT, live at JEC World 2025. The discussion delves into Ben's journey from launching the world's lightest aircraft seat to founding FAIRMAT, a startup focused on recycling carbon fiber composites. They explore the challenges of recycling advanced materials, FAIRMAT's unique technology involving six-axis robots, and their journey from inception to raising substantial funding. Ben talks about the company's commitment to sustainability, their B Corp certification, and the business model that emphasizes both economic and environmental benefits. The conversation also covers the practical applications of FAIRMAT's materials in various industries and their global presence with factories in France and the US. The episode concludes with insights about the significance of participating in events like JEC World for industrial innovation.

In this episode, Julija Jegorova, founder of Black Unicorn PR, discusses the essentials of public relations for startups. She shares her journey from journalism to PR, explains how founders can effectively approach media, and highlights the key factors that make or break a startup’s PR strategy.

In this episode, TechChill CEO Annija Mezgaile shares how the event has grown from a regional startup gathering into an international platform. She discusses the importance of fostering new startups, the challenges of expanding into new markets, and TechChill’s commitment to strengthening the Baltic startup ecosystem.

Discover how PlanA, led by Lubomila Jordanova, is transforming corporate sustainability through cutting-edge software, data-driven insights, and action-oriented strategies. Learn about the future of decarbonization and its impact on businesses worldwide.

Featuring Marta Sjögren, co-founder and co-CEO of Paebbl, this episode explores her journey from investor to climate-tech entrepreneur. Marta shares how Paebbl is turning CO2 into sustainable building materials and why collaboration is essential for decarbonizing the built environment.

Join Tom Henriksson, General Partner at OpenOcean, as he discusses his path from early venture capital in Finland to leading investments in data-intensive startups. Recorded live at Slush 2024, the conversation touches on OpenOcean's mission, the Nordic tech ecosystem, and the role of AI in enterprise software.

Mikayel Vardanyan, COO and co-founder of Picsart, shares insights into scaling Picsart, navigating competition, and the entrepreneurial lessons that have shaped his 20-year journey in the tech industry.