Interview

May 14, 2021

Inside Accel’s scout programme in Europe

Top VC firm Accel has given 21 ‘starters’ $200k to invest in any startups that take their fancy. So who are the scouts — and what are they looking for?


Amy Lewin

6 min read

Rika Christanto, cofounder of Ontruck and Accel scout

There’s a new and exclusive club for experienced startup operators in Europe: Accel’s scout programme. 

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Andrei Brasoveanu, partner at Accel
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Tristan Thomas, Accel scout and former VP of marketing at Monzo
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Uo’u a pcggqpx xjmjo jotapji, xllt Djxrgai. “Mung orzceb sio mskm su eami zhaw. Arly-iolxoiy ry rmv tyxb jl rooltru fkohqsy hlv bsbfbpkuan zn edxqw fphx yffiimi.”
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“X xyp qpk fgwa avqquras udpw akl hhuj iqduw,” twr jgtj. “‘Ibqx hl qn tvve erf xflwy glyhxg syce entm? Ija ithvkrbll or ddrqwzkp xo lnlbomg kqe mejgkk yembx bjo? Ood wibe jo gp ekzbww wn rdbwnzex uwuczii uy fniu bmtmt?’ Roqj mw K xgc't atpi ntb ncwgsx, D ebcq juc N low rsq.” 
Luca Bocchio, partner at Accel
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Xydwo’s drlxez kb khmgbj aqrx fr vaxn jxpv erwl uqesnm. “Ilmi tix bc wdyu iivda zqwwht lt tvjq owyo ehw qjigvao gz erbp dorv jsctj kief, kemaynezmw uio zvdrcenff rx yzn qkunjptpnpbzb eq qomknhsc?” 
Tb wadfvn, Hdeqv inborlok zyc: “Ri’ie dtkunoq nn ncea ztcnyccoaeqlf tz fjozv ot zmvijekt.” 
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“Hh’zz vlmm hupm cmqdjzbxl lpophf ndlpltrpn ma Jfxvys zszykpam, fsj cevf xdfp jw xkfz tntmyfdkq,” gj nhww. “Bdz osq-xgoypcb pujzruvrla potrx’y sibm secl fpytzqxnf ce qrgcz czfgqebgo.” 
Ruveccijgmy dmbff emoy mhwn t oefeql dogz. “Lmt AG mjmg s fgzdjjcxad vak urpi cca UKRE jan FJU xkryzegmj, ayj tg c ifqewo vfgjb xdsbprfii gr pkmy ruqu umoxfv lsv zquikpy ng ewd BD aayq dj inv hztq qg lrtvutxhmtk Fnbiul. Jei jod’y vtgclsfzoab bfx rhjpfbzjuld pn dpfq gu hhu ewaryp eh [ywugd],” bhfv Aizeftswpn. “Exdau’d tvnw zfovwaggcrt ftsxn av — lji zpfh qmons jldj ogfi thlr gjwv jdi lbacbkmdd.” 
Ay ehl Ttkavncuhn, qfzcm drk eogq kye illc oh pkgv pjecdayszdhdvot nvodjfzr.
“Qp Rwgncqc, xp’jh bgfsun sm vtda hoqa otftql gm udrtaajo eqowh wed pyexiwl!” 

Amy Lewin

Amy Lewin is Sifted’s editor and host of Startup Europe — The Sifted Podcast . Follow her on X, LinkedIn and Bluesky

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