Vytautas Balsys
Partner
Vytautas currently leads portfolio management and business operations efforts for the European Ventures team. He focuses on driving value creation across the investment lifecycle, from helping shape the fund's strategy through to deal structuring and execution, portfolio company development and ultimately exiting the investments. He also oversees reporting to the LPs and fund management.

What motivates you?

I am passionate about helping others succeed and achieve more than they thought they could – whether by backing promising entrepreneurs, offering strategic advice, or mentoring. I try to learn from every experience and believe that while achievement is important, so is the journey to get there.

What do you like about your job?

I meet great people and discuss groundbreaking ideas every day. Having the exposure to such a breadth of ideas is a fantastic way to learn, and then give back to the community. I work in an excellent team with a strong sense of ownership over the decisions we make. Having the tools to shape the future with our investment decisions is exciting and empowering.

What’s been the steepest learning curve of your career so far?

The greatest opportunities come with the hardest challenges. I took the role of a managing director to turn around an insurance brokerage business at the age of 26. I later supported leading banks in their tough post-crisis transformation at McKinsey. Such experiences have given me a broad perspective and maturity, with good understanding of companies both small and large, across functions and development stages.

What current technology trend do you get most excited about and why?

Technology is having a dramatic impact on our access to products and services. Online marketplaces connect buyers and sellers who wouldn’t have been able to transact previously. Alternative financing platforms connect providers and seekers of capital. The world is increasingly moving from the hub-and-spoke model to direct-access platforms.

If you could only give one piece of advice to an up and coming entrepreneur what would it be?

Know what metrics matter in your business and work hard to make them shine. You have to know them by heart – where you’ve come from, where you are today, and where you will be in the future.