January 29, 2025
At Calm/Storm, we believe in the power of community, innovation, and collaboration. Storm Days is our event designed to bring together founders, investors, thought leaders, supporting partners, and members of our community to share knowledge, tackle challenges, and inspire each other. These days are about much more than networking - they’re about creating a space where ideas flourish, connections deepen, and the future of HealthTech takes shape. By bringing our portfolio companies together with the broader ecosystem, we aim to empower founders to thrive and pave the way for groundbreaking advancements in healthcare and beyond.
For three days Storm Days turned Vienna into a hub of venture capital, bringing together over 400 investors and founders, marking the largest international venture capital delegation to ever come to Austria (as recognized by the Austrian Chamber of Commerce)
With prominent speakers like Google’s Laura Heidrich, HSBC’s Innovation Banking Shamik J Parekh, Austria’s incoming Central Bank President Dr. Martin Kocher, Erste Foundation Chairman Dr. Andreas Treichl, and Nelly Founder Lukas Eicher, the event became a powerhouse of ideas, insights, and innovation. Investors from leading funds such as Balderton, Prosus, Molten, Wellington Partners, Speedinvest, Albion, Frontline, Optum, MMC, Eurazeo, and Lionbird came together to network and explore the future of healthcare innovation.
As Andrea Roda of Balderton put it: “We’ve long believed in the quality of Calm/Storm’s portfolio, as shown by our latest investment in Lindus Health. Calm/Storm’s events are an excellent way to stay connected to the disruptive and exciting solutions emerging in HealthTech.”With events held across the city of Vienna, we showed off what the city has to offer. Let’s relive the magic together:
Kicking off Storm Days with something close to our hearts: an intimate dinner with our portfolio founders at our office. Some of whom we’ve worked with for many years, and others who are just at the beginning of their journeys. This evening was all about connection and celebration. Over a very Austrian dinner - Schnitzels, potato salad and the sweet Austrian dessert, Kaiserschmarrn - the room buzzed with energy.
Nearly 40 founders and our team shared heartfelt conversations, it was a chance to swap war stories, share personal growth journeys, and laugh about the trials and triumphs of startup life. The energy was contagious, and the schnitzels didn’t disappoint.
It was the perfect start to Storm Days - a warm, collaborative atmosphere that set the tone for the days to come.
Founders learning from other founders is at the heart of everything we do. That’s exactly how we kicked off Day 2 of Storm Days - fueled by plenty of croissants, of course. Our portfolio founders gathered at Schönherr for a morning dedicated to honest, open conversations under strict Chatham House rules. No outsiders, no filters - just founders and our supporting partners sharing their experiences and learning from each other.
To break the ice, everyone shared reflections on both the highs and lows of the past year. This exercise sparked meaningful conversations and uncovered shared experiences - highlighting the very real challenges founders face and the unique perspective they can offer each other through those shared struggles.
But challenges turned into opportunities as the panels and discussions unfolded. From scaling strategies to navigating global markets, the insights shared were nothing short of inspiring. Founders exchanged stories, traded advice, and leaned on each other’s experiences.
The day unfolded with stories, lessons, and insights from incredible founders who’ve been through it all. Samir (doctorly), Rich (Univa Health), and Kosima (Viora) made us reflect deeply on how we scale - not just our teams, but ourselves as leaders. Their stories of growth and adaptation hit close to home for many in the room.
Tim (Aeon), Fadi (Healthforce), and Jonathan (Rex) dove into the fundraising pain and gain, sharing raw and honest accounts of what it takes to secure capital and how to navigate the rollercoaster of raising money.
Later, Richie (Nolea), Silvia (LEVY Health), and Gerrit (Openhealth technologies) took us on a journey beyond borders, sharing tips and strategies for scaling internationally and pivoting to seize global opportunities.
Michael Hurnaus gave us an inside look at Tractive’s journey to €100m+ ARR, showing us what’s possible with vision and persistence. Thomas Kulnigg walked us through the legal intricacies of venture capital, making complex topics feel accessible.
We wrapped up the day’s sessions by inviting a few of our VC friends to join us for Cracking the Code: Inside the Mind of VCs. Molly Gilmartin, William McQuillan, and the Calm/Storm team pulled back the curtain on how investors think, sharing invaluable insights and strategies to help founders better navigate the fundraising journey.
From there, we traded Schönherr’s offices for the streets of Vienna, hopping aboard a sightseeing tram ride. With champagne in hand and popcorn to snack on, we enjoyed a guided tour of the city - mixing culture, celebration, and a bit of well-deserved fun.
Later that evening, we welcomed our portfolio founders and international investors from the UK, US, Israel, and beyond to an unforgettable night at the iconic Leopold Museum. Around 250 guests explored stunning exhibitions like Poetry of Ornament and Vienna 1900: Departure into Modernity, immersing themselves in Vienna’s rich artistic heritage.
It’s hard not to draw parallels between art and venture capital. Just as an art collector selects a masterpiece, the first investor takes a leap of faith - guided by conviction and vision, trusting that time will reveal its true value.
The evening culminated in lively conversations over food and drinks at the Leopold Café, blending culture, relaxation, and networking. It was the perfect way to wind down the day, bringing together art, inspiration, and connections in a truly unique setting.
Friday was the pinnacle of Storm Days, as we welcomed over 400 attendees from around the world to the conference - officially the largest delegation of international venture capital ever to gather in Austria.
With the ever-witty Monika Rosen-Philipp as our host, keeping the audience entertained and engaged, the day was off to a fantastic start. A big thank you to our partners, the Austrian Business Agency, Gabriele Tatzberger, and #WKO, Kambis Vajargah, for making it all possible.
The conference opened with a keynote from Laura Heidrich of Google Cloud, delving into how AI is transforming healthcare. AI’s revolutionary potential in HealthTech, particularly with generative AI, was a focal point, urging the audience to shift perspectives and embrace solutions.
This was followed by a dynamic panel on scaling HealthTech companies, where Shamik (HSBC Innovation Banking), Caroline (LEVY Health), and Sandeep (Prosus) explored how Europe can retain talent, foster innovation, and navigate regulatory challenges to compete with the US.
Afternoon sessions brought diverse perspectives, starting with insights into the evolving role of LPs in driving European innovation, with panelists like Ertan Can and Mohadeseh Abdullahi.
A keynote by Austria’s Minister of Economy, Martin Kocher, called for a dedicated fund of funds to strengthen the country’s investment ecosystem, followed by a discussion featuring key players such as Andreas Treichl and Regina Hodits on the macroeconomic trends shaping venture capital.
Markus Lang of Speedinvest urged the audience to capitalize on Europe’s untapped potential, highlighting the importance of collaboration and momentum. The future of fundraising took center stage as Jonathan Friedman, Andrea Roda, and Molly Gilmartin advised founders on emerging trends and strategies to navigate 2025.
Lukas Eicher (Nelly) shared his journey raising a €50M Series B, emphasising the importance of preparation, data consistency, and strong investor relations to build trust and credibility.
The day culminated with a compelling panel featuring Lukas, Jonathan Loesing (Rex), and Florian Meissner (Aware), who discussed the challenges and opportunities of scaling HealthTech businesses in Europe. They highlighted the value of community and collaboration as key drivers of success.
Storm Days concluded at the Hofburg Palace with a grand ball, an event deeply rooted in Austria’s cultural heritage. Held in the opulent halls of the former imperial palace, this event reflects the historical grandeur of Vienna, where waltzes and formal dances have long been a cornerstone of Austrian society. The ball offered attendees a unique opportunity to experience this cherished tradition, blending the celebration of innovation with the timeless charm of Viennese culture.
A heartfelt thank you to our community, founders, investors, and all our guests - this event wouldn’t have been possible without you.
