Singular's Raffi Kamber says Europe has a unique edge in AI and science, citing distributed scientific talent and a new generation of researchers with entrepreneurial instincts.
Walmart acquired Vibe, an ad tech company Singular led the Series A in, for $1.4bn this summer, letting Singular repay half its fund in year four.
Kamber says Singular is going big on London without making it exclusive, since the UK is Europe's largest venture market and a natural bridge to the US.
Singular says Europe is ready to build AI science companies
Singular argues that Europe is now a strong place to build companies where AI meets science. Talent is spread widely, and the old weakness of turning research into companies has largely been fixed. The Vibe exit, which returned half a fund in year four, is offered as proof that a concentrated, early-conviction strategy works against much larger platforms.
Takeaways
Europe has a distinct edge in AI and science. Kamber says scientific talent is spread across the continent, and a new generation of researchers has entrepreneurial instincts. That mix suits companies built where AI meets science, and the old gap in turning research into companies has largely closed.
Europe now turns academic research into companies. Five or ten years ago this was the main weakness. Incubators, accelerators and early-stage investors have since learned to work with people holding unique IP or know-how, and Kamber says Europe now does this well.
Vibe exit returned half of Singular's fund. Walmart acquired Vibe in the summer for $1.4bn. Singular led the Series A and had known the founders for over ten years. The exit repays half the fund in year four, which Kamber calls rare in European venture.
Basecamp bets on AI models of biology. The thesis is that understanding the language of biology at scale could give medicine discovery the ChatGPT or Claude experience. Basecamp has data from 30-plus countries, and Kamber says data is cracked, models are maturing and first valuable indications should arrive within two to four years.
Singular helps scientist founders with leadership, not science. Founders know the science better than the firm does. Singular contributes on leadership, narrative, the sequence of execution and choosing allies and long-term partners. Kamber describes this as deeper conversations rather than hands-on involvement.
Fund three continues the concentrated strategy. Singular has raised two funds in fifteen years and still calls itself an emerging manager. It will keep a small team with strong opinions, few investments and high conviction. Beyond AI and science, it is opportunistic in infrastructure, developer tools and cybersecurity.
Singular avoids bidding wars by moving early. Competition is far stronger than ten years ago because founders can reach global funding, so Singular benchmarks itself against top London and US funds. It builds conviction before deals become consensus, and Kamber says it wins many contested deals.
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