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  • Undercover VC |🎯 CROs Are Rewriting the Playbook — What VCs Should Know

Undercover VC |🎯 CROs Are Rewriting the Playbook — What VCs Should Know

Plus: 📊 Danish VC BlackWood backs deep tech with $23.2M fund

Author

Rafe Houston
July 30, 2025

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Welcome to Undercover VC — your inside track on how today’s top investors and operators are building high-performance, venture-backed businesses. Each edition delivers sharp, actionable insights on GTM strategy, capital efficiency, and portfolio execution across B2B SaaS, fintech, and AI. Built for VCs, operating partners, and scale-stage founders who want to win smarter — not just bigger.

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TODAY’S PICK 🎯

An invite-only roundtable for revenue leaders focused on sharpening sales execution.

Join Hive Perform and Warwick Business School’s Sales Excellence Hub for a closed-room session on what’s really driving sales performance in 2025.

As AI reshapes how GTM teams operate, this roundtable explores the balance between automation and human execution and how leading CROs are adjusting their playbooks.

We’ll dive into:

  • How top leaders are blending AI insight with frontline action

  • What it takes to drive execution quality at scale

  • Where traditional sales models are breaking down and what comes next

Designed for senior commercial operators. No decks. No pitches. Just practical ideas and candid peer exchange.

📣LEADING VOICES 

Where Are You On AI Adoption For Your Sales Team?

It’s tempting to think you’re 'doing AI' because reps are using ChatGPT to draft follow-ups or marketing built a few automations But if you’re not seeing a revenue impact... here’s why:
👉 You’re only solving the problem at the individual level not at a team or systems level. That’s the shift we made when building Hive Perform embedding AI across the whole sales motion, not just the individual or deal level.

The impact?
✅ 40% more MQLs handled per rep
✅ Lower CAC
✅ Delayed hiring needs / scaled revenue impact So… where are you really?

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS 🌐

BlackWood Ventures has raised $23.2 million to fund tech startups in fintech, cleantech, and Web 3.0, aimed at nurturing early-stage European companies. This fund plans to invest in 30 companies, offering critical support from pre-seed to seed stages. Notable investments include firms such as beSirius and Particula, reflecting BlackWood's strategic focus on utilizing innovation to strengthen Europe's tech ecosystem.

TechInAsia

Venture capital investments in the Midlands soared to £108.5 million in Q2 2025, bucking the national trend of declining investments. This surge primarily benefited the business and productivity software sector, underscoring the region's adaptability and growth potential. The data highlights the Midlands as a burgeoning hub for high-growth ventures, especially in innovation-led sectors.

InsiderMedia

TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 debates Silicon Valley's necessity, as founders and investors explore new opportunities and geographic shifts. With over 10,000 attendees, the event highlights remote collaboration's evolution and regional growth, essential for startup leaders seeking networking and growth insights.

Tech Crunch

Rachel Reeves needs to address investor concerns regarding taxation changes and non-dom abolition to promote a pro-growth approach. To ensure the UK remains competitive, leveraging schemes like the Enterprise Management Incentive can bolster investment in private capital and scale-ups.

What every founder should know before handing over observer rights

If a VC is investing 5% or more and not taking a board seat, they’ll probably ask for observer rights. It might seem harmless—but it’s not always a clear win.

🔍 Done right, board observers can offer strategic insights, open doors to networks, and deepen investor alignment—without giving up control. 🙅‍♂️ Done wrong, they slow down decision-making, stir misalignment, and create awkward dynamics you can't easily undo.

So, when does it make sense?

  • ✅ Early-stage or strategic investors

  • ✅ You’re building toward a deeper partnership

  • ✅ They bring clear, actionable expertise

But if someone’s only in for a small cheque, think twice before giving them a seat at the (observer) table. Bottom line: A great board observer can be an asset. But too many voices—or the wrong ones—can muddy the waters fast.

👀 Founders: have you had good or bad experiences with observers? Let us know!