Selected - The Sesamers Podcast

From Startup Founder to Ecosystem Bridge-Builder Ilias Benjelloun’s journey began with identifying untapped talent in Canada’s tech scene and helping create community among builders. He transitioned from launching startups to developing programs at large institutions like Desjardins, where he helped align startup innov

From Michelin Stars to Mission-Driven Impact Yannick Alléno is best known for revolutionizing French cuisine. But in recent years, he’s stepped into an entirely different arena—road safety advocacy. After his son’s life was taken in a senseless car crash, Yannick transformed his grief into action, founding an associati

SOSV: Deep Tech Before It Was Cool SOSV wasn’t always a billion-dollar fund—it began as a scrappy experiment. Ten years ago, the team was writing $50K checks. Today, it’s a global operation with $1.5B under management, backing 60+ new startups annually and running two specialized programs:HAX for hard tech (robotics, i

Strong by Form: From Radical Idea to JEC Sustainability Winner What started as a niche academic research project has become a deep tech startup operating across Europe and Latin America, with millions raised in private funding and grants. Strong by Form developed Woodflow, a technology that turns natural timber fibers

From Business Research to Particle Physics Linn’s path into deep tech began in business and innovation management, including time at Vienna University of Economics and Business. Her initial exposure to CERN came through an EU-funded Marie Curie research project focused on valorizing technologies for future particle acc

From Surfboards to Sustainable Composites What started as a DIY surfboard made from recycled cardboard quickly turned into a deep-tech material startup. François initially entered—and won—an innovation competition in California. But the surf industry was too niche, so he pivoted to a broader mission: replace carbon-int