Everyone knows American tech investors have the glitziest funding rounds, buzziest portfolios, and biggest exits. But what they don’t have is… paid vacation. Legally, the minimum number of paid leave days in the U.S. is zero. That’s right, even billion-dollar VCs are squeezing in time off wherever they can. Which is exactly why summer in Europe offers a golden opportunity for savvy founders to raise their next round from VC Money.
While American investors might struggle to unplug at home, they often cobble together their getaways around European holidays, conferences, and sporting events. And if you know where to look — and how to show up — you might just land yourself a term sheet over a spritz.
The VC Vacation Circuit: Where to Find Them
The action kicks off late May around Memorial Day in the U.S., conveniently aligned with the UK spring bank holiday. That’s when Americans start descending on London and Paris, often extending their stays to align with events like Money2020, TNW Amsterdam, Shoptalk Barcelona, and London Tech Week. (And this year, SXSW London makes it an even hotter draw.)
Add in Techsylvania in Eastern Europe — a lesser-known gem — and you’ve got a full calendar of high-quality events. VCs love a good conference, but they love a good reason to count vacation as work even more.
From Wimbledon to Royal Ascot, F1 races, yacht regattas, and even horse races, American VCs flock to events where champagne flows and intros happen between photo ops. If you’re local (or can be), suggest a drink nearby and make it easy for them to justify the meeting as “work.”
Then comes July 4th — U.S. Independence Day — when the vibe shifts from business to full-blown party mode. Expect them to start popping up in Mykonos, Ibiza, and other coastal hotspots. They’ll be doing breathwork by the sea in the morning and dancing to Kygo or The Chainsmokers by night. Bonus points if your startup is in the longevity space — nothing says synergy like a hangover cure pitched between shots of tequila.
By August, they’ll be everywhere: Italy, Spain, Greece, France, the French Riviera, and Croatia. Just remember: if there’s a Belmond hotel, a marina big enough to host Jeff Bezos’s yacht, and a local Airbnb protest, it’s probably crawling with investors.
How to Actually Land the Deal
Now that you know where they’ll be, here’s how to turn that proximity into capital:
- Offer local intel. Create a curated Google Maps list of must-visit spots — cocktail bars, seaside restaurants, juice joints. Share it when you DM them or email. Bonus: it gives you a natural follow-up excuse.
- Be helpful without being pushy. If a VC posts about attending a conference in your city or country, slide into their inbox: “Big fan, let me know if you need any help or would like to meet founders while you’re here.” Offer to host a casual drinks meetup with other founders (they’ll expense it anyway).
- Play the insider. If you’ve ever nannied in the south of France, studied abroad, or even once got sunburned in Sicily — bring it up. Recommending a quaint town or low-key vineyard will make you seem worldly, helpful, and above all, memorable.
- Use content as a hook. Invite them on your podcast, ask if they’d do a quick video interview, or offer a fireside chat at a meetup. Does it stroke their ego? Yes. But also: it gets your foot in the door.
- Don’t try to flex. Don’t waste your pre-seed budget renting a yacht in Saint-Tropez. Instead, fly in on Ryanair, carry a second outfit in your backpack, and treat a coffee meetup like the boardroom. You just might walk away with a new lead investor.
TL;DR: You’re Not “Networking” — You’re Fundraising
This summer, think of Europe as your VC safari. Track their movements, study their habits, and plan your ambush with pitch deck in hand. They’re not on PTO — they’re on a mission to justify their vacation via “deal flow.” So be the deal.
Keep an eye on social, watch for speaking announcements, and follow last summer’s trail. If they were in Tuscany last August, odds are they’ll be back — and this time, you’ll be ready.
