Privately Speaking: Sonali De Rycker of Accel Partners

European venture has disappointed investors for a decade. But many believe the prospects for this segment of the market have never been better – and funding is starting to concentrate around a few managers who seem to have the models to take advantage. Accel Partners’ European arm, which has just closed a $475m fund, is emerging as one of the best of its breed – and in Sonali De Rycker, it boasts a partner described in some quarters as ‘the best VC in Europe’. James Taylor went to meet her, to ask why LPs should believe that this time will be different...