Pauliina Martikainen, the youngest female managing partner in European venture capital, has taken the helm at Maki VC with a stark warning: enduring VC success hinges on solving succession. Speaking to Sifted, Martikainen emphasized that the industry's reliance on partners' startup-building histories is overused and insufficient. Maki VC, with €294 million in assets, faces the challenge of ensuring its legacy beyond its current leadership. Martikainen's appointment highlights a critical industry shift towards formalizing succession strategies to prevent firms from fading after key figures depart. Her background as a former startup founder provides credibility to her call for structured planning.