Madalina Preda’s expertise lies in supporting and cultivating high-impact ecosystems across education, insurance, healthcare, and deep tech sectors, where cutting-edge technologies drive transformative change through servant leadership. Her journey spans academia, life sciences, finance, insurance, automotive industries, and alternative mobility solutions across 8 countries.
Madalina’s unique trajectory through academia and industry has shaped her into a thoughtful innovator. While teaching modern British and American literature across European universities, she resonated deeply with F. Scott Fitzgerald’s words: “Books are like brothers and I am an only child.” This academic foundation fostered a nuanced understanding of diverse perspectives and emotional intelligence, echoing the timeless wisdom: “whenever you feel like criticising anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had. Reserving judgments is a matter of infinite hope.”
During her academic years, she mastered the power of storytelling and embraced continuous learning – skills that define her leadership approach. Her expertise helps entrepreneurs craft compelling investor pitches, transforming ideas into narratives of opportunity and impact. As Reid Hoffman, Co-Founder of LinkedIn, notes, “The best pitch decks don’t just present data; they tell a compelling story about opportunity and potential.”
While researching her comparative literature thesis, she explored how storytelling and mythology fortify cultural resilience, exploring their role in shaping the collective subconscious during times of oppression in Ireland and Transylvania. By examining these narratives, she uncovered the power of stories to preserve identity, inspire hope, and unify communities in the face of adversity.
While at Corning Inc., Madalina learned three crucial lessons about innovation. First, collaboration – between corporations and startups – sparks groundbreaking innovations, as evidenced by Corning’s pivotal contributions to Thomas Edison’s lightbulb and the iPhone. Second, innovation requires serndipity, disciplined processes, and patient capital. Third, the long-term impact of innovation is profound and changes people’s lives: Corning developed Pyrex cookware, TV tube glass, the hair-thin glass strands forming the internet’s backbone, and Gorilla Glass, now used in over 8 billion devices worldwide.
While working for LeasePlan Corporation (currently Ayvens Corporation) Madalina led the transformation in customer experience for the automotive and leasing industry during Europe’s shift to electric vehicles (EVs), with Scandinavia and the Netherlands spearheading adoption and expansion into Central and Southern Europe. Her focus was on working with the global organistaion on adapting traditional processes to meet the unique demands of a transition industry, including EV-specific assets, safety standards, and service models, while tackling the complexities of insuring new vehicle types. This transformation required close collaboration across internal stakeholders, driving an organizational culture shift to embrace sustainability and innovation.
These efforts involved navigating regulatory landscapes, developing charging infrastructure, and aligning with the evolving expectations of eco-conscious customers. Under her leadership, the organization positioned itself at the forefront of a sustainable, tech-driven future, setting a new industry benchmark in a rapidly changing market.
As Head of Startegic Partnerships for Innovation Department at NN Group, she led the Startegic Partnerships team, its daily operations and build strategic relationships with global Venture Capital partners. This exposure has provided deep insights into how funds and LPs invest in innovation, what VCs look for in startups, and how they differentiate successful ventures from those that falter.
By engaging closely with top investors, fund managers, and entrepreneurs, she remains at the forefront of industry developments. A committed advocate for growing the insurtech and fintech ecosystems across Europe and the U.S., she champions innovation through high-impact projects in both Dutch and international markets. Her collaboration with fintech thought leaders in the Netherlands has further strengthened partnerships between startups and industry incumbents, fostering a dynamic environment for growth and innovation. She has managed relationships with global Venture Capitals in innovation hubs such as London, Barcelona, LA, Madrid, Amsterdam, and San Francisco.
She has spearheaded the establishment of innovative healthcare and elderlycare platform services through strategic partnerships in the Netherlands, Spain, Greece, Romania, Poland, Turkey, and Hungary. To strengthen internal collaboration ion inovation, she has build a the Innovation Partnerships Community of Practice.
Her commitment to diversity is evident in her efforts to elevate female representation in both Venture Capital and entrepreneurial landscapes, supporting more female investors and entrepreneurs. Recognized by Femtechnology as a thought leader in femhealth, she has championed innovation and investment in femhealth, elderly care, and broader healthcare sectors. A strong advocate for impact investing, she actively supports initiatives that close the insurance gap, foster climate resilience in insurance, and promote the transparent and ethical implementation of AI.
As she notes, innovation and impact are realized when stakeholders unite to share resources, ideas, and a vision for transformative change. As a seasoned insurance and technology leaders, Sabine VanderLinden and Madalina have joined forces through Alchemy Crew Ventures to drive transformative innovation in the InsurTech industry. This powerful partnership represents a convergence of exceptional expertise, visionary thinking, and complementary skill sets that positions them at the forefront of a rapidly evolving landscape.
Sabine VanderLinden brings over 25 years of deep industry experience to the table, having established herself as a thought leader in the InsurTech space. As the CEO and Venture Partner of Alchemy Crew Ventures, she has demonstrated a keen understanding of corporate innovation, venture capital, and the transformative potential of technology within the insurance sector. Her co-authorship of ‘The INSURTECH Book’ and recognition as a Most Influential CEO underscores her influential standing in the industry.
Complementing Sabine’s expertise, Madalina offers a unique global perspective, having navigated diverse industries spanning academia, life sciences, finance, insurance, and automotive across eight countries.
One of the key synergies between Sabine and Madalina lies in their shared commitment to fostering collaboration and building dynamic ecosystems. Sabine’s focus at Alchemy Crew Ventures on bridging the adoption gap between corporations and growth ventures through open innovation and design thinking aligns seamlessly with Madalina’s experience in building strategic relationships with global venture capital partners and championing innovation through high-impact projects.
The partnership further benefits from Madalina’s strong background in storytelling and communication, developed during her academic years and through her expertise in evaluating compelling investor pitches. This complements Sabine’s role as a thought leader and tech ambassador, enhancing Alchemy Crew Ventures’ ability to articulate its value proposition and engage effectively with stakeholders across the InsurTech ecosystem.
Both leaders share a deep passion for driving social impact and supporting diversity in the tech and insurance sectors. Sabine’s track record of supporting female-founded startups and diverse InsurTech leaders aligns perfectly with Madalina’s focus on empowering female investors towards creating meaningful social impact. Together, they possess the potential to amplify these efforts, fostering a more inclusive and equitable InsurTech ecosystem.
As the insurance industry witnesses rapid integration of advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Internet of Things, and blockchain, Sabine and Madalina’s combined expertise positions Alchemy Crew Ventures to capitalize on these transformative trends. Their understanding of the applications of these technologies in automating underwriting processes, enhancing risk assessment, and personalizing insurance products will be crucial in driving innovation.
Moreover, Sabine and Madalina’s global perspective and experience managing relationships in innovation hubs across Europe and the US provide a strong foundation for Alchemy Crew Ventures’ international expansion. Their combined networks and insights into diverse markets can facilitate cross-border collaborations and knowledge sharing, which are essential for addressing global challenges in the insurance industry.
In a rapidly evolving landscape where InsurTech startups and traditional insurers are increasingly collaborating, the partnership between Sabine VanderLinden and Madalina through Alchemy Crew Ventures is well-positioned to play a pivotal role. Their ability to bridge the gap between established insurance companies and innovative startups can accelerate the adoption of new technologies and business models, transforming the industry’s trajectory.
California’s robust innovation ecosystem presents a particularly exciting opportunity for expansion. The state’s strong focus on sustainable technologies and its thriving InsurTech sector align perfectly with the vision for Alchemy Crew Ventures. By tapping into California’s network of research institutions, government agencies, and private enterprises, we can foster collaborations that drive innovation in areas such as AI-powered risk assessment, usage-based insurance models, and sustainable insurance solutions.
Alchemy Crew Ventures exists to bridge the critical gap between innovation and impact – a gap that often defines the success or failure of digital transformations. Its mission is to turn brilliant ideas into market-shaping realities, moving them from R&D into the mainstream to drive meaningful change in sectors like insurance and finance. It’s here to bring innovations to life in ways that redefine entire industries and unlock new possibilities for its many clients.
Alchemy Crew Ventures understands that true transformation requires more than technology; it demands a thoughtful balance of visionary innovation, pragmatic application, and deep market insight. “Our values – rooted in open innovation, collaborative ecosystems, and democratized knowledge – drive our work. These principles make us the partner of choice for organizations not only ready to adapt but to lead.”
For senior leaders in financial services and insurance, the path to digital transformation is complex and daunting. They visit Alchemy Crew Ventures not for ideas alone but for results – market-ready solutions that tangibly elevate their businesses. Its clients need more than a roadmap; they need a partner who can transform strategic ambition into concrete success.
What sets Alchemy Crew Ventures apart is its unique integration of corporate venturing, strategic expertise, and operational execution. Where others propose theories, Alchemy Crew Ventures delivers. Its methodologies, grounded in open innovation and validated through real-world testing, focus relentlessly on translating digital potential into measurable outcomes.
Alchemy Crew Ventures is driven by its people – seasoned industry experts, innovation specialists, and digital transformation strategists who blend rigorous analysis with bold problem-solving. Its culture is a fusion of scientific precision and creative vision, designed for professionals who are as comfortable in boardrooms as they are in startup spaces. This balance allows us to speak the languages of both traditional finance and digital disruption.
The financial services and insurance industries are in a period of radical transformation. Traditional models are being dismantled by technology, evolving customer expectations, and new market entrants. Alchemy Crew Ventures doesn’t see this as chaos; it sees it as fertile ground for innovation.
The company is focused on three key pillars for the future: the democratization of advanced technologies, ecosystem-centered business models, and scalable innovation frameworks. Its role is to guide organizations through these shifts, helping them maintain a competitive edge in an evolving landscape.
Alchemy Crew Ventures believes the future belongs to those who can bridge innovation with implementation. Its vision extends beyond consulting; Alchemy Crew Ventures is leading a movement toward more practical, scalable, and actionable approaches to digital transformation. It’s not waiting for the future to arrive – it’s actively shaping it.
Consider Alchemy Crew Ventures your guide in the digital revolution – armed with proven expertise, robust methodologies, and a relentless focus on impact. It empowers organizations not just to keep pace with change but to lead it, redefining what’s possible in financial services and insurance.
