Europe's startup ecosystem is one of the largest and most diverse in the world, with major hubs in London, Berlin, Paris, and Amsterdam. As of 2023, Europe is home to over 150,000 startups. Governments across the continent support entrepreneurship through various initiatives that provide funding, resources, and mentorship for startups. In 2022, European startups collectively raised approximately €100 billion in venture capital.
The European startup ecosystem is expansive, with over 150,000 startups as of 2023. In 2022, these startups raised approximately €100 billion in venture capital, reflecting robust investor interest. This substantial funding pool supports startups at various stages, from early seed rounds to late-stage investments, facilitating growth and innovation across diverse sectors.
Europe's strengths include a highly educated workforce, a strong tradition of innovation, and a strategic location with access to a large and diverse market. Major cities like London, Berlin, Paris, and Amsterdam have vibrant tech scenes, attracting significant investments and producing notable startups like Revolut, N26, and Adyen. The presence of world-class universities and research institutions fosters a collaborative environment for startups.
London, Berlin, Paris, and Amsterdam are Europe's primary startup hubs. These cities are known for their dynamic tech ecosystems and have produced significant startups, such as Revolut in London, N26 in Berlin, and Adyen in Amsterdam. These hubs benefit from robust infrastructure, access to capital, and a high concentration of skilled talent.
Emerging hubs in Europe include cities like Barcelona, Lisbon, and Stockholm. These cities are gaining traction due to their favorable business climates, increasing investment activity, and vibrant entrepreneurial communities. They offer growing opportunities for startups and investors looking to explore new markets.
The European startup ecosystem benefits from a strong network of incubators, accelerators, and co-working spaces. Initiatives like the European Innovation Council (EIC) and Horizon Europe provide mentorship, resources, and international exposure. These support systems are crucial for nurturing early-stage startups and helping them scale effectively.
Challenges in the European startup ecosystem include regulatory complexities, economic disparities between regions, and limited access to late-stage funding in some areas. Navigating the diverse regulatory environments across different countries can be daunting for startups looking to scale internationally. Addressing these challenges is crucial for fostering a more cohesive and supportive ecosystem.
Despite challenges, Europe is making significant strides in innovation and entrepreneurship. Continuous investment and technological advancement drive substantial growth opportunities. Europe's strategic location and extensive trade relationships provide startups with opportunities for international expansion, positioning the continent as a key player in the global innovation landscape.
Europe's startup ecosystem has shown remarkable resilience and adaptability. The strong emphasis on sustainability and green technology drives innovation in sectors such as renewable energy and environmental technologies. As Europe continues to invest in its startup ecosystem, it is poised for further growth and development, contributing significantly to the global innovation landscape.
London, U.K.
Blockchain (& Cryptos) • Woman Focused
Co-founder at Felix Capital
Antoine Nussenbaum serves as Partner & Founding Team Member at Felix Capital. He is also an Investor & Board Member at Urban Massage. He is also a member of the founding team of Felix Capital. He previously was a Partner at Atlas Global, a private equity fund originally part of GLG Partners. Over the past five years he has worked closely with various early-stage digital startups including Mirakl, Jellynote, Pave, Reedsy and 31Dover and actively helped them launch their businesses. He has also been involved since inception with Huckletree, a fast growing coworking operator dedicated to the UK digital community which was started by his wife. Antoine moved to London in 2006 when he joined ABN AMRO as an M&A investment banker. Prior to this he was based in Paris and was part of the founding team of NT Valley, a software business. He is a graduate of ESCP European Business School and University Paris Dauphine.
Berlin, Germany
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • PropTech • FinTech (& Financials services) • Sales (& Marketing) • Cosmetics (& Fashion) • A.I. (& Big Data) • Blockchain (& Cryptos) • Advertising • Logistics (& Distribution) • Real Estate (& Construction)
Most Interested In
Founders who are pursuing daring projects. Big vision & able to deliver on the nitty gritty parts. Currently AI/ML, big data, process innovation.
Not Interested In
(e/m) commerce companies, pure adtech plays, hardware only firms
Rouven Dresselhaus serves as Co-Founding Partner & Managing Partner at Cavalry Ventures. Dresselhaus serves as Managing Director at Voltage Ventures. Prior to Voltage Ventures, Rouven has invested in more than 35 companies worldwide. He is the go-to guy for our portfolio companies whenever they need strategic advice, input on their product, network and fundraising. Rouven's academic career ended when he dropped out of WHU's Ph.D. program in order to pursue his passion in Venture Capital.
London - Los Angeles - San Francisco Bay Area - New York - Portland - Oregon, U.S.A. - U.K.
Hardware (& Manufacturing) • Retail (& E-Commerce) • Sales (& Marketing) • Entertainment (& Sports) • Blockchain (& Cryptos) • Gaming (& eSports) • Advertising • Nanotechnology
Most Interested In
Sports Tech – Marketing Tech – Connected Commerce – IoT – Hospitality – Digital Media - Blockchain (non crypto/fintech)
Not Interested In
Fintech
Washington - Toronto (Ontario) - San Francisco Bay Area - Boston - New York, U.S.A. - Canada - U.K.
Media • Businesses Solutions • Entertainment (& Sports) • Blockchain (& Cryptos) • Gaming (& eSports) • Analytics • Developer tools • Messaging • Nanotechnology • Online Social
Most Interested In
voice, augmented reality, computer vision, communications, messaging, (anti) computational propaganda, esports as media, participatory audiences
Not Interested In
ecommerce, DTC vertically integrated brands
Dubai - United Arab Emirates, U.S.A. - Global: U.S.A., Australia, Canada, Germany, U.K., Israel, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland
FinTech (& Financials services) • Blockchain (& Cryptos) • Developer tools
Co-founder & COO at Polygon (previously Matic Network)
London - Berlin, Germany - U.K. - Netherlands - France
FinTech (& Financials services) • Blockchain (& Cryptos) • Web Security (& Privacy) • Future Of Work
Most Interested In
Decentralization, Blockchain, Peer to peer networks, API ecosystems, automation, devtech, legaltech, logistics
Not Interested In
AdTech, E-Commerce, FoodTech, Media, HealthTech
London, U.K.
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • FinTech (& Financials services) • Blockchain (& Cryptos) • Consumer
Co-founder and Partner, Mosaic Ventures
Simon Levene is a Co-Founder and serves as Partner at Mosaic Ventures. He also serves as Investor and Advisor at AppCard. He serves as Investor and Board Member at Fotolia.
Paris France, France
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • IT (& TMT) • Media • Hardware (& Manufacturing) • Retail (& E-Commerce) • A.I. (& Big Data) • Blockchain (& Cryptos) • Insurance (& InsurTech)
Founder and Partner at CapHorn (VC)
Guillaume Dupont is Partner and co-founder of CapHorn Invest
Guillaume (X, Stanford) began his career in the venture capital team of Crédit Agricole Private Equity before joining Schneider Electric Ventures as investment director in 2007.
He has gained extensive experience in the analysis, financing and monitoring of innovative young companies working with some such as Novaled, Supersonic Imagine, Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics, Temis, Metabolic Explorer, Open Wide, Tiempo or Jet Metal Technologies.
London, U.K.
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • A.I. (& Big Data) • Blockchain (& Cryptos) • DeepTech
co-Founder & Managing Partner, Entrée Capital
Aviad Eyal is a Co-Founder and serves as Managing Partner at Entree Capital. He is a Board Member of Prospa Advance and thumbzup Innovations. He is a serial entrepreneur with extensive knowledge in growing businesses in the high-tech and financial sectors. He uses the experience he has gained over the past 20 years as an entrepreneur, engineer and investor to help software, hardware, mobile and internet start-ups reach their full potential. He has a B.Sc. in Electronic and Computer Engineering from the University of Kwazulu-Natal (UKZN) and a degree from Carmel College.