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.
Size of the Market
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.
Key Strengths
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.
Major Hubs
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
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.
Support Systems
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
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.
Opportunities and Future Outlook
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.
Resilience and Adaptability
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.
Case Studies: Successful Funding Rounds with Angel Investors on Angels Partners
Venture Capitalist | Managing Partner at SoGal Ventures
*** Startup pitch decks, press inquiries, and speaking requests can be sent directly to Elizabeth@sogalventures.com *** Elizabeth is the co-founder and Managing Partner of two start-up venture capital firms, SoGal Ventures and A-Level Capital, which have collectively advised and invested in over 90 startups. Elizabeth is also Co-President of the SoGal Foundation, a non-profit on the mission to redefine the next generation of diverse founders and funders through a global chapter community education model with SoGal Chapters in over 50 cities across 6 continents. Elizabeth and her SoGal Ventures business partner Pocket Sun have been featured in numerous online, print, and video publications including: New York Times, WSJ, Fortune, Forbes, CNBC, BBC World News, Financial Times. Fast Company, Inc., Entrepreneur, SWAAY, The Straits Times, Channel News Asia, The Business Times, Sina, CrunchBase News, etc. Elizabeth has received the honor of being recognized as Entrepreneur Magazine's 100 Most Powerful Women, Forbes 30U30 in Venture Capital, JP Morgan Diversity Champion Award, TechWeek 100 Innovative Investor, and NYC 33U33. Additionally, Elizabeth is involved in innovation through her roles as: -Faculty member at the School of Visual Arts MFA Products of Design graduate program -Global keynote speaker on the topics of venture capital, cross-border business, diversity and inclusion, and venture design Prior to graduate studies, as a Strategy and Operations Consultant at Deloitte Consulting, Elizabeth focused her attention on developing long-term strategy for a variety of large healthcare clients. She contributed to business development efforts leading to over $200M of new work. Elizabeth is a proud alumnus of Georgetown University, London School of Economics, Johns Hopkins University & Maryland Institute College of Art.
Robert Wuttke
Investing in Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) &b...
San Francisco Bay Area, U.S.A. - Germany
Previous Investments
• LÜK:
$2200000 (Seed Round)
• LÜK:
$1100000 (Pre Seed Round)
• EWOR:
$3000000 (Seed)
• simpleclub:
$8000000 (Series A)
• Huzzle:
$300000 (Angel)
• Customs4trade (C4T):
$20000000 (Series C)
• Customs4trade (C4T):
$3000000 (Series B)
• Customs4trade (C4T):
$2000000 (Series A)
• LÜK Network:
$2000000 (Seed)
• LÜK Network:
$1000000 (Pre Seed)
• Gustav:
$980000 (Seed)
• Lawn Love:
$2000000 (Seed)
• MapJam:
$450000 (Seed)
• NAVINUM:
(Seed)
Robert Wuttke
San Francisco Bay Area, U.S.A. - Germany
Investing In
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • Media • Businesses Solutions • Retail (& E-Commerce) • A.I. (& Big Data) • Advertising • Online Social
Description
Entrepreneur & Investor
Founder and CEO of be2 and C-Date, a profitable $60M+ business. Investor in @airhelp @auditfile @famebit @tradeshift @ubiome @mayvenn @terravion @tripping-com
Martin Weiss
Investing in Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) &b...
Member of the Executive Board at Hubert Burda Media
Martin Weiss serves as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at Burda Principal Investments. Martin serves as Board Member, International at Hubert Burda Media. Previously Martin was Executive Vice President Strategy and Corporate Development at international telecommunications and media company Millicom. Here, he was responsible for expanding and transforming the company's digital activities in Latin America, the USA and Africa. Martin was previously Founding Partner at management consulting company Solon and ran their London office from 2008 to 2013. His work focused on developing digital growth strategies for international media companies and supporting leading private equity companies in mergers & acquisitions. From 1992 to 1996 Martin was with McKinsey&Co. Furthermore, he was member of the supervisory board of Tomorrow Focus AG from 2003 to 2015 and is currently on the board of Vinted.com.
Shardul Shah
Investing in Media • Businesses Solutions &b...
South San Francisco ,..., U.S.A. - Europe: Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Romania, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Portugal, Sweden, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Slovakia, Norway, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland, Monaco
Previous Investments
• Climax Foods:
$44017000000 (Later stage VC)
• Starburst Data:
$118000000 (Later stage VC)
• Fast (Application Software):
$102000000 (Later stage VC)
• Wealthfront:
$75000000 (Later stage VC)
• Duo Security:
$70000000 (Later stage VC)
• Kano Computing:
$28000000 (Later stage VC)
• Figma:
$25000000 (Later stage VC)
• Built Technologies, Inc.:
$21000000 (Early stage VC)
• Behavox:
$20000000 (Later stage VC)
• Less:
$19000000 (Early stage VC)
• Homebell:
$11000000 (Later stage VC)
• Scoop Technologies:
$10600000 (Early stage VC)
• Trouva:
$10000000 (Early stage VC)
• Spendesk:
$8000000 (Early stage VC)
• Gremlin Inc:
$7500000 (Early stage VC)
• Linear:
$4200000 (Early stage VC)
• Supersolid:
$4000000 (Early stage VC)
• Pitch Software:
• NGINX, Inc.:
(mid stage)
• Koality:
• Outbrain:
(mid stage)
• Q6 Cyber:
• Bankjoy:
(early stage)
• Fundomate:
(early stage)
• Street Invoice:
• DoubleBeam/GoPago acquired by Verifone February 2015:
(early stage)
• VStock Transfer:
• Zipmark Inc.:
(early stage)
• SRSrun:
• Wiz:
$300000000 (Series D)
• Wiz:
$250000000 (Series C)
• Wiz:
$130000000 (Series B)
• Wiz:
$100000000 (Series A)
• Expel:
$31000000 (Series E)
• Expel:
$140000000 (Series E)
• Expel:
$50000000 (Series D)
• Expel:
$40000000 (Series C)
• Footprint:
$6000000 (Seed)
• Indent:
$6000000 (Pre Seed)
• Dazz:
$50000000 (Series A)
• BrightHire:
$21000000 (Series B)
• BrightHire:
$13000000 (Series A)
• Reclaim.ai:
$5000000 (Seed)
• Coalition:
$180000000 (Series D)
• Meroxa:
$4000000 (Seed)
• Gatsby:
$28000000 (Series B)
• Iterable:
$60000000 (Series D)
• Iterable:
$50000000 (Series C)
• Iterable:
$23000000 (Series B)
• AttackIQ:
$18000000 (Series B)
• AttackIQ:
$9000000 (Series A)
• Brightback:
$11000000 (Series A)
• Castle:
$9000000 (Series A)
• Signal Sciences:
$35000000 (Series C)
• Signal Sciences:
$15000000 (Series B)
• Signal Sciences:
$10000000 (Series A)
• Capsule8:
$3000000 (Seed)
• Datadog:
$95000000 (Series D)
• Datadog:
$31000000 (Series C)
• Datadog:
$15000000 (Series B)
• Datadog:
$6000000 (Series A)
• Adallom:
$30000000 (Series C)
• Adallom:
$15000000 (Series B)
• Lacoon Mobile Security:
$8000000 (Series A)
Shardul Shah
South San Francisco - San Francisco Bay Area - California, U.S.A. - Europe: Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Romania, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Portugal, Sweden, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Slovakia, Norway, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland, Monaco
Investing In
Media • Businesses Solutions • A.I. (& Big Data) • Web Security (& Privacy) • Future Of Work
Description
Index Ventures
Most Interested In
Open Source
Corentin Orsini
Investing in Media • Businesses Solutions &b...
Paris, France
Previous Investments
• Formulate:
(early stage)
• Slync.io:
(mid stage)
• First Million:
• Le Comptoir Des Pharmacies:
(mid stage)
• Lunii:
(mid stage)
• Xendoo:
(mid stage)
• Archidvisor:
(early stage)
• equipstore:
• Super Capital:
(early stage)
• Blogbox:
• Soonsoonsoon.com:
(mid stage)
• Splendid Stay:
(early stage)
• Chausson Finance:
• Orsini publishing:
Corentin Orsini
Paris, France
Investing In
Media • Businesses Solutions • Consumer
Description
Angel investor / micro-VC - en.supercapital.fr
Co-founder & Managing Partner at Super Capital VC
Chloé Giard
Investing in Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) &b...
Paris France, France
Previous Investments
• MWM:
(late stage)
• Meero:
(early stage)
• October:
(mid stage)
• #NOM?:
(early stage)
• Tanker:
(early stage)
• Agriconomie.com:
(early stage)
• Hiflow (Expedicar):
• Ogury:
(early stage)
• papernest:
(early stage)
• Botify:
(mid stage)
• wefox:
(early stage)
• Molotov:
(early stage)
• Nosto:
(mid stage)
• Onfido:
(early stage)
• Clipperton Finance:
(late stage)
Chloé Giard
Paris France, France
Investing In
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • IT (& TMT) • Media • BioTech • Businesses Solutions • Hardware (& Manufacturing) • Energy • Retail (& E-Commerce) • CleanTech • A.I. (& Big Data) • Material Science
Description
VC Investment Director at Idinvest Partners
Venture Capitalist @ Idinvest Partners
TMT investments in Europe
Erwin van der Veen
Investing in Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) &b...
Gorinchem, Netherlands
Previous Investments
• Tiqets.com:
(mid stage)
• Snap Fitness Nederland:
(early stage)
• Capital Match:
(early stage)
• Capital Mills BV:
(early stage)
• The ANT Works:
(early stage)
• Degreed:
(early stage)
• Karma:
• Mapbox:
(early stage)
• PressPage:
(mid stage)
• Wercker:
(early stage)
• CE-Tech Invest BV:
• DrKinetic:
• LayerGloss:
(early stage)
• Localsensor:
(early stage)
• SocialExpress:
• Vitulum Ventures BV:
• Veenster Beheer BV:
• ItsICT IT & Project Management BV:
• PastureMap:
(late stage)
• Profitero:
• Soilworks Natural Capital:
• Element SaaS Finance:
(early stage)
• Nextopia:
• Searchspring:
• TINT (tintup.com):
(mid stage)
Erwin van der Veen
Gorinchem, Netherlands
Investing In
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • IT (& TMT) • Media • Education • Hardware (& Manufacturing) • A.I. (& Big Data)
Description
Early Stage Investor, Startups and Scaleups.
Early Stage Investor, Startups and Scaleups.
Otto Birnbaum
Investing in Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) &b...
Berlin Paris, France,, Germany
Previous Investments
• M:
(Files)
• CoachHub:
$30070000 (Later stage VC)
• ZOLAR:
$29590000 (Later stage VC)
• Acorus Networks:
$6000000 (Early stage VC)
• Herzsache:
• Freachly GmbH:
(early stage)
• Acatus GmbH:
(early stage)
• Oviva:
(mid stage)
• Bloomon:
(early stage)
Otto Birnbaum
Berlin Paris, France,, Germany
Investing In
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • IT (& TMT) • Media • Education • Hardware (& Manufacturing) • Insurance (& InsurTech) • Robotics • Healthcare (& Wellness) • LegalTech • Life Science • Mobile • Mobility • Nanotechnology • Oncology
Description
Investor at Partech
Investor at Partech
Marie Brayer
Investing in Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) &b...
Paris, France
Previous Investments
• Board Assure A/S:
(mid stage)
• BigeFinancials A/S:
• iPaper:
(late stage)
• Kraftvaerk Group A/S:
(late stage)
• People Test Systems A/S:
(mid stage)
• Dansk Egenkapital A/S:
• Fonden Musicon Valley:
• Bank of America (Robertson Stephens & Company LLC):
• Nykredit Bank (Rued Jørgensen/Sankt Annæ Bank):
(early stage)
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