Europe Young Founders: Tech Leader Call to Action
European tech leaders are calling for increased investment in young founders to prevent brain drain and foster the next generation of tech giants. At the recent TNW Conference, venture capitalists and CEOs urged European institutions to embrace risk and support entrepreneurial ambitions. The focus is on creating opportunities for young European founders, who currently lack the same opportunities as their U.S. counterparts.
To cultivate the next generation of tech giants, Europe must increase its investment in young founders. Investors and CEOs are advocating for stronger support of entrepreneurial ambitions to prevent Europe’s most promising ideas and talent from migrating elsewhere.
Kieran Hill, general partner at 20VC, a venture capital firm, emphasized the need for European institutions to be more willing to take risks. Hill believes a shift in mindset is crucial for developing future business leaders in Europe. He noted that many talented founders are drawn to the U.S., where they find inspiration and a culture that celebrates entrepreneurial success.
Nicola Ebmeyer, co-founder and CEO of Gain.pro, echoed Hill’s sentiments. Gain.pro, based in Amsterdam, is a private market intelligence and deal-sourcing platform that consistently ranks among Europe’s fastest-growing startups. Ebmeyer shared that her ambitions were initially met with skepticism.
Ebmeyer, who left a stable career at McKinsey to launch her startup, faced criticism that her plan was too risky. She often heard warnings suggesting she was making a poor decision. This, Ebmeyer believes, reflects a broader cultural issue in Europe, relating to the idea that “You can’t be what you can’t see.” She argues this applies to the entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing the need for role models and support systems.
Hill’s 20VC launched Project Europe in March, an early-stage fund for entrepreneurs under 25. The project unites more than 120 European founders from companies like Klarna, Mistral AI, and Shopify to offer investment and mentorship. The goal is to retain ambitious, talented entrepreneurs in Europe by providing the necessary support for them to succeed.
Hill highlighted the urgency of this backing, pointing out that young European founders have similar ambitions to their U.S. counterparts but lack the same level of financial support. “The infrastructure here is just so unwilling to take risks on young people,” Hill said.
Hill urged other investors to emulate Project Europe, criticizing the current focus of many European venture capitalists on business models rather than founder motivation. “That’s a symptom of Europe,” he remarked.
Despite these criticisms, Hill acknowledged positive trends, highlighting the presence of fast-growing startups like Mistral, Synthesia, and Loveable in Europe.
Both Hill and Ebmeyer agree that Europe must embrace greater risk and invest more in its young founders to foster further growth. Industry leaders hope that increased investment and support for young founders will lead to a new wave of successful tech companies in Europe, fostering innovation and economic growth.
