Prime Highlights:
- Europe’s startup scene is gaining confidence, thanks to a growing pool of skilled talent and supportive founders and investors.
- Slower growth compared to Silicon Valley is seen as an advantage, allowing startups to grow steadily while attracting international talent.
Key Facts:
- Over 13,000 people attended Slush, including 6,000 startups and 3,500 investors, with most participants coming from northern, central, and southern Europe.
- The EU plans to simplify tech and privacy rules to make Europe more competitive and create a better environment for startups.
Background:
Europe’s startup scene is looking more positive, as founders and investors point to a growing pool of talent, according to Slush, one of Europe’s biggest tech events. Despite the cold 26°F weather, over 13,000 people, including 6,000 startups and 3,500 investors, attended to talk about business and innovation.
Most participants came from across Europe, especially northern Europe, Germany, and France, with many from central and southern Europe as well. The event showed that Europe has a strong startup scene and can compete worldwide.
While the region has faced criticism over strict regulations, including the EU’s AI and privacy laws, founders say Europe’s talent pool is driving confidence. Staffan Helgesson, founder of Creandum, said he feels very positive about Europe, praising its strong founders, investors, and talent, and noting that stricter U.S. immigration rules give Europe an edge.
Companies are benefiting from Europe’s growing talent density and comparatively lower costs. Ryan Luke Johns, CEO of Gravis Robotics, noted that initiatives in the U.S. have pushed many skilled students and professionals toward Europe, enhancing the region’s capabilities.
Europe’s tech scene is growing more slowly than Silicon Valley, which many see as a good thing. Anton Osika, CEO of Swedish startup Lovable, said staying in Stockholm and hiring talent from other countries helped the company grow quickly. Laurent Sifre, CTO of French startup H-company, said Europe has talented workers and focuses on practical innovation.
