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Join us in revolutionising Europe’s startup market, now! 🚀 🇪🇺 https://lnkd.in/die9msHP Europe’s startups are bursting with potential, but too often, they're held back by fragmented regulations and national barriers. Imagine a Europe where a startup can seamlessly scale from Lisbon to Helsinki without hitting roadblocks. That future starts today. Enter the The EU Inc Petition - a bold move to create a single pan-European startup entity. At Volt Europa, we're proud to announce our full support for EU Inc as one of its signatories. A unified startup ecosystem isn't just good for entrepreneurs—it’s good for everyone. It’s about making Europe competitive on the global stage. 🌟 But this future won’t happen on its own. We need you. Entrepreneurs, investors, political leaders, visionaries—now is the time to unite. ✊ When we put aside national egos and work together, we all win. Let’s embrace policies that make it easier for startups to scale and investors to invest. Let’s take bold steps towards a more innovative, prosperous Europe. 💡💶 Will you join us? https://lnkd.in/die9msHP Because in the words of Commissioner Mairead McGuinness: "If we have fragmented capital market, if we have national boundaries, we have less.” Let’s ensure that Europe doesn’t settle for less. #OneEU #FutureMadeInEurope #EUInc #eu

3 keys to become a START-UP Nation (at last) The best report I know about Start-ups/Tech in Europe is produced by Atómico (Download it here: https://lnkd.in/dtdSvykY) It is ironic, since the CEO of Atómico, Niklas Zennström, created Skype in Luxembourg 😬 in 2003. (He lives in London) Even more ironic, since the main public investor in this document, page 30, is Uli Grabenwarter from the European Investment Fund (EIF), based in Luxembourg, which made €67.3bn available to SMEs in 2023 (Source: EIF: https://lnkd.in/dv5jEBNH) So why has Luxembourg completely missed the train since Xavier Bettel's expensive "Start-up Nation" programme 11 years ago? Here are three keys to fix the mess: #1 Culture Creating a start-up is HARD. You need to work up to 20 hours per day. To be relentless and outrageously underpaid during months and years. This is a cultural thing. In Paris, Tel Aviv or San Francisco, young people endure this ordeal because they want to be part of the mythology. To imitate their heroes. To have an impact on their country and the world. And everyone around them is aware that the only way to succeed as a society it to support these fanatics the best we can. Yeah: we do not have that in Luxembourg, the paradise of public servants, middle office repetitive jobs and self glorification. One example? Officially, we have 511 start-ups/scale-ups in Luxembourg 🤪 (Source: Dealroom: https://lnkd.in/dkZv5MDx) But to get to this absurd number, they count companies created since... 2003. 😭 #2 Get Real I talk with the most talented Start-uppers of Luxembourg: several of them are pissed-off and consider to leave the country. Why? - They are tired of our absurd administrative and self-centric culture. - They struggle to attract talents and to keep them, simply because apartments/offices/salaries/everything else is too expensive. - They are sick of being mixed with 90 losers in absurd Top100 listings. This dilutes their ability to be identified as future champions and supported as such. #3 Accountability How much money has been invested in Start-ups/Scale-ups since 2013? How many champions were born? How many jobs created? Taxes paid? No-one wants to know. 😬 Long story short: Trust me, I could share horror stories about start-ups: this is a "politically correct" post. But the non-sense needs to end. We are wasting time and opportunities while France, Belgium and Germany nailed their programmes. (Source: https://lnkd.in/dyr3heMg) I am fully aware of the progress made so far, but it is too little, too slow in our fast changing world (as in "fast deteriorating economies") Dear Mr Lex Delles, Please let successful Start-uppers take the lead and craft the appropriate CULTURE. This will allow us all to get REAL, invest with a strong ACCOUNTABILITY and become a Start-up nation (at last) One example: identify the 10 most promising start-ups (below) and cut a special deal with them to ease salaries and housing issues. Let's make it happen.

In a world where our global challenges do not respect borders, why are we limiting some of the people trying to solve these problems in startups with borders? 27 legislative systems to overcome, makes it incredibly difficult for European startups to be competitive. A healthy start-up culture, helps us to addresses the challenges of our age, while creating jobs, building communities, and creating more equal opportunities for all - rather than profits for a select few. The EU Inc Petition is such a valuable step for breaking these boundaries in Europe, and is a fantastic initiative!

It's finally here, and it's worth your time (if you have even an ounce of interest in the #BelgianTech ecosystem). The Syndicate One team would you like to present to you the inaugural edition of the 'State of Belgian Tech Report', put together with the help of our partners Bain & Company Brussels and Sofina, and a large number of people who've ever so kindly shared with us their views on how the startup and investment ecosystem(s) in Belgium are evolving. You can download the full report via the link in comments, but to share some of the highlights with you: 📈 Capital flowing into BE tech startups is on the rise, with 2024 shaping up to be a record-breaking year. 💥 The ecosystem is showing signs of early maturity, and 2024 could see a record year for exits. 🐣 Most of the capital continues to flow into early-stage startups, highlighting the growth potential. 🤝 There’s a solid opportunity to further nurture the emerging ‘mafia’ of entrepreneurs, make the flywheel spin faster and better align fragmented support structures. 🏆 However, talent scarcity and the current ESOP policy are holding back founders' ability to scale. These findings highlight both the challenges and the opportunities that lie ahead for the Belgian tech ecosystem. We're all thrilled at Syndicate One to share this map with all of you, as a key step toward fostering a more connected, thriving entrepreneurial community in Belgium. It's our core mission. Enjoy the read, and feedback welcome! Was a privilege for me to work on this report together with the relentless Laurens De Poorter, Cedric Bovy, Giulia Van Waeyenberge, Narcis Savu, Yanni Vissers, Alexis Eggermont, Sibylle Greindl, Céline Koyen, Olivier Lippens, Nicolas Boschman - and everyone else :) Also kudos to Dealroom.co (Yoram Wijngaarde + Matthieu Demolin) and We make. (Jonas Winand) for making it all possible and shiny!

New opportunity alert!!🚨 EIS in collaboration with Tenity and Beamline is kicking off the Emerge Estonia program — a sector agnostic early-stage initiative designed to integrate foreign founders into Estonia's thriving startup ecosystem, driving innovation, increasing access to capital, and strengthening networks. 💪 The program runs from January to June 2025, kicking off at sTARTUp Day. All early-stage foreign founders that are already or are looking to incorporate in Estonia can apply here 👉 https://lnkd.in/g2-PpZkH Program Highlights: Skill and Business Development: Gain practical entrepreneurial skills to thrive in the Estonian and EU business environments. Networking Opportunities: Connect with local investors, mentors, clients, and key decision makers. Access to Capital: Enhanced access to local investment funds and business angels. Test Bed Potential: Use Estonia's established and successful startup ecosystem as a unique test bed — small enough to be agile, yet globally recognized. Ecosystem Integration: Comprehensive 1-1 support and resources for successful integration into Estonia's startup ecosystem. More information: https://lnkd.in/gwbVGiMR Let’s work together to make Estonia a leading global hub for innovation and entrepreneurship! 🌍✨ The program is co-funded by the European Union within the Startup Estonia program activities. #EmergeEstonia #StartupEcosystem #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #Estonia

🧲 atTRACTION team invites startups and scaleups to participate in the free remote training session 🟡"Unlock new markets: scale your startup into Germany and France", which will take place on 🗓️ Tuesday, 8 October, from 10:00 to 11:45. This is your opportunity to do brief scouting of news markers in Europe with trusted partners. 📣Why attend? Expanding into new markets is both a huge opportunity and a challenge. European markets offer a lot of growth potential, but they also have their own legal, cultural, and business environment subtleties. In this training session, we will help you get to know the innovation ecosystems in 📍Germany (Baden-Württemberg and Berlin) and 📍France (Île-de-France) and their challenges and opportunities. What's in store for you? ✨Market insights: Learn about the challenges and opportunities for business development in Germany and France. ✨Founder panel: Three successful business founders will share their experiences on how to grow their business in these markets. ✨Workshop: You will learn about the EuroQuity platform, which helps start-ups attract investment across Europe. ❗Don't miss this opportunity to network, learn and grow! Register now and start expanding your business to Germany and France. ▶️Register now: https://lnkd.in/dnRNjA-p #HorizonEurope #atTRACTION #scaling #startups #deeptech #training EuroQuity - Bpifrance

🇩🇪 So, you're thinking about launching your startup in Germany? Let me be real with you - while Germany's startup scene is buzzing with innovation, there are some quirks that'll make you scratch your head (and maybe pull out a few hairs 😅) Here's the unfiltered truth about what you're walking into: 📝 The paperwork... oh, the paperwork! Get ready to become best friends with bureaucracy. Pro tip: Find a good tax advisor early - you'll thank me later - https://lnkd.in/ePM6zhjC 💰 VC funding isn't flowing like it used to since 2021. But hey, this has sparked some creative funding approaches that might actually make your business more resilient - https://lnkd.in/eM2Rqaq5 🏢 Running costs will make your eyes water. Between rent, energy bills, and those sneaky regulatory fees, you'll want to pad your budget more than you think - https://lnkd.in/efNYJMEN 🎯 Tech talent is like gold dust here. However, with recruiters like me, there won't be any issues there 😉 - https://lnkd.in/ebhsne24 🤝 Breaking into the right networks can feel like trying to get into an exclusive club (especially challenging for female founders - we need to do better here!), our Thryving Women in Tech hub can support this dead end you may come to! 🌐 We're basically telling international VCs "Want to invest? First, please solve this paperwork puzzle!" No wonder some take their money elsewhere... https://lnkd.in/ePM6zhjC But here's the thing - Germany is still one of Europe's most exciting innovation hubs. These challenges aren't deal-breakers; they're just part of the exciting adventure. Would love to hear from founders - what challenges caught you by surprise? Drop your stories below! 👇 #StartupLife #GermanyStartups #RealTalk #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #BerlinStartups #Germanjobs #GermanTech

Partnerships matters! What type? David Foreman, founder of Praetura Ventures recently spoke about the stupidity (he didn't use the word) of tech startups partnering with large companies expecting miracles, especially sales. But there is another type of partnership that could help if you already have a community. Recently, I've started lending my brands Techcelerate Deal Lite and SkilledUp Life to help run large conferences as well as small events. - Volution when they came to Manchester - Max Pog supported 4 virtual conferences - forthcoming https://lnkd.in/eue9VPkx next week - AcceleratorCON in New York - ISF2024 in Nigeria https://lnkd.in/e8Yrvcgf organised by David Adeleke - Just had another discussion with a Nigerian partner for a conference in Lagos next month. When building a tech startup, you got to work out the big picture - are you building a brand? If you are, brand association is vitally important. Your brand needs to be seen. By the way, I have a lot of respect for David Foreman for creating Praetura Ventures and investing in Manchester, North West and UK tech startups. He has a built a northern investment powerhouse. Tech startups, you can easily build a team for this using some of our 52,000 skilled volunteers at https://skilledup.life #brand #partnering #partnerships

70% of startups fail within the first 5 years. But with the right strategy, you can beat the odds! At Afrinexsus, we offer tailored strategic planning that guides you from market analysis to execution. Our local expertise ensures your business is set up for success in Kenya's competitive market. Ready to thrive? Let’s craft your success story together! 💼 #StartupSuccess #StrategicPlanning #BusinessConsulting #KenyaBusiness

London is the no.7 startup city in the world. Here’s its latest group of winners. Pitchbook rates startup cities on size and maturity. Size means VC deals, exits and fundraising. Maturity is meeting all of a startup’s growth needs. The data is analysed over 6 years. San Francisco leads the pack New York and Beijing make the top three. London's closest European rival is Berlin in 20th place. This week I attended the finals of the LBS #Launchpad 7 startups competing for the £10k cash prize. 1st place delivers free health care in Nigeria A worthy cause part charity, part business With a mixed funding model. There were two logistics companies Matching drivers with job opportunities One in Nepal and the other Eastern Europe. This feels familiar as it's in MSBC Group's logistics solution. My favourite company was OLE Technologies which came 3rd. Congratulations to Dan Kitcharoen. Check out his business buying the rights to YouTube content. I'm old enough to have seen this work in non-digital media. Overall the pitches were formulaic Which I put down to the competition format. Lots of meaningless TAM, SAM and SOM From companies with one or fewer clients. But the secret of success is hard work and grit And there was plenty of both on display. London's startup scene is in good hands. P.S. sorry about the extreme close-up.