Tech Leaders: Europe Needs More Young Founders Now
▼ Summary
– Europe must increase risk-taking and support for young founders to prevent talent and ideas from moving to the US, industry leaders urged at TNW Conference.
– Kieran Hill of 20VC emphasized the need to change Europe’s mindset on ambition, as founders often seek opportunities in the US where entrepreneurial success is celebrated.
– Nicola Ebmeyer, CEO of Gain.pro, highlighted Europe’s cultural skepticism toward entrepreneurship, noting the lack of visible role models and support for ambitious founders.
– 20VC launched Project Europe, an early-stage fund for founders under 25, backed by over 120 European entrepreneurs, to provide mentorship and keep talent on the continent.
– Hill criticized Europe’s VC ecosystem for its low risk appetite and focus on business models over founder motivation, despite the rise of successful startups like Mistral and Synthesia.
Europe must urgently nurture its next generation of tech entrepreneurs to compete globally, according to prominent investors and startup leaders speaking at a major industry conference. The consensus was clear: without bolder support for young founders, the continent risks losing its brightest talent to more welcoming ecosystems like Silicon Valley.
Kieran Hill, General Partner at 20VC, emphasized the need for Europe to rethink its approach to risk-taking. “We’re facing a cultural challenge where ambition isn’t celebrated enough,” he said. Hill pointed out that many promising founders feel compelled to relocate to the US, where entrepreneurial success is more visibly rewarded and where role models in tech leadership are abundant. “There’s a gravitational pull toward markets like New York or San Francisco because that’s where opportunity seems limitless,” he explained.
Nicola Ebmeyer, CEO of Gain.pro, shared her own struggles when launching her Amsterdam-based startup. Despite a successful career at McKinsey, she faced skepticism from peers who questioned her decision to leave stability for the uncertainties of entrepreneurship. “People kept telling me I was making a huge mistake,” she recalled. Ebmeyer believes this hesitation reflects a deeper issue, Europe lacks visible success stories that inspire younger generations to take the leap. “If you don’t see others achieving big things, it’s harder to believe you can too,” she said.
To address this gap, Hill’s firm recently launched Project Europe, an initiative backing founders under 25 with funding and mentorship. Over 120 established entrepreneurs, including leaders from Klarna, Mistral AI, and Shopify, have joined the effort to provide guidance and capital. The goal? To keep Europe’s most driven innovators from seeking opportunities abroad.
Hill didn’t shy away from criticizing the current investment landscape, calling out European VCs for their conservative approach. “Too many funds obsess over business models instead of backing passionate founders,” he argued. “The risk appetite here is embarrassingly low compared to the US.” Despite this, he acknowledged positive signs, citing the rise of homegrown success stories like Mistral AI and Synthesia as proof that Europe can produce world-class tech companies.
Both Hill and Ebmeyer agree that systemic change is needed, starting with a cultural shift toward celebrating risk rather than discouraging it. “We need to show young founders that building something extraordinary is possible right here,” Ebmeyer said. Without it, Europe’s pipeline of future tech leaders may continue looking elsewhere for their big break.
(Source: The Next Web)
