The Europe's startup scene has become difficult. For a long time overshadowed by Silicon Valley and is now being followed by ChinaPresent The continent is urgently looking for boosts. The search increasingly leads to ecosystems.
The ecosystem model creates networks of individuals, organizations and resources. Your joint expertise and resources can create a multiplier effect, drive innovations and accelerate growth.
The EU is a core component of European ecosystems. While its technical strategy is often criticized, the block has also played a key role in starting up the startup.
Just ask Nicolas Benady, the CEO of Swan, a flourishing banking as-a-service (Baas) Fintech based in France.
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“Our company would not exist without the European Union,” he says.
Benady refers to the effects of the payment service directive, an EU law that has set standardized rules for electronic payments. The legislation triggered the success of many global fintech managers from Revolut to Adyen. They finally had the chance to compete in payments with banks.
Swan harvested the advantages. Last month, the startup announced that it had collected EUR 42 million -the second part of a series -B round that brought the total financing of Swan to an estimated EUR 100 million.
“Without this guideline, I don't think we would have so many fintechs in Europe today,” says Benady.
FinTechs are far from the only beneficiaries of the EU ecosystem – but the network still needs work.
At TNWS Successes of the scaling success The webinar on Tuesday has joined Benady from a group of European tech experts to explain the power and risk of ecosystems. Your message was clear: no starting scales alone. Their success depends on a flourishing ecosystem of partners.
4 pillars of a flourishing ecosystem
Jason Lynch, CEO of Quantum Computing Startup Equal1, has first -hand experience with the power of ecosystems. His company has dealt with a partnership with a partnership arm Cooperation with Nvidia to mix hardware with software and teamed up with the Netherlands organization for applied scientific research (TNO) for product development.
Equal 1 has recently secured investments from TNO. In order to strengthen the alliance, the startup has set up a business in another component of the Dutch ecosystem: the House of Quantum in Delft, a national campus for quantum startups.
Lynch has great hopes for the move. “Being in an excellence center … is a critical piece of an ecosystem,” he says.
In the TNW webinar – now – now Available to look On-demand lynch broke out four decisive advantages of an ecosystem.
1. Talent
As Silicon Valley Network effects Proof continuously, startups benefit immensely from the proximity to the talent. The quantum house provides another promising example. With a steady stream of experts that flow through the site, the center gives 1 a fresh talent pipeline.
2. Infrastructure
Calculation costs for startups can be astronomical. With access to common infrastructure, startups can achieve dramatic savings.
3. Partnerships
Technology companies often rely on complex supply chains. Ecosystems offer a route to bring each component together. “What kind of excellence center and Delft offers is the ability to work very closely with companies that are in the entire corridor,” says Lynch.
4. Customers
End users are attracted by areas with considerable specialist knowledge and companies. They help startups to validate and market their products faster. “Such a hub really attracts these end users,” says Lynch.
However, Lynch also has concerns about the EU ecosystems. Boss among them is a failure to commercialize ideas.
“It is well recognized that European research leads the world. People would probably say that Europe has a challenge to launch this research. For me it is about speed, the exit of the startups and the attempt to reduce the barriers as far as possible. “
The money flows
EU -political decision -makers are often planned to support Start -ups inadequate. However, there are growing signs that your settings change.
Clotilde Hocquard, public affairs in France Digital, a European organization that connects startups and investors, refers to several positive developments.
One is an expansion of financing flows, such as A new EU initiative Mobilization of EUR 200 billion for AI investments. Another is the Tibi initiative of France, which brings institutional investors together with accredited VC companies to promote Tech investments. “It should be replicated at European level”, ” Hocquard says.
Big ideas like this were difficult to bring to life, but they are now attracting growing support. Hocquard noticed the Momentum shift after the publication of last year of last year The Draghi reportWhich resulted in alarming problems for European innovation.
“The political decision -makers recognize that they have to do something to ensure that startups can thrive in Europe,” she says.
Despite the positive signs, Hocquard wants to progress faster. It points to another example that is defined in the USA.
“We have to make sure that pension funds and insurers mobilize as in the United States. And we have to make sure that the money is aimed at VC fund and the financing of innovations. ”
However, financing is not the only challenge for EU ecosystems.
The double -sented regulatory sword
Swan can only exist thanks to EU rules, but regulating the block is a double-edged sword.
A big problem is the variety of laws. Despite the internal market, the EU's legislation is fragmented. “We have nothing single,” says Hocquard. “We have 27 Member States who do what they want with their rules.”
This law of SMORGASBORD increases obstacles to scaling across borders. If the ecosystem could harmonize the rules, startups would be faced with smoother paths for expansion.
As a powerful and uncomplicated initial goal, Hocquard refers to corporate law. It also asks the Member States not to twist the twisting of the EU rules in different directions.
“If there is a European law, it should be used in a uniform way on the continent,” she says.
Ecosystems for scale
The scaling urge can lead to early decisions. Benady recommends the early phase founders to first concentrate on the product market.
“As soon as you start seeing commercial traction, you have to scale your company – and this is a completely different game,” he says.
At this point, ecosystems become an important player. For Swan, they provided the company's progress.
At first, however, Benady underestimated the value of two essential supporting structures.
“Although my investors warned me, I paid attention to the HR department and finance a little too late,” he admits. “If you scale, you cannot create yourself with HR and finance.”
Benady compares her effects with musicians in a band.
“Finance and HR are the drum and bass. You don't hear that; You hear the singer, you hear the guitar – but if you don't have a perfect drum and bass, you won't scale your company. So pay attention to finance and Mr. “
In order to make sweet startup music, ecosystems need an orchestra of instruments. You need a section for talents, one second for the infrastructure, another for partnerships and a fourth for customers.
They also need the public and the governments to participate. “The goal is now to convince citizens that investing in innovation will actually invest in the future of Europe”, ” Hocquard says. “As soon as we have the citizens with us, we need political decision -makers to make all legal changes.”
With this support, Europe's startup band could go to the world stage.
Ecosystems will be a hot topic TNW conferencewhich takes place on June 19 to 20 in Amsterdam. Tickets for the event are now for sale. Use the Code TnwxMedia2025 at the cash register to get a 30% discount on the price.
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