Scaling your startup isn’t a glow-up montage—it’s more like a Netflix drama: high stakes, hard choices and plot twists at every funding round.
And right now, scale-up trends in Europe are reshaping the story entirely.
This year’s South Summit Scaleup Series, co-organized by IE University, hit Brussels, Milan, London and Oslo to dig into the latest scale-up trends in Europe. Founders, VCs, policymakers and the IE community showed up to spill the startup tea—sharing what’s working, what’s broken and what’s about to blow up.
So if you’ve got a pitch deck on your desktop or just love the hustle of startup life, consider this your no-filter field guide to Europe’s scale-up scene.
The startup paradox: Europe starts strong, scales slow
Europe is a startup machine. Seriously—IE University professor Joe Haslam pointed out that “Europe is creating more startups than the U.S.” The issue? Not enough of them scale.
At our Brussels event, Dr. Andreas Schwarz of the European Commission explained it best: “Europe is very good at creating startups, but not great at scaling up.” Why? Cash crunches, risk-averse investors, and patchy support across borders.
But the tide’s turning.
“Investors globally want to invest in Europe,” said Yannick Oswald of Mangrove Capital. More funds are backing younger founders, more talent is coming home to launch, and yes—capital is flowing. The window’s open.
Founder advice, straight from the front lines
Scale-ups aren’t unicorn fairytales. They’re full-contact sports. Just ask the founders who joined us on tour.
In Brussels, Deliverect’s Zhong Xu served this slice of wisdom:
“If the market’s not there, don’t force it. Wait for real demand, then double down.”
Collibra’s Stijn Christiaens compared pivoting to ballet—except, he said, “our pivot took a year.” His takeaway? Be stubborn with your mission, flexible with your strategy.
Over in London, JC Glancy of ZenBusiness said the secret to success is “total passion.” Dan Wagner of Rezolve AI added: “Total belief in yourself. And perseverance.”
Bottom line? You don’t need perfect code. You need grit.
Best cities for scale ups in Europe
Europe’s not just a continent—it’s a launchpad. But where you scale matters. Based on the South Summit tour and the latest EU reports, here are the best cities for scale ups in Europe right now:
- Amsterdam: With strong public-private partnerships and seamless access to EU markets, Amsterdam remains a scale-up stronghold—especially in fintech and deep tech.
- Brussels: A hidden gem. Home to EU policymaking and now a rising startup scene. The roadshow stop here proved Brussels is serious about becoming a scale-up hub.
- Copenhagen: This city punches way above its weight, especially in green tech and health tech. Plus, Denmark offers generous government support and easy access to talent.
- Madrid: With growing VC interest and strong university-industry links (hey, IE!), Madrid is turning into a scale-up hotspot. Bonus: you get the weather and the funding.
- London: Brexit didn’t break it. London’s still a beast—especially in AI, fintech and consumer tech. The ecosystem is massive, diverse and rich in mentorship and capital.
- Milan: Milan may be better known for fashion, but it’s making big moves in smart cities, biotech and VC momentum. The roadshow crowd at Bocconi proved Milan is rising.
- Oslo: Norway’s new wave of founders are mission-driven and sustainable to the core. While post-seed funding can be tricky, the impact scene here is seriously legit.
No fluff. No tourist guides. These cities offer real support, real capital, and real momentum for founders ready to scale.
European grants for startups: The best kind of free money
Venture capital gets the headlines—but European grants for startups might just be your secret weapon. Whether you’re building AI for climate science or rethinking urban logistics, the EU is handing out serious non-dilutive funding.
You don’t give up equity. You just build cool stuff that makes the world better.
Look into:
- Startup Europe: Support for digital and deep tech founders.
- EIC Accelerator: Up to €2.5M in funding for high-impact innovations.
- Horizon Europe: Perfect if your startup has a strong R&D focus.
Madrid is calling: Where everything comes together
One thing’s clear from the roadshow: IE University isn’t just watching the wave of scale-up trends in Europe—it’s riding it. From Brussels to Oslo, IE students and alumni were on stage, moderating panels and pitching ideas. Professors led the convos. The energy? Unreal.
And it all leads to one place: South Summit Madrid. From June 4–6, the startup world descends on Spain’s capital for three days of deal-making, idea-sharing, and next-gen networking. If you’re serious about scaling—or just want to see what the hype’s about—you need to be there.
Register now and join the future of European entrepreneurship.
So… what are you scaling?