The European VC scene in 2024 stands at a fascinating crossroads. While experienced, serial founders dominate investor attention, a new generation of Gen Z entrepreneurs is eager to reshape the startup landscape. The question remains: Do Gen Z founders have a genuine chance of success in this environment, or is experience the only path to securing VC backing? Why VCs bet on proven track records? Onstage (formerly Focal), a platform specialising in early-stage fundraising, recently analysed...

European deep tech has become a driving force in the continent’s innovation landscape, demonstrating remarkable growth and resilience amid global market turbulence. Yet a persistent question remains: why do so many of Europe’s most promising deep tech startups still look to the United States for their exits? Resilience amid market fluctations Over the past decade, European deep tech investment has soared from $1.5 billion in 2014 to $15.1 billion by 2024 — a tenfold increase that now accounts...