The Tech Tour Growth50 List shows Europe’s sustained unicorn potential
The Growth50 companies historically raised an impressive €6.7 Billion [or €133.8 Million on average per company] of which 40% just in the past 12 months.
Today, Tech Tour announced the 2024 edition of the Tech Tour Growth50, as the prospect List of Europe’s future unicorns, spotlighting the European tech companies with the biggest growth potential. (See the Tech Tour Growth50 List below.)
This edition engaged over 90 investors on the Selection Panel [see list here] which first nominated and then voted to compose the List. The Programme is presided by Daniel Kahn of Red Bridge and the selection panel was led by Clara Audry of Jolt Capital (digital), Remy de Tonnac of ETF Partners (sustainability) and Janke Dittmer of Gilde Healthcare Partners (health).
“This year’s Tech Tour Growth50 List is a clear indication of the strength and diversity of Europe’s tech sector. It showcases the innovation, ambitious spirit, and fantastic growing successes of Europe’s most promising tech companies. As the leading European event for later stage tech companies, the Tech Tour Growth50 Europe 2024 Summit in Paris on 8 February is the key annual meeting platform between the company CEOs and the leading and most active growth investors.”
– Daniel Kahn, Red Bridge, President, Tech Tour Growth 50 Europe 2024
The Growth50 List and Data [see Infogram] reveal positive trends and valuable insights for the European tech entrepreneurship and investment scene:
All tech tracks, particularly deep tech companies, attract substantial investments: The average funding raised by the Growth50 companies in Health, Sustainability or Digital is showing only moderate variation. Over the last the last 6 years, the average amount raised by the companies in the Digital sector is €151 million, in Health, it is €124 million, and in Sustainability, the figure stands at €109 million. This demonstrates that growth investment is now crossing over to all tech tracks, particularly to “deep tech” spaces, such as quantum computing, photonics, new space, AI for health, green energy or climate tech.
The UK, Germany and France score high: The UK leads again in the number of Growth50 companies with 12 representatives, followed by Germany with 10 companies and France with 7. Switzerland and Finland also score high on the list, outperforming expectations relative to their economic size, a reflection of their high positions on international innovation scoreboards. The focus of the List is predominantly on Northwestern Europe.
Growth investors are still in short supply in the EU: 49% of the estimated number of Growth50 investors are outside the EU and 34% outside Europe, mostly in the US (24%). However, EU sovereign investors such as the European Innovation Council (EIC) increasingly act as cornerstone investors, backing the highest number of companies on the List.
Sovereign investors back the highest number of companies: 5 out of 6 investors, backing 4 or more companies on the List are sovereign investors, with the EIC leading far ahead with 17 companies on the Listing of 50. There is also much reason for Tech Tour to be proud as 24 out of the 50 companies on the Listing have previously been selected and participated in one or more Tech Tour Event Programmes.
The gender imbalance persists: Despite the significant public debate and awareness surrounding gender diversity, only 13% of the founders and executives in the Growth50 companies are women. On a positive note, only 1 out of 10 of the entrepreneurs are serial, indicating more equitable opportunities for new leaders.
The Growth50 companies will convene in Paris at the Tech Tour Growth50 Europe Summit on February 8th, 2024 with the Selection Panel investors. The event is co-hosted by EuroQuity Bpifrance and partnered with Bryan, Garnier & Co, Jolt Capital, Silverpeak, Euronext and the EIC Scaling Club. The Award winners will be announced over dinner.
To secure a front-row seat at the Summit and meet Europe’s future unicorns, get your pass for Tech Tour Growth50 Europe 2024 here.
For further information, please check www.techtour.com or contact:
• Daniel Kahn, Red Bridge, at daniel.kahn@redbridge.lu
• Iva Tchetinova, Tech Tour, at itchetinova@techtour.com and M +359 2 419 82 96
• Meriem Kanzari, Bryan, Garnier & Co., at mkanzari@bryangarnier.com and M +33626697015