Interview

January 20, 2023

Three top European founders talk profitability

Bolt, Refurbed and Babbel share how they are thinking about growth versus profitability


Estonian mobility giant Bolt are one of the CEE startups the IFC has invested in. Credit: Bolt

As markets continue to squeeze tech companies, and with VCs less willing to dish out cash, Europe’s biggest private tech companies have abandoned the "growth at all costs mentality" in favour of working toward profitability.

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Markus Villig, Bolt cofounder and CEO
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Arne Schepker, CEO of German language learning app Babbel
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Eleanor Warnock

Eleanor Warnock is an advisor to VC firm Bek Ventures, and writes a newsletter on tech and writing. She was previously Sifted’s deputy editor. Find her on X and LinkedIn

Miriam Partington

Miriam Partington was a senior reporter at Sifted, based in Berlin. She covered the DACH region and the future of work, and wrote Startup Life , a weekly newsletter on what it takes to build a startup.

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