The World Cup kicks off tomorrow and we’re very excited. So much so, we’ve created a fantasy team of European founders.
Squint and you’ll see why startup-types make for an ideal starting XI. Techies are almost as rich as footballers; they invent roles — like “forward deployed engineers” — that belong on the pitch; and they’ve long been masters of the Cruyff Turn (or “the pivot”).
They’re also ferociously competitive. Some take fantasy football itself very seriously: Sifted spoke to a founder recently who told us he has AI agents making picks for his Premier League fantasy team.
We’ve debated our team endlessly in Sifted Towers. There were some hard decisions (It wasn’t easy, for one thing, to call Peec AI CEO Marius Meiners and tell him he won’t be on the plane. In four years, we’ve no doubt, he’ll be ready).
Below is our XI — which also includes a handful of VCs — to face the US or China in the final.
Defenders
Goalkeeper - Hélène Huby, CEO of The Exploration Company
A calm commander of the box, the spacetech CEO also packs a rocket kick, capable of reaching low-earth orbit.
Right back - Judith Dada, general partner at Visionaries Club
A Trent Alexander-Arnold-esque visionary who will help us build from the back. Close your eyes and you can see the German investor sending some searching diagonal balls up to the forward line.
Centre back - Walter Goodwin, CEO of Fractile
A Rolls Royce in the defence and future captain. The young UK semiconductor designer has been known to chip it in when the time is right.
Centre back - Willem Delbare, CEO of Aikido Security
This Belgian cybersecurity expert can expertly shield the backline. An unsung hero.
Left back - Markus Villig, CEO of Bolt
We trust this man on mobility and he’ll need a lot of it to get up and down the flank. A ferrety, eager player.
Midfield
Central defensive midfield - Torsten Reil, co-CEO of Helsing (captain)
Reil, our captain, is not afraid to take ball and man — and is likely to win all his aerial duels.
Centre midfield - Alan Chang, CEO of Fuse Energy
Covers so much ground we’re considering connecting him to the National Grid. The only concern is whether the “996” lifestyle has impacted his hamstrings.
Centre midfield - Florian Seibel, CEO of Quantum Systems
Providing aerial dominance both figuratively and literally, the German dronemaker has founded several companies — just the kind of energy we need in the middle of the park.
Attackers
Attacking midfield - Joel Hellermark, CEO of Sana
The Sana boss is our conductor; an eye-of-a-needle passer. Possess a gliding peripheral vision and gossamer touch. If he played in the snow, he wouldn’t leave footprints. Makes everyone else look like they're wearing wellingtons.
Centre forward - Eléonore Crespo, co-CEO of Pigment
We can confirm: the Pigment boss is very fit and furiously hard-working. Also, anyone named Crespo automatically belongs on a football pitch.
Centre forward - Anton Osika, CEO of Lovable
Our languid prince: give the Lovable boss a free, Rayan-Cherki-like role to just vibe around the pitch. Every touch looks effortless — purists are furious.
Subs
Hermann Hauser, founder of Arm
Aged 78 — only slightly old for a backup goalie — Hauser is our most seasoned pick. He also famously started a company called Arm and that’s a vital part of the goalie’s anatomy.
Sebastian Siemiatkowski, CEO of Klarna
The Klarna boss knows how to write his name into headlines but is a bit quieter of late.
Kitty Mayo, CEO of Project Europe
The Project Europe head is untested at this level but a tantalising prospect: like chucking a young Theo Walcott into your squad.
Carmen Palacios-Berraquero, CEO of Nu Quantum
Like Messi, her vision is out of the quantum realm. The opposition won’t know if they’ve beaten her until someone observes it.
Arthur Mensch, CEO of Mistral
The Mistral man is highly rated but there are some doubts whether he belongs to the top, top level.
Roxanne Varza, director of Station F
Great at creating space for others. Somehow knows every player in the tournament.
Jeannette zu Fürstenberg, president of General Catalyst
The VC is a composed, read-the-game type. European royalty (literally, she is a princess in Germany).
Max Junestrand, CEO of Legora
When in doubt, lump it up to the big fella. Legora’s CEO would be a handful from set pieces. He’s our chuck-the-kitchen-sink option, like when the Dutch unleashed Wout Weghorst against Argentina in 2022. Plays on the edge of the law in life and on the pitch. Will appeal every VAR decision.
Manager
Pieter van der Does, CEO of Adyen
To dare is to Do(es). You can’t have a World Cup team without a “Van der” in there somewhere.
Technical staff
Niklas Zennstrom, CEO of Atomico
A wise no.2, like Steve Holland at Man United. He’s seen enough bubbles burst to stay calm when you’re 2-0 down.
Yann LeCun, CEO of Ami Labs
Will have used AI to game out every conceivable scenario in every match.
Nico Rosberg, former F1 champion and founder of Rosberg Ventures
Because you always need one high performance guru.
Lourdes Agapito, cofounder of Synthesia
She's professor of 3D vision in the department of computer science at University College London. Think of the video analysis sessions she can cook up for the players.
Yoram Wijngaarde, CEO of Dealroom
Our stats guy, frequently overwhelming the team with graphs.
Pundits
Mike Butcher, journalist
The grizzled journo can explain how the game was different in his day.
Tara Keeney, presenter
Who better to provide engaging pitchside interviews, doubling up as warm-down cardio sessions?
Michael Jackson, investor
With the tournament being played in the US, you have to get a local in. Jackson, the vocal American VC, will irk some with his criticism of European football (which he’ll insist on calling “soccer”).
Harry Stebbings, investor
Look out for hour-long podcasts on what that second yellow card can teach you about B2B SaaS.
Seb Johnson, presenter
The LinkedIn titan will be in the stands hitting the vuvuzela hard.
