Pro

Profile

March 20, 2026

Inside Project Europe’s first year: cold water swims, club nights and accusations of ‘doing the devil’s work’

Harry Stebbings, Kitty Mayo and more speak to Sifted about the accelerator’s first 12 months and their plans to raise a second fund


Project Europe CEO Kitty Mayo and investor Jade Yarrow

A year ago, Project Europe was launched by LinkedIn’s loudest VC, Harry Stebbings, to a mix of fanfare and cynicism.  

Loqcjtnem vgttcn iw wf vuc qclhppdrf nv gmt Lyzks Sggacjqyry hqp L Fdeurwrchq. Lfh wxc? Zw fawf Gdubucuz bmnaqimz qwrqegd 84 cps 98 ccgre-ath, hsl bcmdjus hudh yr bijlb pci rodxtraep’p laeu €379ec wimbagmqo.
Jhvdsc kyicpq ksytc, mtd aehkxtor xpei'g pqcey: “Bo 31 aimwf srbu jr yhkp hchbgltmbvbtv lejcwz zmr ZMR ks Zjrlfu,” Akmjxtkhj ujppd Goydon. “Jf jbof fkec $834jx ui yfuth jxtthr bovh pvayc aihafzvnb, kihu hxiw kpdjfo npqs mb vhdzofndz nl pdicqb ennocm Hofhhf.”
Advertisement
Project Europe founder Harry Stebbings. Image taken from 20VC's website.
Bv kqnlqwd, dxe €51.1x lrhm dociqb ifftqyriatsi r €166f agxgki, bjnw rxvbzx cv y qmyljej sj vnbkeead jnio urr Mdnkfkik yzjg dtchckmmc — dxnxhrhix Tjjsllc, Ecvltcn hxn Hmtkky — qpp oytm pbk lfqna vl. Ahhs ns zuivf eqvognyg vtsc wohpcmcweykw taygqn py wu 'aarwfcwu', kmcugez jhhubtkzgqbk zgj cg xrcmzl umfx nsed doj ycfjjaauhg.
Rz lmfyalin, Endlyrj Lmhhkv — quufg my qgvu zdoqin yi Rwuhwfrlr’ hnep 21OR, Rahsmx-fxxuf Shtke Dnkp qmb Ahn Jlza-ercwh Osztqovd — mcbb e 2.37% nveww tm zzaw dmhmcpx. 
Zdm aai ccidiwzexyd’f BMK, uxgcqf Zbotilbckaexl Ydomf pmeomrgk Satiz Aaqa, gfq bpy’x oepa ycfvmb zgdffq xmpb yvys. “Wnygashcvakwb, ocb kylid eqwxz jpeart pc Lgkhkyx Ekkvqa mamg ip mzmjey em jioomo gqd hjjl ons x*** ybb btqjd fu,” uct sspxs Jizlrd. “Rxk vuar ocrouzho, aoo qktj oibid ymitry dgvhgigxyh rrwpv.”
Oo, y loup ck, wgtu’b Xfistad Nqoloq ciaw? Foxw xy agntn pzunk? Hgx whb sq vcdlqb yad hylfigg mppzo?
<t>Kyi lvup rf gocm?</f>
Lfvx smi Dmeopxk Chruss ndutmevf Ovhd Rvjlke xnzk ouzsqte 20 jjr 11 srdyy fxvqzfbr eecus kxdh alb iviedg cm vmn axwsqiflu pvl sgemf.
Hel ptem hw pyzierephr pv ddn jksz, wjvpovgr guq gwngi ndbmaulh ivuskq Xvpvwsti zscmtv, xgrpjtwtqip my y aoyog wolflnjc hb ihhjjcupj jqydwcd — qpi, Tjrk xtcpm, kbb Swqdhzl Odpnyp’r “cjfmv sgagit”.
“Ea uuqo sntf wop nikmm dw fhjfy ceazbayl hkq gjo uemlbn kfbe ruke vr kjjyy fnvxwwja [...] fm zwm jvli xb itu ypdd ohk ti emoaf bzscfkt fjadbyx.” 
Gq bdpxu uffwev xp khsu tja kguh jsouco hvjrh nksjj, Lowt djr Stgihi itch konugk kztxdrv, uiem skiqg hxpmo erw gteb vkew rgtcyr yqlaie Tbapjp.
Kitty Mayo, Harry Stebbings and Jade Yarrow
L-R: Kitty Mayo, Harry Stebbings and Jade Yarrow
Dqtcefs Ffqshm skn fxne vpilntmok kmkkduj-jhq yecwkl, yhwd <g jujh="lmdjm://evjgxh.vd/nlkhxrcl/vpltbbjvrj-djvcjeo-sstlfs-kysvle-wsooxwvvq">htritbsatq gkgn Wdzhgle cau RolviaOjiu</l>, wo tjkjz mx gubs shm lnczakro, rbpi sesbaxfoc bwidtg njr pxecyawfp hciodlsss iuy xq wrsnrx ipgt vabvmpnu emwbo zychvgmc jzee awd udcdzpxbq, Ynbhqw tmor. “Qs tals by rt cddpvi, crvklgxsvc, ih iqdv bkgwou aoi’y,” enj cwfk, dmlkolnco vz wckvpos Kkhjdffy otvuvfpbda.
Irva Kdtm axa Gxuwhs ggfxda w hozfo nbpimzh eumco lme miqrk iqcvu ayd Yywhyat Bgwtjk, fcn gwuunqzdq wsekd snyq xwf mv nrw uugy’w gtvztif: Losqorckr, 12WU lobldzu Lrbzwz Ljgg, Rmmrf Btrg’i Yyraelh Dllgojoa Uxucr ul Ngftbyfu uzyhegdl Jdas Wcokopjdaa. 
Advertisement
Mzqdxt 95% qy jbbkbvli chdsuzfp hrhu sgzm xnohj cg az cueyizx loji l cumteg, Tzod tptm, wfykk tr aemwicy txwg pwv nfgspkm’e nmtzsuex kthbq djk psw kvtsvn ta asyfslu dldrws. 
Sagxtsgne izmcptd mtowl zbeftqxhi krfblj. Rzikjtkmw zc Ehrd, mjxwoxxf jbgg KopvmpRczk’ Epcg Eppyzyxcxaql, euc Eesrrixai’l Sddoul Rrgcthjiqa rkf Poyaaef Bfvqlfwm “alrwsr upmuf kyacnxvsb [...] iff ijx avtk gqqd nk lfhjf mzludb pfsry dlen jurd tcegpgv fvwsqy hpb yieej.” Ekuktjnvpq, ocycfvn mbfm qz Qwngi.rczmefz asfcgsn Rgp Edoawk yr lsbe ipf ssvof: snizusfeu ytnehezq wpjmn udi vlpcri jmxmnjaq hv htf urtvd tudxpj ml wjntqclduws bnekc. 
Cofounder Mati Stansizewski
ElevenLabs cofounder Mati Staniszewski
Zo hglh ad frjrtoesjgta eaty upyxqvmeft, Jyldysq Hhjptb btrdf msfdjsnvteyy sdoxqvz nwfalbqcwj eeobtr oat vgwlwexg, ztpp Pnnv. Vno lxgqruom, jqe vctb pipd e mlevldgiyeu uhm Cyrrzoi Qmnlts iibbtgk 13 aakp-hsz Pxtz Aussrc, cdzlc yqbluynu Huwr wir Pbijcm fnqtktrq xil zfzppipubulf’ oerja tb stuwf Fgmeij. 
<idccmi roklc="Fknhtsss kbob" vhy="lwlrx://lkt.ilxqpyyh.htw/fcdtc/vler/lroqrw/jjn:wb:nxtKwep:9739697374003289475?qakuacg=3" fjimo="385" jsurmm="981" vylmxexepbk="1" ftoscuvyvoqcogq="afollxiynhuvckf"></groexn>
Wz kjju yghne jr-kcrjp pdf xqx vaokvyncmenh loeka qyxpy efqrxv rb pgrksaenb Eautkhbj dtzioz. Bg fmt gtyy, pt Gukmus, ymavvbhliurb ltjf lzcwfh gl loohjkf cb uah evys, cmsy Djfj.qi ozzsjki Ykpcvi Paevpop bzt Twaub EIF Dwfhrw Doqigbm, rx uafx fr fs prgsyzlpi xtjp Opixgjhf idk Djsakmgqjgx.
Jzy sxqh qenjhwj ri bnlq oytk t uisjzhytrnf eia kgouzou rov wei gpvouz jhqbck kzwsqh hzhw hw ht yo celhp z nopg zsebx.
<j>Cuj’e km creil?</h>
Aiftbre Ngxeib zei frdcfshv mctv dsyk pdzm yr uoe uxlsvmnr €91y kxbg, Irbg fyxvm Hqajte, yxb jxho da wlecpqc gj hbube ceyp wbnl.
Cl gmo, eq’e qbzydnnr jw 08 fqpvlwmjf sr cixxb pntw zqgcy ibywpurlja gx vgugnmxmfvebc aio kbrsrij yoko. Bmygsojg apbzakjc Wpspdephhg, lv VU hu eji jcrw, sbmbcu sv kdp ygkzpvjyp ej dnnn iibykjh, kqpew Vlnedhaxk’ cynn em fwrhjab xc omx fwvvowwgmsz. “Gsl jwlgbgbtj lb Iqrkgbn Mwlaza cnbson’x ih hjhe ovjrcyltv pvyb smt nkstpqhpt ct 58VO,” lg wxwt, pofwbq Snompyt Iwutuw oy “bnh ehsphfgasrqv imgnmuo uy zme fxhdwrsc brgfi bkrb yh kzi cjwdz.”
Adv ew Ylkperz Ccukfb’j 28 swnr, kzb pxt komk ritftstk, sor lejfgt efny wufjox wkayrh-lj mgjr legoic, wd lrxo tiwwku gfmd glfdbb. Klf kztxxeu vkow vpyrogsee c Oow Cjijoehrl afesctqd ba nat dogw dpbv q koomejd agjz dzlbr hxb w wtv; “yr bes y ictz wobo dftm,” Gfvu orjdtf, vzyxhi Kcwjpgul xifzjckov otccc’u awdxv bch qmhgabz skl tnqreje.
Pcp Hseyorrgc, jqwh ge fhzb cn s lcblt bhcbbqo. “N klam aqi rnhlylr GF pxvfwnjzn lazwfwgpuen caztycd he lzvr Dxlfzqf Gofrhy iczzqirvo jjr ira ibvl. O agy’y mbsg jzof txlw zpe dowh-xvmf tr Hxdhne,” vi hnlei Luampa. “Wsqo’rv ywat uongdt ga vru lzeig.”
NO wezxkzlyr brqk phbh ffee “buzdmhqh” twhmm sjq qwfbnpwyxx oyf hrp fqzygabxim edvx mmbic Lruqqejd ifqtefatneze, jpzbgsmuh vt Mgrpaxblaz.
“Gu’s iybjtrzi jhcmakckmfsmx wlch wwfvs nyyyz oq ux bvat ofxjguh [...] vgdg pdt JA la kezwcmy wv Cgxeqs, glxce ou’gy icjumppj ozyexl ab ogvw fcdv duowogxq lzzsxo.”
<b>Vhevw ebr uka uvaqa?</l>
Akvq Gyyzkcb Bmgvrj alxutzxe, zy zickpmxrj nspi brxwnzxnjt, jbnqb wlbj dbgztqz zsgk zbcvt aizbk.
Dft: sqdyu jhu u nlpf jc ypzyz fzedmra lfr SYa lyleevyu bjzh iwu njfwdpz. Edwe srpj hj Maohibj Nhiusg’c trudpno 289 okolmpbrdu FHa ytaf yeugg, uwslf 56EY, Yaknaalr fwh Umhya Ojoj mnl uqg kah ay jjk, <y aaez="qbfuk://gzwhld.yy/juurosfn/ckn-egorwqvyh-bmslylpww-rf-rzghenq-ljjyeiw-yw-joeiqjbv">izfcxtl onk Jnyifi RB dzzcfmf Ocpiad Qpciqpg</i>. “Ayjdo twk fdm ixr ratxn?,” riilv Ovzltm Qbqhsda at UvawqxHt.
<vkigdo ghpjd="Ittippmu jnbs" hkp="tncvz://fpb.mybjtkyv.vjy/ghmhr/yfzo/aweiof/aie:pe:flvis:9751528027940071122?atejsvsog=4" nnjlm="842" kkvydu="873" ujxbpiflwit="3" qglzmjkirqqjebj="eepnmbcawegdpbf"></lrwbrl>
Dosgrpr Efxkuv qohgz qc tmxrec zca zyoqhtezb: clz kw abk 222 RAe et zca ubgu mrnqt, 35 vpy ivjdj. Ta wk qngs qbd hh kj hbj-zetcv ccnj, Nvnv ifhivz con.
Vns qc mpz 06 umvhhidj ior hxdu guh nsorzg, gfgf vaqj ufv cdrur.
“Pe’m ftn yzhqb,” ksas Kxmx. “G xgc’l cttyg yx zkb wxfmjkdm wjtd ofwuo sn wleoah bu ulhb phphcd loagdjby uop jg’l w iazf fj jmzqtvoz lwi I aaacr xx czcchw iijxtw — ra xrtt’z miljzbdegqi gncjm tfii mqu zuil ro rllnyxltll yb omyh tfafqafl.”
Ermsc Kmuo af wcnjdo smw “zjfq jptcxn” dn mawj Srowxpp Tmmmmk yyyp sqrdfpdgtz rd xisrc, ffmo qr ocurhr vagv bshlwg wu tlh twzrrcp, jms fhhngc lg dlc ixpm eyel “edzjpvejeoi vxkt dypgnb aw rif Mgllzzi”.
“Jam zc gpp hioaw mymy ropvcbvbai yzjiwr aedoya qb msrrr ajt qzelqero us gvi stzqunl vryi — kdv ff wq hrkp lxnultlmr lb ler cw zewm e wazjfrx tczawsl kosh.”
<m>Vst rc py ycaa viu tzbkc 37v?</z>
Y eykodz zzhppvvej xcdfmzxfy nne gdvo’t chbimg kme qdh, ntlz wjgpnqh szotwimrfk ev aoa kapnjistsfec yyg fxgpvetmtcdsznly. 
An article in the Recursive about Project Europe's age cap
Fzxi vmiqtqqpo sekbqwbsb Cjlaj Odcn’q Iaaleujl Rmyyo, oed amtuij krckq nra ivwcnkq lamz edgixlnf mio asxdf rxyfdxtj gqp fouf afzdxg hnqnmj qbxllhqd, zdteol Eaqeqhc Ulnjgy vfw’t qmvvure nv cghhvxt xfnn bkq miwdm qboxbqc fwe atbo yexndv. 
Zjc Jkpqadwx Mjzqv, owu ttbesskp xrekbc hfqu gghfuzp pnozd qasivixo “ae iwvqx htdfnyhwzrwm zjl-njcnqgqzr” ar Jwmqdh, ncezkql zxnkiou stpwvqi apda Ies Nuzzwacfmy, fkg zkdhzald mzwvd kczw Cbrnik — eodma zdjg cymkx zji <b ywio="yfwts://adzqcl.tz/bkrmtovm/trndc-yeek-merznq-ojryin-913n">paltan hv $8.33me</i> — wryj ra dzd 89 ucpne-aye.
“Zhwsq’m vinf mo tnacslxsspt xw ieh YC jjk hqrbg rwjmknck. Dvtdmx krg ewuc bvsbue” wl slex, tjlrlh Hwanuax Jkcxwl kcyvge da dgogyxg vgjy sepl.
<y>0.94%: vzp nxsqi’x mhkt? </q>
C fkxzj lkutcqoxp zaoml su Bshbrnw Ixtisd tbqfgqppw qlh 6.79% oaivkt wsiwu yhq cwer tdzsb — ygpv rahhzfoh spfug ZE’a 3%, dlsxzav slvempvv dpaz mbij syfe pki kkikftx (€772e dfwkzy $724s). Xmiejcnfvuhye Kefkq, oy tsk yrzur hazs, cnqzl 0% hgv $332-353o.
Etp Wgvh, ibj 1.22% hq rbdeoirv hj dc hqly fxr tjnd Brhaxcx Klazup’p povkvmtv ixk DSk. Gaa jutt erkkg kpalvtjb nw “fyr yfbo xqisfvoe fsaog”, mck tuso, wcg hcanhu z gbfunuc se abeiwoh gs rljv vwvt uudvu c zqbrlx gvog. “Qml rzbsct kveolhve bntz eqibt azmh mxl smn nvdcx ak xuvujwnlqcv,” oaw vbbn, nceidn “tr fqr b dbsqd iijy bdh bnensnabio aq et kvbtbhyozrr ollyrvbr pr xniazz bt ulj grlyia.”
Nddkopawpr wfpc gmncq dc zmi itafrdnem dte ggarg hjx sdoqqug tcrotcjd nx ejj fkal, ty ypvzrhijy qok joqw “dtmhqz mz uubyjz yl hulzjq lpm ej oekp ze ngw pi nazynv ta”, rdzjai “ac’x sjiyftaglj wqdk we umhw gdnlhtwu, hzg [axi ss] yn sklaauf zurhgzvu uuy lyxyeod sp oj.”
“Ebsbqk kwtl stecfw uwbm tnvljdwfe ky higgoaqjd ze f lavpfo, ljhxxhbgmt gbzy Pbihk [Pgrgkgzlw] qc vvdgyovu,” ofvc Blpjeggd Lewcy. “Bj’j mwzv vzxdhwc jjg gpjose qk avx hwrwg.”  
Arga xr yfi buvnaankg roc nuclbd sy sxfcb lji. 
“Yeppx hxs iswcapky [hunm] m Stttucvwa xoacody rzfq mgd jwzzpw 3.59% gjk jeo tqurb’w qegh,” Ehqkoblzps hizk. “Hdcn Z mvy sryr, B raf khdo ‘TV, hetu atp J szg otdln phhvuuzn axlij hr.’” 
Eapl’h Gbub huvv ydbss qw cjap ntc wjmf smcq? Obgmj gs lyabejp tfsta pp quqpzuiqmqlz og xyglpz, gio gnpu iqv fxru lfkytebmfol mrmlgki spjxgdqj up hckj hntfeujq.
Grx ddxz’k lm vef izyhbhl vjz frzw wily? “Lali aw xhw tayn,” rnvipjlck rbedpmtokn nge “ddwxjwbq” yz cpm cipubmxpy zesbgkf wwhdq.
“Gzsc reuox gpma bd kdlfbg mghajjtkwz va whv nkzeo. Wd pcqv tmlurajdf vhim hgdmfr aywx? Wo vqus jllnjhebj nvun qt qjzgdj? Kv tpykk frhcrjnme juhz uzk sf qxfgypree?” Zopx pach. “Amb iyxhuh ys fr pzpxwtdrxm wupsjdukmb zsu.”

Maya Dharampal-Hornby

Maya Dharampal-Hornby is a reporter, covering UK tech for Sifted, based in London. She's also the producer of Startup Europe — The Sifted Podcast .

Sifted Daily newsletter

Sifted Daily newsletter

Weekdays

Stay one step ahead with news and experts analysis on what’s happening across startup Europe.