# Opinion

The three things that changed the face of European tech
Opinion
December 30, 2019
The three things that changed the face of European tech
The beginning of a new decade is a good time to reflect. And it’s clear that European tech is entering the 2020s in much better shape than it had started the 2010s.
Nicolas Colin
We don’t need another WeWork
Opinion
December 13, 2019
We don’t need another WeWork
It's time for more alternatives to venture capital cash, argues Omidyar Network's Sarah Drinkwater — and for more startups focused on making positive contributions to the world.
Sarah Drinkwater
The rise of platform: Europe’s venture capitalists are stepping up support for their portfolio companies
Opinion
December 12, 2019
The rise of platform: Europe’s venture capitalists are stepping up support for their portfolio companies
With venture capital entering Europe at a record pace, the question is how can venture capitalists differentiate themselves to make sure they’re not missing out on the best investment opportunities.
Jakob Fricke
US venture capitalists: here are 10 tips if you want to make it in Europe
Opinion
December 11, 2019
US venture capitalists: here are 10 tips if you want to make it in Europe
US venture capitalists are flooding into Europe to invest in startups. Here is a 10-point guide for them to winning in the old continent.
Nicolas Colin
Polish startups ensnared by toxic government money
Opinion
December 5, 2019
Polish startups ensnared by toxic government money
State money is pouring into Polish startups, but entrepreneurs have ended up with toxic investors in their cap tables and financing tied to onerous conditions.
Mathias Pastor
Technology is stagnating and the venture capital industry is to blame
Opinion
December 4, 2019
Technology is stagnating and the venture capital industry is to blame
There is more and more money in tech, but when was the last time you experienced the launch of a product that felt truly revolutionary? We think the venture capital industry is to blame.
Alex Basu and Per Anell
My 500-unit pizza business started as a "delivery only" shop and I don’t believe in dark kitchens
Opinion
December 4, 2019
My 500-unit pizza business started as a "delivery only" shop and I don’t believe in dark kitchens
Cheap rent won't make food cheaper, building brands online is hard and quality is tough to maintain, argues Fyodor Ovchinnikov of Dodo Pizza
Fyodor Ovchinnikov
US tech giants are vulnerable. Can EU startups benefit?
Opinion
November 27, 2019
US tech giants are vulnerable. Can EU startups benefit?
US tech giants are stumbling and it's a golden opportunity for European tech startups.
Nicolas Colin
The UK should learn from France’s tech visa
Opinion
November 21, 2019
The UK should learn from France’s tech visa
French President Emmanuel Macron has made Paris super-attractive for entrepreneurial talent. The UK needs to follow their lead to remain competitive.
Russ Shaw
Government is just another sector waiting to be eaten by software
Opinion
November 13, 2019
Government is just another sector waiting to be eaten by software
Any organisation, even governments, can harness the power of entrepreneurs and technology to deliver higher quality at scale.
Nicolas Colin
Why your big-spending corporate venture strategy is all wrong
Opinion
November 12, 2019
Why your big-spending corporate venture strategy is all wrong
Corporate venture capital fund sizes are creeping up — the median is now above $75m — but $150,000 might go just as far as $500,000 in this industry.
Brett Bivens
Female entrepreneurs are being let down by other women
Opinion
November 8, 2019
Female entrepreneurs are being let down by other women
The lack of women at the venture capital level is a drop in the ocean compared to the bigger problem: women are not supporting other women in business.
Benedetta Arese Lucini
A “high-tech guy” as EU commissioner is no use for startups
Opinion
October 28, 2019
A “high-tech guy” as EU commissioner is no use for startups
Everything about Thierry Breton - the EU's likely next commissioner - suggests he'll be more supportive of sci-fi-inspired moonshots than policies that really help entrepreneurs.
Nicolas Colin
Time to change how we talk about female founders
Opinion
October 25, 2019
Time to change how we talk about female founders
We need to change the narrative that entrepreneurship is simply harder for female founders and look at some of the numbers beyond the headlines.
Annabel Denham
Accelerators can be the spark to fire up local economic growth
Opinion
October 23, 2019
Accelerators can be the spark to fire up local economic growth
Local and national governments should invest in startup accelerator programmes; it may seem like a strange use of public money but it's good for everyone.
Jonathan Bone
European VCs are missing out on the best software deals
Opinion
October 17, 2019
European VCs are missing out on the best software deals
Most Silicon Valley VCs hire partners from Microsoft, Cisco, Vmware, and Amazon. European VCs need to do the same to get a better understanding of the sector.
Panos Papadopoulos
Another pointless app – no thanks
Opinion
October 15, 2019
Another pointless app – no thanks
Investors are obsessed with memory foam mattresses, taxi-hailing apps, electric scooters and ready meals like these are the most important problems on the planet.
Jana Bakunina
Europe, don’t draw the wrong lessons from the fall of the unicorns
Opinion
October 14, 2019
Europe, don’t draw the wrong lessons from the fall of the unicorns
We Europeans shouldn’t pay too much attention to the ups and downs of the tech unicorns across the Atlantic. Just like China, we should be willing to dance to our own music.
Nicolas Colin
Europe — stop apologising and start connecting startup cities
Opinion
October 4, 2019
Europe — stop apologising and start connecting startup cities
Europe is producing 15 times as many €1bn+ tech startups as it did a decade ago, but it needs to connect startup cities to truly have impact.
Yaron Valler
Investors in European startups need a clearer path to exit
Opinion
September 30, 2019
Investors in European startups need a clearer path to exit
The burgeoning European tech ecosystem has a big problem: investors are reluctant to allocate later-stage capital to startups due to a lack of exit opportunities.
Nicolas Colin
Why entrepreneurs should celebrate their failures
Opinion
September 27, 2019
Why entrepreneurs should celebrate their failures
Celebrating our failures, as well as our successes, in a constructive and humble way will improve our community. It’s only by learning from our failures that we can become better.
Jarie Bolander
Investors in autonomous cars are heading for a crash
Opinion
September 26, 2019
Investors in autonomous cars are heading for a crash
It's an insanely crowded space and the technology is still years from being ready: investors pouring money into autonomous driving startups are going to get burnt
Chris Smith
How (not) to talk about diversity in tech
Opinion
September 23, 2019
How (not) to talk about diversity in tech
You're a company committed to diversity? Great! But are you making these common mistakes?
Serena Chana
It takes a thriving ecosystem for entrepreneurs to fail safely
Opinion
September 16, 2019
It takes a thriving ecosystem for entrepreneurs to fail safely
Celebrating startup failure is just another Silicon Valley import. What Europe needs is to build an ecosystem where entrepreneurs can quickly bounce back.
Nicolas Colin

# Opinion

The three things that changed the face of European tech

We don’t need another WeWork

The rise of platform: Europe’s venture capitalists are stepping up support for their portfolio companies

US venture capitalists: here are 10 tips if you want to make it in Europe

Polish startups ensnared by toxic government money

Technology is stagnating and the venture capital industry is to blame

My 500-unit pizza business started as a "delivery only" shop and I don’t believe in dark kitchens

US tech giants are vulnerable. Can EU startups benefit?

The UK should learn from France’s tech visa

Government is just another sector waiting to be eaten by software

Why your big-spending corporate venture strategy is all wrong

Female entrepreneurs are being let down by other women

A “high-tech guy” as EU commissioner is no use for startups

Time to change how we talk about female founders

Accelerators can be the spark to fire up local economic growth

European VCs are missing out on the best software deals

Another pointless app – no thanks

Europe, don’t draw the wrong lessons from the fall of the unicorns

Europe — stop apologising and start connecting startup cities

Investors in European startups need a clearer path to exit

Why entrepreneurs should celebrate their failures

Investors in autonomous cars are heading for a crash

How (not) to talk about diversity in tech

It takes a thriving ecosystem for entrepreneurs to fail safely