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Unicorns aren’t the rare beast they once were in European tech — despite the long odds that companies shooting for that milestone still face. 

Europe is now home to over 120 unicorns, according to Sifted’s definition, 68 of which graduated in 2021 alone — more than triple the 18 new entries of 2020 and four times as many as all unicorns minted on the continent before 2014. That means Europe made more than five unicorns a month in 2021. 

To help you keep track of it all, Sifted’s team has compiled a list of Europe’s unicorns using data from [European Startups](https://europeanstartups.co/) and our own research — with valuation estimates from [Dealroom](https://app.dealroom.co/). We’ll update the list whenever a new company hits the billion-dollar valuation. 

Sifted defines a unicorn as a privately held, VC-backed company valued at $1bn. To be considered unicorns, startups must have: reached a $1bn valuation on any round previous to IPO or acquisition, been founded after 2005 and be both founded and headquartered in Europe. Companies valued at $1bn at IPO but never at any prior financing stage are not considered unicorns as they are no longer privately held at that valuation. Please let us know if we’ve missed any at rankings@sifted.eu.

Unicorns

Europe’s startup unicorns

Germany is one of Europe’s leading startup powerhouses, attracting a record €8.1bn in venture capital funding so far this year.

So far this year German startups have raised a record €8.1bn from VC funds, more than the €6bn in all of 2020. 

But which are Germany’s most exciting startups and scaleups? Which are the ones to watch in 2021?

Our team of experts at Sifted have chosen a list of 100 exciting companies we think you need to know about, with an added 'Sifted take' one some to provide an extra layer of insight.

It's a mixture of the big and the small, the well known and the under the radar. But all are making waves. Keep reading below and stay informed about Europe’s new economy!

(P.S The data is from [European Startups](https://europeanstartups.co/) with valuation estimates from [Dealroom](https://app.dealroom.co/). If there is anyone missing from this list, or anything is wrong, please let us know by email at [rankings@sifted.eu](mailto:rankings@sifted.eu)).

Germany

German tech startups and scaleups to watch in 2021

€5.6bn in VC funding has been raised by French startups so far in 2021, up nearly threefold since 2015, and France has become one of the hottest tech hubs.

So far this year French startups have raised a record €5.6bn from VC funds, more than the €5bn in all of 2020. 

But which are the country's most exciting startups and scaleups? Which are the ones to watch in 2021?

Our team of experts at Sifted have chosen a list of more than 100 exciting companies we think you need to know about, with an added 'Sifted take' to provide an extra layer of insight on the most interesting.

It's a mixture of the big and the small, the well known and the under the radar. But all are making waves. Keep reading below and stay informed about Europe’s new economy!

(P.S The data is from [European Startups](https://europeanstartups.co/) with valuation estimates from [Dealroom](https://app.dealroom.co/). If there is anyone missing from this list, or anything is wrong, please let us know by email at rankings@sifted.eu).

French

French tech startups and scaleups to watch in 2021

Europe’s startup scene is often overshadowed by Silicon Valley, but the continent is gaining ground with more than 70 tech startups valued at over $1bn. 


Europe’s startup scene is often overshadowed by Silicon Valley, but the continent is gaining ground with more than 70 tech startups valued at over $1bn. 

Here, Sifted’s reporters dig into the data, strategy and challenges behind the most important European startups and scaleups. We ask which companies are making waves and which are the ones to watch in 2021?

Keep reading below and stay informed about Europe’s new economy!

For in-depth analysis of the French tech ecosystem, [dive into our recent report here.](https://sifted.eu/intelligence/reports/the-french-tech-revolution)

(P.S The data is from [European Startups](https://europeanstartups.co/) with valuation estimates from [Dealroom](https://app.dealroom.co/). If there is anyone missing from this list, or anything is wrong, please let us know by email at rankings@sifted.eu).

European

European tech startups and scaleups to watch in 2021

The UK is still Europe’s leading startup nation, attracting €17.2bn in venture capital funding in the first half of 2021.

So far this year UK startups have raised a record €17.2bn from VC funds, more than the €14bn in all of 2020. 

But which are the country's most exciting startups and scaleups? Which are the ones to watch in 2021?

Our team of experts at Sifted have chosen a list of more than 100 exciting companies we think you need to know about, with an added 'Sifted take' on some to provide an extra layer of insight.

It's a mixture of the big and the small, the well known and the under the radar. But all are making waves. Keep reading below and stay informed about Europe’s new economy!

(P.S The data is from [European Startups](https://europeanstartups.co/), with valuation estimates from [Dealroom](https://app.dealroom.co/). If there is anyone missing from this list, or anything is wrong, please let us know by email at [rankings@sifted.eu](mailto:rankings@sifted.eu)).

UK tech startups and scaleups to watch in 2021

In the first half of 2021, €3.8bn in venture capital funding was raised by startups in The Netherlands, which has a thriving tech ecosystem. 

So far this year, startups in The Netherlands have raised a record €3.8bn from VC funds, more than thee €1.7bn in all of 2020. 

But which are the country's most exciting startups and scaleups? Which are the ones to watch in 2021?

Our team of experts at Sifted have chosen a list of more than 100 exciting companies we think you need to know about, with an added 'Sifted take' to provide an extra layer of insight on the most interesting.

It's a mixture of the big and the small, the well known and the under the radar. But all are making waves. Keep reading below and stay informed about Europe’s new economy!

(P.S The data is from [European Startups](https://europeanstartups.co/) with valuation estimates from [Dealroom](https://app.dealroom.co/). If there is anyone missing from this list, or anything is wrong, please let us know by email at rankings@sifted.eu).

Dutch

The Netherlands' startups and scaleups to watch in 2021

2021's shaping up to be another record year for European fintech but what are the startups to watch?

Financial technology is, by a long way, the hottest startup sector in Europe in terms of money raised.

But which are the most exciting startups and scaleups? Which are the ones to watch in 2021?

Our team of experts at Sifted have chosen a list of more than 100 exciting companies we think you need to know about, with an added “Sifted take” to provide an extra layer of insight on the most interesting.

It's a mixture of the big and the small, the well known and the under the radar. But all are making waves. Keep reading below and stay informed about Europe’s new economy!

(P.S The data is from [European Startups](https://europeanstartups.co/) with valuation estimates from [Dealroom](https://app.dealroom.co/). If there is anyone missing from this list, or anything is wrong, please let us know by email at rankings@sifted.eu).

Fintech

The European fintechs to watch in 2021

Spain has a rapidly growing ecosystem of entrepreneurs, angel investors, early-stage incubators and venture capital funds.

So far this year Spanish startups have raised a record €1.8bn from VC funds, more than thee €950m in all of 2020. 

But which are the country's most exciting startups and scaleups? Which are the ones to watch in 2021?

Our team of experts at Sifted have chosen a list of more than 100 exciting companies we think you need to know about, with an added “Sifted take” on some to provide an extra layer of insight.

It's a mixture of the big and the small, the well known and the under the radar. But all are making waves. Keep reading below and stay informed about Europe’s new economy!

(P.S The data is from [European Startups](https://europeanstartups.co/), with valuation estimates from [Dealroom](https://app.dealroom.co/). If there is anyone missing from this list, or anything is wrong, please let us know by email at [rankings@sifted.eu](mailto:rankings@sifted.eu)).

Spanish

The Spanish startups and scaleups to watch in 2021

Latvia has some real startup success stories in recent years. But who are they? And who are next generation startups to watch?

Latvia has been cited as the [most “startup friendly” country in the world](https://sifted.eu/articles/latvia-startup-friendly/) and has had some real startup success stories in recent years. But who are they? And who are the next generation startups to watch?

Our team of experts at Sifted have chosen a list of nearly 50 companies we think you need to know about, with an added “Sifted take” on some to provide an extra layer of insight.

Keep reading below and stay informed about Europe’s new economy!

(P.S The data is from our partners at Dealroom.co. If there is anyone missing from this list, or anything is wrong, please let us know by email at (rankings@sifted.eu).

Latvian

The Latvian startups and scaleups to watch in 2021

Europe now boasts 800 climate techs and huge successes like Arrival, Northvolt and Oatly. But which other sustainability startups do you need to know about?

Sustainability is only getting hotter and hotter. Europe now boasts six unicorns, from [Tesla-rival Arrival](https://sifted.eu/articles/arrival-nasdaq-listing/) to oat milk brand Oatly — both set to IPO in the coming months.

But who could be next? 

We’ve cherrypicked the 100 most innovative startups across climate tech, cleantech, greentech and beyond — they’ve got sustainability at the heart of their mission and messaging and are providing very necessary tech solutions to the climate crisis.

12 of the companies launched in the last year, including smart construction company [011h](https://sifted.eu/articles/011h-raise/) and Sylvera, the platform investigating carbon offsetting initiatives.

We’ve by no means forgotten big players with big raises to match — like refurbished product marketplace Back Market, which raised €110m; or vertical farming startup Infarm, [which raised $170m in 2020.](https://sifted.eu/articles/infarm-raises-170m/)

You can view the full list below.

(P.S The data (including valuation estimates) is from [Dealroom.](https://dealroom.co/) If anything is wrong, please let us know by email at rankings@sifted.eu).

Sustain 100

Sustain 100: the European sustainability startups to watch in 2021

Nordic countries received €5bn in venture capital in 2020. Which which are the companies to watch in 2021?

The Nordics are a startup powerhouse.

First there came Spotify and Supercell. Then came names like fintech giant Klarna, oat milk brand Oatly and battery developer Northvolt.

Covid-19 also opened up opportunities for a host of Nordic startups [to move into US markets,](https://sifted.eu/articles/coronavirus-nordic-startups/) such as Oura Health — the wellness ring used by Prince Harry and the Silicon Valley elite.

So what’s coming up next for the region, and which startups are going places this year?

Our team of experts at Sifted have selected more than 100 companies we think you need to know about.

(P.S. The data is from European Startups, with valuation estimates from Dealroom. If there is anyone missing from this list, or anything is wrong, please let us know by email at rankings@sifted.eu.)

Nordics

The Nordic startups and scaleups to watch in 2021

These are the startups driving innovation in the heart of France — one of Europe's key tech ecosystems.

Paris is home to some of the most hyped startups in Europe and boasts a dynamic tech ecosystem. Startups such as Doctolib, Alan and Agricool are just some of those at the forefront of the continent’s new economy.

Our team of experts at Sifted have chosen a list of Parisian startups and scaleups we think you need to know about, with an added “Sifted take” one some to provide an extra layer of insight on the most interesting.

(P.S The data is from [European Startups](https://europeanstartups.co/) with valuation estimates from [Dealroom](https://app.dealroom.co/). If there is anyone missing from this list, or anything is wrong, please let us know by email at isabella@sifted.eu).

Paris new 2

The Parisian startups and scaleups to watch in 2021

The Baltics is one of Europe's most exciting startup regions. So who should be on your watchlist?

It's a great time to be a Baltic startup. 

So far in 2021, Lithuania has seen €277m in investment (compared to just €17.9m in 2020 and €151m in 2019). In 2020 Estonian startups received €115m in capital.

The Baltics have birthed [Bolt,](https://sifted.eu/articles/bolt-food-delivery/) the Estonian ride-hailing app, and [Vinted,](https://sifted.eu/articles/vinted-unicorn-3-5bn-lithuania/) Lithuania's increasingly popular secondhand clothes marketplace. Other, but exited unicorns include Skype and Wise (previously TransferWise.)

But with only two unicorns, the region has a lot of room for growth — and needs it if it's going to compete with more established markets.

Fintechs like consumer lender [Sun Finance,](https://sifted.eu/articles/sunfinance-latvia-fintech/) which recently placed 2nd in the FT1000 with a compound growth rate of 752%, are particularly promising. And thanks to [startup-friendly regulations,](https://sifted.eu/articles/how-lithuania-became-a-mecca-for-fintech/) Lithuania is Europe's second-largest regulated fintech hub.

While many Baltic startups have also moved out of the small and underpopulated regions to capitalise on more established markets, as usual, this list only includes startups headquartered in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

(P.S The data is from [European Startups](https://europeanstartups.co/) with valuation estimates from [Dealroom](https://app.dealroom.co/). If there is anyone missing from this list, or anything is wrong, please let us know by email at rankings@sifted.eu).

Baltics

The Baltic startups and scaleups to watch in 2021

London is the top startup city in Europe. Which companies should be on your watchlist?

So far this year London startups have raised a record €11.8bn from VC funds, more than the €14.5bn in all of 2020. 

But which are the most exciting startups and scaleups based in the city? Which are the ones to watch in 2021?

Our team of experts at Sifted have chosen a list of more than 130 exciting companies we think you need to know about, with an added 'Sifted take' on some to provide an extra layer of insight.

It's a mixture of the big and the small, the well known and the under the radar. But all are making waves. Keep reading below and stay informed about Europe’s new economy!

(P.S The data is from [European Startups](https://europeanstartups.co/), with valuation estimates from [Dealroom](https://app.dealroom.co/). If there is anyone missing from this list, or anything is wrong, please let us know by email at [rankings@sifted.eu](mailto:rankings@sifted.eu)).

London

The London startups and scaleups to watch in 2021

The Irish startup ecosystem is booming. But what are the startups you need to follow in 2021?


So far this year Irish startups have raised €1bn from VC funds. This is just shy of the €1.2bn raised all of 2020, putting the country on track for a record year.

But which are the most exciting startups and scaleups? Which are the ones to watch in 2021?

Our team of experts at Sifted have chosen a list of exciting companies we think you need to know about, with an added ‘Sifted take’ on some to provide an extra layer of insight.

It’s a mixture of the big and the small, the well known and the under the radar. But all are making waves. Keep reading below and stay informed about Europe’s new economy!

(P.S The data is from [European Startups](https://europeanstartups.co/), with valuation estimates from [Dealroom](https://app.dealroom.co/). If there is anyone missing from this list, or anything is wrong, please let us know by email at [rankings@sifted.eu](mailto:rankings@sifted.eu)).

Irish

The Irish startups and scaleups to watch in 2021

Startups such as GetYourGuide, N26 and Raisin are at the forefront of the continent’s new economy.

So far this year Berlin startups have raised a record €5.1bn from VC funds, more than the €2.2bn in all of 2020. 

But which are the most exciting startups and scaleups? Which are the ones to watch in 2021?

Our team of experts at Sifted have chosen a list of exciting companies we think you need to know about, with an added ‘Sifted take’ on some to provide an extra layer of insight.

It’s a mixture of the big and the small, the well known and the under the radar. But all are making waves. Keep reading below and stay informed about Europe’s new economy!

(P.S The data is from [European Startups](https://europeanstartups.co/), with valuation estimates from [Dealroom](https://app.dealroom.co/). If there is anyone missing from this list, or anything is wrong, please let us know by email at [rankings@sifted.eu](mailto:rankings@sifted.eu)).

Berlin

The Berlin startups startups and scaleups to watch in 2021

Home to one of Europe’s preeminent startup conferences, Slush, Finland has a fast-growing startup ecosystem.

So far this year Finnish startups have raised €1bn from VC funds, more than the €1bn in all of 2020. 

But which are the most exciting startups and scaleups? Which are the ones to watch in 2021?

Our team of experts at Sifted have chosen a list of exciting companies we think you need to know about, with an added ‘Sifted take’ on some to provide an extra layer of insight.

It’s a mixture of the big and the small, the well known and the under the radar. But all are making waves. Keep reading below and stay informed about Europe’s new economy!

(P.S The data is from [European Startups](https://europeanstartups.co/), with valuation estimates from [Dealroom](https://app.dealroom.co/). If there is anyone missing from this list, or anything is wrong, please let us know by email at [rankings@sifted.eu](mailto:rankings@sifted.eu)).

Sifted’s top European startups

Sifted’s top European startups