The Dutch are building an impact & innovation driven economy for the future, European Space Tech is lifting off and Lisbon's unicorn flywheel is in full motion.
Dutch tech: small ecosystem, packing a punch, focused on the future 🥊
When it comes to building a future-proof economy, the Dutch tech ecosystem is a fitting example of a positive, interconnected, collaborative national ecosystem, which plays to its strengths, and is also hyper-aware of areas where it still needs to improve.
The Dutch startup ecosystem currently supports 135K+ jobs with an annual growth of 7.6%. This represents an increase of 64.5K net new jobs since 2018. Impact startups in particular are becoming major employers with at least 2 employees currently generating 10% (or 13.9K) of the total number of startup jobs, up from 7% last year. The 2022 Amsterdam Startup Employment report, also shows that impact jobs have more than doubled since 2017 in the capital.
Startups in the Netherlands are not just seen as a source of value and job creation, but also as a way to future-proof the country's economy. This forward-thinking approach is evident in cities like Rotterdam, where startups are helping to future-proof economies.
The Netherlands is small: most of its economic power is still concentrated in the Randstad, but the country is not afraid to look beyond big hubs. Eindhoven is a major science hub in the Netherlands and has a strong presence in the tech industry. The city also has a focus on sustainability, with startups working on solutions in areas such as renewable energy and smart city technology. These factors, along with Eindhoven's strong research and development infrastructure, have helped to make it a top destination for tech startups in Europe. Its high ranking in the Next Generation of Tech Ecosystem report is a testament to the strength of the tech ecosystem in the city.
By constantly measuring and improving, the Netherlands is becoming a leading hub for tech startups looking to make a real impact on the world.
Despite being a much younger industry, space tech is undoubtedly one of the most exciting and promising industrial applications of a wide range of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, propulsion, alternative energy, and many more. With VC investment in Upstream Space Tech startups reaching €527M in 2022 so far, (excluding megarounds) European Space Tech is truly starting to take flight.
While Lisbon’s startup ecosystem is in its early stages, in recent years, the city has become an attractive hub for digital nomads, attracting foreign talent and VCs ready to tap into the region’s potential.
The city has minted two unicorns, Talkdesk and Outsystems. Although both companies have relocated their HQ to the US, ties to their founding location remain strong. These two unicorns have put in motion Lisbon’s flywheel, helping produce a new generation of Portuguese founder talent. Speak, Cleverly.ai and Screenloop are some of the startups with alumni from Talkdesk and Outsystems.
Read more about Lisbon's record year in VC funding, how foreign VCs are tapping into the city's innovation early on, and the local emerging impact ecosystem:
🇪🇸 Spain celebrates its new Startup Law which will allow Spanish startups to be even more competitive in attracting talent and international investment.
2023 EVENTS
🇺🇸 March 10–19, Austin, Texas
South by Southwest (SXSW) celebrates the convergence of tech, film, music, education, and culture. Save the date for 2023!
🇦🇺 May 1-4 , Melbourne, Australia
4,000 entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers from 200 nations, 3 days, with one mission. All converge to GEC Melbourne next year.
🇨🇦 June 26-29, Toronto, Canada
Pre-register for Collision Toronto. Inc. Magazine sums it up: “Expect game-changing speakers, dynamic content, and great opportunities to network and connect with others.”
Know an insightful tech event in your region you would like to highlight?
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