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People

People Rankings

Like it or not, startup ecosystems are partly defined by how big their unicorn herds are; in other words, by how many companies have hit the billion-dollar valuation mark. 

In Europe, the unicorn count is steadily growing. In 2020 so far, dozens of new unicorns have been ‘born’. There are plenty more fast-growing startups likely to join the list soon. 

Others will leave: Europe has also seen several IPOs this year, including The Hut Group (although Covid has slowed things here) — and is [likely to see many more in 2021.](https://sifted.eu/articles/which-european-startups-will-ipo/)

To help you keep track of it all, Sifted’s team has compiled a list of Europe’s unicorns using data from European Startups and our own research. We’ll update the list whenever a new company hits the billion-dollar valuation.

To make the list, companies must hit the following criteria: headquartered in Europe; founded in 2000 or later; private (not listed or acquired). Please let us know if we’ve missed any! 


Unicorns

European unicorns

Europe’s startup scene is often overshadowed by Silicon Valley, but the continent is gaining ground with more than 60 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 60 tech startups valued at over $1bn. 

Here, Sifted’s reporters — in partnership with Europeanstartups.co — dig into the data, strategy and challenges behind the most important European startups.

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

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

European

European startups to watch in 2021

Paris is home to some of the most hyped startups in Europe and boasts a dynamic tech ecosystem.

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

But the coronavirus has radically altered the business model of many young tech companies. No list of top startups today would be complete without asking: which are most likely to thrive in the post-Corona world?

This here is a living list of the city’s top startups with a twist, which will be regularly updated in the coming months. Keep reading to stay informed about Europe’s changing 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 <startuplists@sifted.eu>

Paris

Paris startups

$4.8bn in VC funding was raised by French startups, up nearly threefold since 2015, and France has become one of the hottest tech hubs.

In 2019 $4.8bn in venture capital funding was raised by French startups, up nearly threefold since 2015, and France has become one of the hottest tech hubs in Europe.
But which are France’s most exciting startups? Which are the French startups to watch in 2020?

Our team of experts at Sifted have chosen a list of nearly 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.

Dig into our list below, and keep reading Sifted’s extensive coverage of French startups to 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 michael@sifted.eu).

French

French startups

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

Berlin is home to one of Europe’s most exciting tech ecosystem. Startups such as GetYourGuide, N26 and Raisin are just some of those at the forefront of the continent’s new economy.

But the coronavirus has radically altered the business model of many young tech companies. No list of top startups today would be complete without asking: which are most likely to thrive in the post-Corona world?

This here is a living list of the city’s top startups with a twist, which will be regularly updated in the coming months. Keep reading to stay informed about Europe’s changing 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 startuplists@sifted.eu

Berlin

Berlin startups

Germany is one of Europe’s leading startup powerhouses, attracting $4.8bn in venture capital funding in 2019, nearly double four years ago. 

Germany is one of Europe’s leading startup powerhouses, attracting $4.8bn in venture capital funding in 2019, nearly double four years ago. 
But which are Germany’s most exciting startups? Which are the ones to watch in 2020?

Our team of experts at Sifted have chosen a list of nearly 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.

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 michael@sifted.eu).

Germany

German startups

The UK is still Europe’s leading startup nation, attracting $11bn in venture capital funding in 2019.

Other countries may be catching up fast, but the UK is still Europe’s leading startup nation, attracting $11bn in venture capital funding in 2019 (more than the next two biggest, France and Germany, combined).
But which are the UK’s most exciting startups? Which are the ones to watch in 2020?

Here, Sifted’s reporters — in partnership with Dealroom.co — dig into the data, strategy and challenges behind the most important European startups.

We have picked companies based on the money they have raised, how quickly they are hiring and how formative they have been to the startup ecosystems around them. If there is anyone missing from this list, or anything is wrong in the numbers, please let us know by email at startuplists@sifted.eu.

Please check out our jobs board to see some of the companies hiring from this list, as well as our lists from other European countries.

UK startups

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

Just a decade ago, young entrepreneurial Spaniards setting off to launch tech startups were considered lunatics. Why didn’t they just get a normal job?

Today, it’s so different with a whole rapidly growing ecosystem of entrepreneurs, angel investors, early-stage incubators and venture capital funds.

But which are the Spains’s most exciting startups? Which are the ones to watch in 2020?

Our team of experts at Sifted have chosen a list of companies 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.

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 startuplists@sifted.eu).

Spanish

Spanish startups

Ask venture capitalists in London, Paris and Berlin where the up-and-coming startup hub is in Europe and many will say Poland.

Ask venture capitalists in London, Paris and Berlin where the up-and-coming startup hub is in Europe and many will say Poland.
But which are Poland’s most exciting startups? Which are the ones to watch in 2020?

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” to provide an extra layer of insight on the most interesting. 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: michael@sifted.eu).

Polish

Polish startups

Financial technology is by a long way the hottest startup sector in Europe in terms of money raised, with €23bn of venture money flowing int

Financial technology is by a long way the hottest startup sector in Europe in terms of money raised, with €23bn of venture money flowing into fintechs since 2015.
Here, Sifted’s reporters — in partnership with Dealroom.co — dig into the data, strategy and challenges behind the most important European fintech startups.

We have picked companies based on the money they have raised, how quickly they are hiring and how formative they have been to the startup ecosystems around them.

(If there is anyone missing from this list, or anything is wrong in the numbers, please let us know by email at michael@sifted.eu)

Please check out our jobs board to see some of the compamies hiring from this list.

Fintech

Fintech startups

In 2019 nearly $1bn in venture capital funding was raised by Dutch startups, the 7th highest in Europe.

In 2019 nearly $1bn in venture capital funding was raised by Dutch startups, the 7th highest in Europe.
But which are country’s most exciting startups? Which are the Dutch startups to watch in 2020?

Our team of experts at Sifted have chosen a list of nearly 100 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 michael@sifted.eu).

Dutch

Dutch startups

We all know the legendary Swedish startup success stories such as Spotify, Skype and iZettle.

We’ve all heard of legendary Swedish startup success stories such as Spotify, Skype, iZettle, and King.
But who are the next generation of Swedish startups to watch?

Our team of experts at Sifted have chosen a list of more than 100 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 michael@sifted.eu).

Please check out our jobs board to see some of the compamies hiring from this list.

Swedish

Swedish startups

The Irish startup ecosystem is booming. But what are the startups you need to follow in 2020?


The Irish startup ecosystem is booming. But what are the startups you need to follow in 2020?
Here, Sifted’s reporters — in partnership with Dealroom.co — dig into the data, strategy and challenges behind the most important European startups.

We have picked companies based on the money they have raised, how quickly they are hiring and how formative they have been to the startup ecosystems around them. If there is anyone missing from this list, or anything is wrong in the numbers, please let us know by email at startuplists@sifted.eu.

Please check out our jobs board to see some of the companies hiring from this list, as well as our lists from other European countries.

Irish

Irish startups

With top startups in sectors from edtech to gaming to fintech, the Austrian startup ecosystem is going from strength to strength.

With top startups in sectors from edtech to gaming to fintech, the Austrian startup ecosystem is going from strength to strength. But what are the startups you need to follow in 2020?
Here, Sifted’s reporters — in partnership with Dealroom.co — dig into the data, strategy and challenges behind the most important European startups.

We have picked companies based on the money they have raised, how quickly they are hiring and how formative they have been to the startup ecosystems around them. If there is anyone missing from this list, or anything is wrong in the numbers, please let us know by email at startuplists@sifted.eu.

Please check out our jobs board to see some of the companies hiring from this list, as well as our lists from other European countries.

Austrian

Austrian startups

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

Home to one of Europe’s preeminent startup conferences, Slush, Finland has a fast-growing startup ecosystem that has emerged in the past ten years.
But what are the startups you need to follow in 2020?

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

We have picked companies based on the money they have raised, how quickly they are hiring and how formative they have been to the startup ecosystems around them. If there is anyone missing from this list, or anything is wrong in the numbers, please let us know by email at startuplists@sifted.eu.

Please also check out our jobs board to see some of the companies hiring from these lists.

Finnish

Finnish startups

Italy has been a little slow off the mark in creating a thriving startup ecosystem but is catching up fast.

Italy has been a little slow off the mark in creating a thriving startup ecosystem but has started to catch up with success stories such as Brumbrum and Freeda Media. What are the startups you need to follow in 2020?
Our team of experts at Sifted — in partnership with dealroom.co — have chosen a list of companies we think you need to know about, with an added “Sifted take” on some to provide an extra layer of insight.

We have picked companies based on the money they have raised, how quickly they are hiring and how formative they have been to the startup ecosystems around them. If there is anyone missing from this list, or anything is wrong in the numbers, please let us know by email at startuplists@sifted.eu.

Please check out our jobs board to see some of the companies hiring from this list.

Italian

Italian startups

Portugal has had a string of big startup success stories. But who are the next generation of Portuguese startups to watch?

Portugal has had a string of big startup success stories like translation service Unbabel, student accommodation marketplace Uniplaces and code review platform Codacy.
But who are the next generation of Portuguese startups to watch?

Our team of experts at Sifted have chosen a list of more than 100 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 (startuplists@sifted.eu).

Please check out our jobs board to see some of the companies hiring from this list, as well as our lists from other European countries.

Portuguese

Portuguese startups

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

Latvia has some real startup success stories in recent years. But who are they? And who are 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 (startuplists@sifted.eu).

Please check out our jobs board to see some of the companies hiring from this list, as well as our lists from other European countries.

Latvian

Latvian startups

Lithuania has some real startup success stories in recent years. But who are they?

Lithuania 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.
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 (startuplists@sifted.eu).

Please check out our jobs board to see some of the companies hiring from this list, as well as our lists from other European countries.

Lithuanian

Lithuanian startups

Here you'll find some dummy rankings for VCs. You'll notice new attribute labels being on show.

\Sifted’s top European startups

\Sifted’s top European startups