Last Thursday was a defining moment for the European Champions Alliance. We came together for our annual General Assembly, followed by a thought-provoking round table discussion titled “Scaling European Champions in the New World.” From honest assessments of the startup climate to hopeful visions for the future, it was an evening that left us energized, aligned, and ready to take action.
General Assembly: A Moment to Reflect and Refocus
Before diving into the challenges and opportunities ahead, we took a moment to look back. What a year it’s been—full of milestones, deep collaboration, and growing momentum across our ecosystem.
We celebrated progress, listened to feedback, and laid the groundwork for our next chapter. The message was clear: we’re building something meaningful together—and the road ahead looks promising.
Round Table Recap: “Scaling EU Champions: Crisis, Customers & Capital – Can Europe Lead?”
The evening continued with a high-energy panel moderated by Andrea Vaughan, and featuring four inspiring voices from across European tech and investment:
Valérie Gombart, Co-Founder and CEO, Hi Inov
Christophe Baroux, CRO, HarfangLab
Pascal Simons, Global ECM Transformation Director, AXA
Agata Hidalgo, European Affairs Lead, France Digitale
Together, they delivered an unfiltered yet forward-looking view of what it really takes to scale in today’s uncertain climate.
Key Takeaways from the Discussion:
1. The Crisis Isn’t Coming—It’s Already Here
Startups today are navigating a storm of challenges: global pandemics, war, inflation, and shifting politics. But rather than retreat, the panel emphasized resilience.
2. Demand for European Solutions Is Growing
There’s a growing appetite for EU-built tech—especially in strategic sectors like cybersecurity.
Agata Hidalgo also highlighted regulatory and policy strides, like simpler cross-border company registrations and increased investment support.
3. Structural Change Is Still Needed
Despite the progress, the panel was clear-eyed about the structural gaps:
IPOs remain rare
A deep tech investment culture in public markets is still missing
Exits are often dependent on U.S. buyers
To move forward, the panel called for:
A true single EU market with harmonized standards
Increased public procurement from startups
More education for investors and policymakers around the tech ecosystem
4. Mindset Shift: Think EU First
Valérie closed the discussion with a powerful perspective.
“It’s not just about cracking the U.S. anymore. Entry is expensive. We have a home market to win. Focus on one high-value product. Be capital-efficient. Stay close to your customer—and think differently.”
