The European tech landscape has long aspired to produce a global titan like Google or Microsoft. Now, a newly launched fund, Project Europe, aims to accelerate this mission by exclusively backing young innovators under 25 who are tackling complex problems with technical solutions.
A $10 Million Fund to Foster Innovation
Project Europe has secured $10 million in initial funding from 128 influential tech founders and executives across Europe and beyond. Among its backers are the founders of Klarna, Mistral, and SoundCloud. The fund will provide €200,000 (approximately $200,000) per recipient to help bring groundbreaking ideas to life.
Startups must originate in Europe, but there are no restrictions on relocating later. Applicants do not need fully developed startups—those with a promising idea or a well-researched thesis can still qualify.
An Age-Exclusive Opportunity
Unlike traditional venture funds, Project Europe imposes a strict age limit of 25 and under. The goal? To support the next generation of tech founders and fuel fresh, high-risk ideas that might otherwise struggle to secure funding. This initiative mirrors the Thiel Fellowship in the U.S., which grants $100,000 to college dropouts, though Project Europe has no such dropout requirement.
Addressing Europe’s Startup Challenges
For decades, Europe has struggled to cultivate a tech giant on the scale of Meta, Apple, or Google. The reasons for this vary, with some experts pointing to the lack of growth-stage funding, which forces founders to either relocate to the U.S. or exit prematurely.
Others argue that Europe’s conservative risk appetite has stifled high-growth potential. Ian Hogarth, a vocal advocate for European tech expansion, has written extensively about how promising startups often sell too soon—suggesting that the lack of later-stage investment may not be the only bottleneck. (Hogarth is not an investor in Project Europe.)
Regardless of the root causes, Europe has yet to produce a trillion-dollar tech company. While seed funding alone may not be a game-changer, Project Europe believes that empowering young, ambitious founders could help bridge the gap.
What Founders Receive
Project Europe’s initial investment secures 6.66% equity if it leads the round, with a lower percentage if it co-invests. However, beyond funding, the initiative offers an invaluable support system:
- 1:1 mentorship from its nine partners, including Victor Riparbelli (Synthesia), Mati Staniszewski (ElevenLabs), and Rina Onur Sirinoglu (Spyke Games)—the fund’s only female partner.
- Access to 119 other investors and founders for advice and networking opportunities.
- Media exposure through Harry Stebbings, the founder of 20VC, who brings growth-hacking expertise and media reach.
Project Europe isn’t just another fund; it’s a bold initiative aiming to break Europe’s cycle of premature startup exits and missed opportunities. By nurturing the next wave of young visionaries, this fund could pave the way for Europe’s next tech titan.
For aspiring founders under 25, this could be the golden ticket to turning ambitious ideas into reality.
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