The cities of Amsterdam, Antwerp, Barcelona, Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, Helsinki, Lisbon, Munich, Porto, Rome, Stockholm and Vienna form the SCALE network. The common platform offers access to up-to-date information on accelerators, incubators, soft landing programs, and funding calls in each city. They aim to help startups and investors discover new markets. With the new Ecosystem Map – which, like the Munich Startup Insights, created in cooperation with Dealroom.co – SCALE now offers an in-depth overview of the European tech ecosystem.
"We are incredibly proud to finally launch this unique collaboration with Dealroom.co. We believe it's a direct and realistic example of how we, as European startup hubs, can begin to draw cross-city conclusions, make industry-specific comparisons, and improve the efficiency and availability of data between our ecosystems. With this innovative platform, we're taking our plan toward a pan-European ecosystem a step further,"
explained Kriya Mehta representing SCALE.
"Through the collaboration with Dealroom, SCALE is now able for the first time to provide a detailed overview of the diverse European startup ecosystem in a simple yet comprehensive overview. From our own experience with Dealroom, we know how well the solution is being accepted within the ecosystem. We are pleased to support this project and contribute with high-quality data from Munich,"
supplemented Gabriele Böhmer, Head of Munich Startup.
Lots of potential in the SCALE network
According to the report “Creating Europe’s most connected tech hubs” There are currently 54 unicorn startups in the cities of the SCALE network, with the potential for 78 more. This ranks the network fifth internationally, behind the Bay Area (374 unicorns / 471 potential unicorns), New York (100/179), Beijing (120/118), and Shanghai (69/82). With over 30,000 startups, the network ranks second worldwide, behind the Bay Area (32,000).
A look at the funds raised between 2016 and 2020 shows that there's still room for improvement. With a total of €31.4 billion, the network ranks sixth in comparison. Cities like New York (€70 billion) and Beijing (€102 billion) achieve significantly higher figures, but the Bay Area leads the pack with €183 billion. When viewed in relation to the population—where the SCALE cities lead the way with 49 million, followed by Shanghai with 34 million—the full potential that awaits here becomes apparent.
"Recent investments in Berlin and other European cities demonstrate the strength of European startups. With the SCALE Cities network and the report published today, Europe is demonstrating the capabilities of its startups. Berlin is proud to be part of SCALE Cities,"
so Christian Rickerts, State Secretary in the Berlin Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Enterprises.
Little capital from domestic sources
However, the European ecosystem is still heavily dependent on international investors. Looking at the past two years, only 20 percent of investments in the cities of the SCALE network came from domestic investors, while another 38 percent came from European investors. Important investors come from the USA and Canada, in particular, with a share of 32 percent. In Shanghai and the Bay Area, however, a good three-quarters of investments each come from domestic investors. This is particularly noticeable in large financing rounds: While a startup in one of the SCALE cities raises more than €250 million, domestic investors only account for 5 percent.
"By working together, we can not only support the growth of companies, but also create strong, interconnected ecosystems where people enjoy living and working. We are happy to be part of SCALE to further these goals,"
says Filipe Araújo, Deputy Mayor of Porto and City Councillor for Innovation and Environment.
