Ioanna is a writer at TNW. She covers the full spectrum of the European tech ecosystem, with a particular interest in startups, sustainabili Ioanna is a writer at TNW. She covers the full spectrum of the European tech ecosystem, with a particular interest in startups, sustainability, green tech, AI, and EU policy. With a background in the humanities, she has a soft spot for social impact-enabling technologies.
Cambridge-based climate startup Levidian is expanding its operations to the EU. The company is bringing its next-gen decarbonisation device targeting methane emissions — the second biggest contributor to climate change after carbon dioxide — to Luxembourg.
Using a proprietary low-temperature, low-pressure method with no additives, the so-called LOOP device breaks down and converts methane into its component atoms: hydrogen and carbon, which is stripped in the form of wonder material graphene — the thinnest and strongest material ever discovered.
Luxembourg-based construction company Stugalux will use LOOP to process biomethane gas produced from food and agricultural waste. The resulting hydrogen will power an electricity-generating turbine, while graphene will be integrated into Stugalux’s building products.
“[This] is a fantastic example of how a LOOP system can be used to decarbonise in three ways simultaneously [and] an incredible way to demonstrate the circularity of LOOP contributing to a cleaner economy,” said John Hartley, CEO of Levidian.
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LOOP’s threefold decarbonising impact translates into some impressive numbers, according to Stugalux’s owner Joel Schons.
“Together, the three LOOP systems will process nearly 250,000 cubic meters of waste gas per year, producing more than 30 tonnes of graphene, and preventing 572 tonnes of CO2e every year,” he said.
Stugalux will initially deploy a LOOP20 on-site, meaning a device capable of removing approximately 20 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per year. By 2025, it hopes to have installed two LOOP100 systems, to scale up decarbonisation.
Levidian deployed its very first LOOP device in late 2022. In collaboration with Eco Group, the startup installed a LOOP10 system in southern Scotland, with future plans for over 60 LOOP1000 units within the next five years.
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For 16 memorable years, TNW Conference has been at the center of Amsterdam’s tech ecosystem, but on March 30 and 31, TNW València brought — for the very first time — the heart of tech to Spain’s east coast.
But we didn’t choose Valencia simply for its bright blue sea, delicious paellas, or sunny weather. The vibrant city is Spain’s fastest-growing entrepreneurial ecosystem, and has the most startups per capita of anywhere in the country — transforming itself into Mediterranean’s startup powerhouse.
“Valencia’s tech ecosystem is a breath of fresh air,” says Myrthe van der Erve, TNW’s CEO.
At València’s marina, the conference brought together over 300 startups, 90 exhibitors, 100 speakers, and 75 investors to discover what’s next in tech and connect with industry pioneers, C-level executives, department heads, and product developers.
Aerial view of the conference’s venue.
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During the two days, over 2,000 attendees enjoyed inspirational talks, networking events, deals, pitches, and the same festival vibes as our Amsterdam flagship. Across 105 meetings and 50 mentoring sessions, the event also delivered real business outcomes.
Here are some of our favourite moments:
1. The official opening ceremony and party
The fun started on March 29, a day before the conference’s agenda kicked off. At our opening party at Zeus València, we enjoyed drinks, bites, and networking right by the sea — dancing the night away with like-minded tech enthusiasts.
The success recipe for an opening party: sea, sun, drinks, tech enthusiasts, and industry leaders.
Our guestlist also contained an array of the city’s most influential politicians. These included Diana Morant, Spain’s Minister of Science and Innovation; Sandra Gomez, Deputy Mayor of València; Arcadi España García, Minister of Finance of the Generalitat Valènciana; and Borja Sanjuán, Deputy Mayor of Economic Development at the City of València.
The conference’s ribbon-cutting ceremony during the opening party.
2. Unmissable speakers
We assembled a sensational line-up of keynote speeches, fireside chats, panel discussions, and workshops.
These featured inspiring founders, such as Vivino’s Heini Zachariassen and Zeleros Hyperloop’s David Pistoni; influential investors such as Speedinvest’s Jullian Blessin and BMW i Ventures’ Marcus Behrendt; and key representatives of the Valèncian tech ecosystem, including Guillermo Sánchez, Project Manager at Invest València, and Lucia Calabria, Deputy Director of Entrepreneurship at València Activa.
Andrii Degeler, Head of Media at TNW, spoke with Janneke Niessen, Founding Partner at CapitalIT, and Katica Roy, gender economist and CEO & founder of Pipeline Equity, about the importance of innovating for inclusion, equality, and equity.
Amongst the many highlights, Jen Carter, Global Head of Technology at Google.org, talked about how technology is being harnessed to help nonprofits; Katica Roy, award-winning gender economist and founder of Pipeline Equity, explained how companies can increase their profit by closing the gender equity gap; and Alex Roca, who recently became the first person with a 76% physical disability to complete a marathon, spoke about the importance of resilience and self-confidence.
Alex Roca, speaking at TNW València.
3. The FT Power Hours
The Financial Times, our beloved parent company, brought some of their brightest minds to València. At a series of sessions called FT Power Hours, they talked about tech’s latest business trends with industry leaders, including Teresa Parejo Navajas, Head of Sustainability and Social Corporate Sustainability at IBERIA, and Juan Manuel Diez, Strategy & Innovation Director at Port Authority of València.
Panelists discussed topics including sustainable tourism.
4. The Startup Pitch Battle
In a fiery TNW València pitch battle, eight of Europe’s hottest startups survived a series of knockout clashes to reach the contest final on March 31.
Following 10 minutes of nail-biting voting, our audience and all-star jury selected a winner: Crowmie. The València-based startup has developed the first investment platform in tokenised renewable energy projects.
Fernando Dávila Ponce de León Gámez, co-founder and CEO at Crowmie (left), with our MC for the event, Oison Lunny.
Crowmie won an array of amazing prizes, including a 4 square-meter exhibitor’s booth at TNW València 2024 and two business passes for TNW Conference in Amsterdam on June 15-16. But the best of all the prizes? A full profile feature on TNW’s website by our beloved media team.
5. The closing party
It goes without saying: a proper tech festival needs an unforgettable closing party. Attendees and TNWers alike ended the conference with a blast, on a dreamy VIP boat right next to the event venue.
Yes, this is the party boat.
6. The Ferris wheel
It wouldn’t be a TNW festival without our emblematic Ferris wheel. There’s no better way to savor fun rides and breathtaking city — or simply trap your interlocutor for a private meeting.
Looking back,TNW València 2023 — powered by The Financial Times and in collaboration with Ajuntament de València — was even better than we could have imagined!
The TNW team at València.
After such a successful first edition, we are set to bring the heart of tech to the bustling Mediterranean city again in 2024! Good news, folks, you can already pre-register here.
And for those of you who (justifiably) can’t wait that long, join us in Amsterdam for TNW Conference, Europe’s leading tech festival, on June 15 and 16.
Don’t miss out on TNW València 2024! Our conference is in high demand, and already sold out this year. By pre-registering now, you’ll be the first to know about our early bird tickets and secure your spot for next year’s event.
Spain has officially launched its own national space agency, at a time when Europe looks to establish itself as a global space industry leader.
Plans for the Spanish Space Agency, or Agencia Espacial Española (AEE), were first announced in May 2021, and finally got the political thumbs up last month.
The agency will be based in Seville, near the Arenosillo launch facility in Huelva, which was built in the 60s as part of a collaboration between the Spanish government and NASA. Initially, around 75 personnel will be based at the site.
The agency will serve to “guarantee Spain’s strategic action in the field of space, both from the point of view of its technological development and the use of space in areas such as security, Earth observation, geolocation, and telecommunications,” according to astatement from Spain’s Ministry of Science and Innovation.
“Space is a priority and strategic area, essential to help and protect our society in fields as diverse as cybersecurity, navigation, the fight against climate change, or the monitoring of phenomena such as drought or fires,” the statement continued.
Minister for Science and Innovation, Diana Morant, has allocated the new agency an initial budget of more than €700m in 2023.
The minister has also made €45m available to fund the development of a domestic microlauncher. This class of launch vehicle, Morant said, is “the commercial future of the space sector.”
Currently, the most likely contender to receive the funding is PLD Space. Founded in 2011, the Spanish startup has developed a suborbital microlauncher, named Miura 1, that will be capable of delivering commercial payloads to space and back. It is set to launch as early as this month.
Spain has a long history in the space industry. It is one of the founding members of the European Space Agency (ESA) and has a thriving spacetech ecosystem. As of 2019, 12% of the total 400+ investors in the global private space industry — dubbed ‘new space’ — were based in Spain.
In addition to frontrunners PLD Space, startups to watch include Barcelona-basedZero 2 Infinity, which has developed a balloon-borne launcher, Madrid-based ienai GO, a space industry software provider, and Bilbao-based SATLANTIS, which is developing AI-enabled payloads for microsatellites.
The launch of the Spanish Space Agency is undoubtedly a major boost to these startups and the country’s spacetech industry as a whole, and comesas Europe looks to catch up with the US, Russia, and China in the global space race.
Parisians overwhelmingly voted to ban e-scooters on Sunday, in a hotly-debated referendum that hasdivided the French capital.
Voters were given two choices: “for” or “against” a city-wide ban on shared e-scooters.
89% voted in favour of the ban, but the overall turnout was low, with only 7.5% of eligible voters casting ballots.
The vote was non-binding but city authorities havevowed to “abide by the decision”, said Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo.
The streets of Paris will be cleared from shared e-scooters by September 1, the mayor said. That’s when the contract with Dott, Tier, and Lime — the three e-scooter providers currently operating in the city — will expire.
The ban will not have an effect on the e-bikes offered by shared micro-mobility companies, which will remain in the city.
Despite welcoming e-scooters with open arms in 2018, Paris’ local government has progressively tightened its grip over the past five years, enforcing designated parking zones and speed limits, and restricting the number of operators.
But despite the regulations, concerns over safety, following several fatalaccidents, and complaints about scooters blocking sidewalks and disrupting other commuters, brought the issue to a head, with many calling for an outright ban.
Mayor Hidalgo agreed, saying the e-scooters were a “source of tension and worry.” But instead of banning them outright, she brought the decision to the people.
In January, the mayorannounced what she described as a “public consultation”, to settle the issue ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The e-scooter operators quickly launched a counter-offensive, offering free rides to all users that vote in their favour, and employing social media influencers to back their cause. But to no avail.
With the results now in, Paris is now set to become the first European capital to ban the mode of transport.
Berlin-based Tier Mobility, Amsterdam-based Dott, and San Francisco-based Lime said they were “disappointed” by the news.
The operatorssaid in a joint statement that the deployment of only 21 ballot stations and no option to vote digitally led to “an extremely low turnout, heavily skewed toward older age groups.”
In 2022, Paris recorded about 20 million trips on 15,000 shared e-scooters — 71% of these users were under 35. Many riders are also tourists, who don’t get to vote.
Some would have preferred a middle ground in the voting process.
Transport Minister Clement Beaune supports a continuation of e-scooters in Paris, but with more rules. He pointed to statistics that suggest e-scooters have replaced up to one in five journeys that would otherwise have been made with emissions-producing vehicles.
Mayor Hidalgo, on the other hand, called the result “a victory for local democracy.”
Hadi Karam, general manager for France at Lime, told AFP last week that Paris was going “against the current” in seeking to ban rental e-scooters.
Elsewhere in France, the mayor of Lyon, France’s third largest city, has just agreed to a four-year extension of its contract with Tier and Dott.
Further afield, New York, London, and Madrid are all expanding the use of e-scooters in a bid to decarbonise their transport systems.
It remains to be seen whether Paris’ ban on e-scooters will encourage other cities to follow suit, but it does represent a major blow for Dott, Tier, and Lime, who have now been barred from operating in one of the world’s largest shared micro-mobility markets.
Some of Europe’s hottest startups arrived at TNW València last week to develop ideas, expand networks, create new leads, and — and most importantly of all — fight.
Not in the physical sense, of course, but in a fiercely-contested TNW València pitch battle. After surviving a series of fiery knockout clashes, eight of Europe’s most electrifying startups were selected for the contest final on Friday.
València provided the perfect stage for the showdown. The region is Spain’s fastest-growing entrepreneurial ecosystem, with the most startups per capita in the country. It was also bathed in glorious sunshine — but this was no vacation for the contenders. With thousands in attendance, an all-star jury on the front row, and a springboard to success on the line, the stakes were high for all the startups.
To the victor goes an array of spoils, including a 4 square-meter turnkey booth at TNW Valencia 2024 and two business passes for TNW Conference in Amsterdam on June 15-16. But best of all the prizes — and I say this without a scintilla of bias — is a full feature on TNW’s wonderful website by our marvellous media team.
Before we reveal the winner, here are the eight elite finalists who pitched for first place.
Internxt
Internxt was the first startup to qualify for the final battle. Credit: TNW
Many of today’s biggest internet companies are essentially data mining companies. Google, for instance, generates over 80% of its revenue from advertising, which it amasses by leveraging user data for ad targeting.
Internxt has created an alternative model: data storage that respects user privacy.
The València-based startup provides an end-to-end encrypted cloud storage service, which means nobody can see your files. Founded in 2020, the company has positioned itself as a privacy-centric competitor to Google Drive.
“We provide an easy way to manage, share, and store user data in a completely private way,” says Joan Mora, head of data and analytics at Internxt.
Users can get 10GB of free storage. If they need more, premium subscriptions that provide from 20GB to 2TB are available for as little as low as €0.89 per month.
Sophie’s Bionutrients
Eugene Wang founded Sophie’s Bionutrients after his daughter suffered an allergic reaction. Credit: Sophie’s Bionutrients
Sophie’s Bionutrients has reimagined protein production. It’s the first company in the world that uses microalgae to develop 100% plant-based and sustainable alternative protein.
The microalgae is cultivated inside bio-reactors and harvested within days. This rapid process also minimizes the quantity of energy and water that’s required.
Both the idea and name for the company came from the daughter of Eugene Wang, the co-founder and CEO of Sophie’s Nutrients.
“Sophie is allergic to shellfish,” says Wang. “That’s how the whole thing started — I was looking for a way for people to get nutrition from the ocean without using the animals.”
The startup began life in Singapore, before moving its headquarters to the alt-protein hotspot “Food Valley” in the Netherlands. Wang now plans to take the product around the world, in a B2B business model that will first target small and medium-sized food manufacturers.
CAPS
CAPS wants to make urban flights a daily routine. Credit: CAPS
CAPS is developing a product that seems futuristic: an urban aircraft for single passengers. Yet the company expects the tech will soon be available to the public.
“My strong belief is that you will be experimenting with flights in urban areas within the next 10 years,” says Paul Cass, CEO of CAPS. “For that to properly be done, it has to be quiet, safe, and affordable.”
The startup’s founders got the idea after growing sick of their long commute to college. In a garage, they began to assemble a more convenient alternative: a flying car.
Their concept evolved into a driverless aircraft for single-passenger trips in urban areas. Both small and entirely-electric, the vehicle is built for a quiet flight with optimum security. In case of technical trouble or emergencies, a professional driver in the company’s operating centre can remotely control the aircraft.
CAPS is confident that the design offers the safety, affordability, and practicality needed for mass adoption. With the world’s electric air taxi network scheduled to launch in 2024, the vision could be closer to reality than it first appears.
Wenalyze
The Wenalyze team is led by CEO Carlos Albo (second from right). Credit: Wenalyze
In tricky economic times, these companies face mounting challenges. Insurers can provide a safety net, but bad information is reducing the security. According to Wenalyze, insurance companies have 47% of their data wrong, leading to underinsurance and premium leakage.
The Spanish startup wants to reduce the risks. The company uses open data analytics to correct, update, and enrich SME information. As a result, insurers, banks, and financial institutions can offer their clients the right coverage.
To access the enhanced insights, users only need to enter the name and address of the SME. Wenalyze’s system will then analyse open data sources and deliver real-time results.
“By protecting SMEs, we protect our economy,” says Carlos Albo, CEO and co-founder of Wenalyze.
Therminer
Therminer has an unusual recycling plan. Credit: Therminer
Amid a global energy crisis, the vast electricity consumption of data centres has become a pressing concern. But even greater harm to our climate comes from heating, which comprises half of the world’s total energy consumption. That’s roughly the same imapct as electricity and transportation combined.
Therminer has created a system that addresses both concerns: a cooling solution for servers that reduces their energy consumption and recycles the wasted heat to warm buildings.
According to Gonzalo García, CEO and co-founder of Therminer, the system cuts 95% of the energy consumed to cool servers — and recycles 90% of the heat they release. “Our competitive advantage from the data centre perspective is that we can reduce operational costs and our data centres are more sustainable,” he says.
From its base in València, Therminer produce the hardware, installs it in homes, and manages the data centre services. The initial target for the system is single-family homes.
“They can use our waste heat and we can create a decentralised network of data centres and then sell hosting power,” says García.
Chaise Longue
Affordable comfort is an elusive pleasure on flights. Credit: Chaise Longue
Flying economy is rarely a pleasurable experience, but Chaise Longue believes comfort doesn’t have to cost a fortune — and has the chair to prove it.
The Madrid-based startup has created a double-decker airplane seat configuration. The design increases comfort, reduces cabin weight, and provides at least the same passenger capacity. Best of all, it’s made for economy class.
The extra space comes from maximising the cabin’s verticle volume. Overhead luggage compartments are removed, with bags instead stored in bays under seats. The result is bigger recline angles, extended leg room, and more overall space.
The modular structure is designed for swift integration into existing aircraft. According to Alejandro Núñez, Chaise Longue’s founder, CEO, and designer, most leading airlines are interested in the system — and planes are just the start.
“We are also moving into other industries such as trains, buses, and ferries — for the lowest class and for the cheapest tickets,” says Núñez. “We are trying to improve that experience for everyone.”
Nightstream
Nightstream has spotted a big gap in Twitch’s business model. Credit: Nightstream
Twitch enjoyed explosive growth during the pandemic, and still consistently doubles its pre-COVID audience numbers. Many advertisers, however, remain wary of entering the market, which can appear too large and complicated. Nightstream wants to help these brands to grow alongside smaller streamers.
The startup found that brands currently use just 250 streamers to advertise. That means that oer 1.5 million daily viewers — and 95% of streamers — are being overlooked. Nightstream’s software is designed to capitalise on these opportunities.
The company’s tools and services allow brands to connect with streamers that will reach their target audience. Streamers, meanwhile, get the chance to build their audiences, earn money, and win prizes.
Brands are given data dashboards and analytic tools to analyse the performance of each player in the ecosystems. Nighstream also picks moderators for each streamer and brand, which further strengthens the partnership. To increase the streamers’ audiences, the startup rewards viewers as they become part of the communities.
“With our API and software, they can develop and connect directly with brands that don’t have enough money to connect with the biggest streamers,” says Luis Ruiz Climent, co-founder of Nightwatch.
Crowmie
Crowmie uses blockchain to decentralise energy investment. Credit: Crowmie
Crowmie has invented a unique approach to sustainability: the first investment platform in tokenised renewable energy projects.
The concept aims to turbocharge the adoption of renewable energy, while democratising investment in the sector. At present, the vast majority of the market is controlled by large energy generators, which are financed by the traditional banking system. Crowmie allows the public to make their own contributions — and get returns.
After registering, the user can invest a minimum of just €100 in any asset on the platform. The user receives tokens in return. These entitle them to monthly rents for the electricity generated and sold by the energy project. Users can also sell the tokens to another investor at any time.
The investment is used to build facilities that produce electricity. Once built, the projects generate renewable electricity that’s sold to the grid. Profits from this sale are distributed among investors according to the number of tokens they hold.
“We have completely changed the way of investing in traditional assets, accelerating the energy transition, supporting the business fabric, and allowing anyone in the world to invest from just 100 euros,” says Fernando Dávila, CEO and co-founder of Crowmie.
The future of tech was on display throughout TNW València. Credit: TNW
The winning pitch
All eight finalists would make worthy champions, but there can only be one winner of the pitch battle. To find who our all-star jury chose for the grand prize, follow our coverage of TNW València next week.
For those of you who couldn’t attend the event in-person, we hope to see you next year, for more pitches, talks, learning, networking, and festival vibe in beautiful València.
TNW València is finally here! Founders, investors, business leaders, and tech enthusiasts descended on València’s marina this morning to discover the next in tech, now. Before long, the venue — nestled between the historic inner city and the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean — was bustling with talks, deals, pitches, and a whole lot of fun.
TNW València is officially open! It’s #Time4València and you are all invited to enjoy the @FinancialTimes#tech festival and to discover the Valencian innovative ecosystem.
The conversations covered everything from funding secrets to sector spotlights, across keynote speeches, startup battles, panel discussions, workshops, fireside chats, and much more. Too much in fact to attend it all — but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Read on for a few highlights.
MC Oison Lunny speaks to a packed audience at the Impact Stage on Day 1 of TNW València
Our MC for the event, the award-winning Oison Lunny, kicked things off with a call for connections across València’s tech sector. “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. If you want to go fast AND far, go as part of an ecosystem,” he said.
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. If you want to go fast AND far, go as part of an ecosystem.
After the opening speech, a battle ensued between Valencia’s most promising startups. There were some seriously impressive pitches, and the winners will now face-off at the finals tomorrow.
The winners from today’s startup battles will go head-to-head at the finals tomorrow.
The role of ecosystems was a recurring theme on day one. Phill Robinson, the CEO of Boardwave, explained how Europe can replicate Silicon Valley’s famous network effects, while Erwin Verstraelen, digital chief at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, divulged why he founded ‘The Beacon’, an IOT ecosystem of startups, scaleups, and researchers, to boost innovation.
Many of the startups in attendance harbour plans for global expansion, but the conference speakers stressed that they need local roots. At a talk titled, “Going global: a VC’s guide to preparing for international investment,” Vanessa Palmer of CaixaBank DayOne said startups need people “working on the ground in that country who understand that market.”
We’re here at ‘Going global: a VC’s guide to preparing for international investment’ at #TNWValència. For startups to succeed overseas, says @vpalmerbcn, they must have people “working on the ground in that country who understand that market.” pic.twitter.com/UEY39dsY3Z
The balance was succinctly summarised by one of the contenders in the startup pitch battle.“Our base is in Spain, but our focus is global,” said Mario García-Granero, CEO and co-founder of Feending.
Amid the rush to innovate and grow, attendees of the event frequently expressed the importance of the tech for the good — particularly around sustainability. “We need to speed up,” said Raquel Espada, sustainability lead at Schneider Electric in Spain. We don’t have time. Climate change is happening, there’s a wildfire near here right now and it’s 30 degrees [centrigrade] in March.”
No doubt one of the most inspiring moments of the day came when endurance athlete and Barcelona ambassador Alex Roca took to the stage to share his unique perspective on persevering against the odds.
We could go on and on about the highlights of Day 1, but then you wouldn’t have any time to enjoy tonight’s festivities and side events. See you tomorrow for another day of TNW València. To discover what’s on the agenda click here.
Once predominantly known for IKEA, Ericsson, and Volvo, in the past decade, Sweden has emerged as one the most valued tech ecosystems in Europe, with Stockholm ranking as the fifth top performer in 2021.
The success of Swedish startups such as Tink and Spotify has turned the capital city into a world-renowned tech hub, attracting the attention of international investors — and for good reason.
Stockholm is home to nearly 3,000 startups and scaleups, and counts 208 VC investors and 101,000 tech employees.
The city has also bred more tech unicorns per capita than any other region in the world except for Silicon Valley — that is, 0.8 per 100,000 inhabitants. Some of those unicorns include the buy-now-pay-later fintech firm Klarna, lithium-ion battery developer Northvolt, and e-mobility provider Voi.
Stockholm’s fertile landscape reflects Sweden’s overall growth in the tech sector. Last year alone, the Nordic nation not only retained its place as the EU’s best-performing innovation leader, but also emerged as Europe’s fourth top ranking country in VC funding per capita, reaching $540 (€504).
To get a closer look at the city’s thriving ecosystem, we’re zooming in on six trailblazing local startups and scaleups.
Let’s dive in.
Exeger
Founded in 2009 by Giovanni Fili, the Swedish deeptech scaleup has developed a unique solar cell, Powerfoyle, which can be seamlessly integrated into existing devices and convert all forms of light to virtually endless energy.
Unlike typical solar cells, Powerfoyle is a silicon-free technology, and thanks to a special dye, it absorbs indoor and outdoor light through a process called artificial photosynthesis.
Giovanni Fili holding a Powerfoyle strip. Credit: Exeger
For Fili, who has a multi-year background in entrepreneurship and the commercialisation of high-tech innovations, looking into the everyday applications of solar power was a natural step.
“We realised after a few years that this had a huge potential because we can screen print this solar cell, which allows a free-form design with different shapes, colors, and textures,” Fili tells me.
Now, 14 years later, Exeger has raised over €180 million across 12 funding rounds, counts more than 200 employees, and owns two solar-cell factories in Stockholm.
From left to right: The Urbanista Phoenix, the Adidas RPT-02 Sol, and the Urbanista Los Angeles. Credit: Exeger
According to Fili, it’s all about providing consumers with energy independence, while also increasing product sustainability and reducing battery or cable waste.
For Exeger, Powerfoyle’s flexibility and customisable nature means the sky is the limit. The company recently secured a partnership with SES-imagotag to provide an alternative source of power to the electronic labels and IoT devices the company supplies to retailers. The scaleup envisions further applications for its technology in consumer electronics, IoT, and smart workplaces.
Sesamy
Sesamy was co-founded in 2021 by Måns Ulvestam, Karl Rosander, and Markus Ahlstrand — the same trio that founded Acast, the global podcast giant.
Sesamy also operates in the digital media realm, but with a focus on news and magazine content. The company targets publishers who want to offer their readers an option to purchase a single article as a complement to subscriptions.
“Our mission is to enable people to actually pay for good quality journalism, while helping publishers increase their incremental revenue,” Ulvestam tells me. And based on the company’s data, consumers are willing to pay on average €2 per article.
In case a reader purchases three or four articles from the same outlet, Sesamy’s Smart Software can identify whether it would cost them less to become a subscriber and prompts them accordingly, driving further engagement. “Some of the data we have so far are very encouraging; 5.5% of the readers buying a single-purchase article then become subscribers,” Ulvestam notes.
Co-founders Måns Ulvestam and Karl Rosander. Credit: Sesamy
The startup counts eight publisher partners so far, boasting three big Swedish outlets: Breakit, Kvartal, and Nyheter24. Currently, Sweden is the company’s focus market, being “at the forefront when it comes to thinking about how to monetize news,” co-founder Karl Rosander says. Nevertheless, Sesamy is looking into expanding into other European countries as well.
Sesamy’s current business focus is to engage with as many outlets as possible in order to collect enough data on publisher revenue and consumer behaviour and thereby further develop its software — and, in time, for instance, suggest dynamic pricing based on the articles’ length, exclusivity, etc.
Apart from the pay-per-article option, the startup’s software platform offers various interchangeable web components including the integration of services such as payment methods, third-party webhooks, and social media login.
In November, Sesamy raised €3.3 million during its second seed round, bring its total to €7.3 million.
X Shore
The award-winning electric boat manufacturer aims to facilitate the transition to maritime emobility by combining Scandinavian design with technology, innovation, and sustainability.
The startup was founded in 2016 by one of Sweden’s best-known entrepreneurs, Konrad Bergström, but has been reinvented since 2019, when Jenny Keisu took over as CEO.
CEO Jenny Keisu. Credit: X Shore
For Keisu, who has an extensive background in business law and impact investing, achieving price parity with fossil fuel-powered boats while offering high-performance vessels is key to the industry’s net-zero transition. And that’s what X Shore set out to do.
In September 2022, the company launched its second model, the X Shore 1, following the release of its first commercial boat, the Eelex 8000, in 2020. Both models come with a modular design for increased functionality and can be configured with various layouts that accommodate activities from fishing and diving to watersports and socialising — thus reducing the need for multiple boat ownership.
X Shore’s vessels also feature smart boating capabilities, including overboard detection, navigation, and range estimate. This is combined with a respective app and a special captain’s watch — a smart watch which can be used as a remote key to unlock the boat and as a “person over board” detector.
The Eelex 8000 is powered by a 170kW electric motor, comes with a 100NM range, and can reach a 30+ knot top speed. Credit: X Shore
Compared to the Eelex 8000, which costs a little over €300,000, the X Shore 1’s price starts at €99,000 — the average cost of a vessel in its category. “Within 48 hours after its launch, we sold out all boats that we could produce in the first half of this year, and we’re also sold out for 2023,” Keisu explains.
The X Shore 1 is powered by a 125kW electric motor, comes with a 50NM range, and can reach a 30 knot top speed. Creidit: X shore
Driving down the price enough to engage with a larger customer base — while maintaining sustainability — was the result of two factors: an EV-oriented design from the outset and in-house production.
The startup manufactures the hull and does the assembly using largely automated processes at its factory in the city of Nyköping, which leaves only the battery and electrical components to be sourced overseas.
X Shore sells its boats in Europe and North America, which currently represents its bigger market. For operators of multiple vessels, it also offers a Fleet Management System for connected X Shore boats. The startup raised almost €50 million in its latest funding round.
Alight
Alight is a leading Nordic provider of solar power-as-a-service, co-founded in 2013 by Dr Harald Overholm, Richard Nicolin, and Wilhelm Lowenhielm. The scaleup develops, owns, and operates solar projects for businesses that want to switch to renewable energy.
Alight helps companies cover their energy needs either with offsite installations in the form of solar farms, or with onsite installations of panels on rooftops, parking lots, or unused land. The scaleup provides energy through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) — fixed term contracts at a pre-negotiated price lasting between 10 and 20 years.
The company’s decision to focus on commercial solar stems from two reasons, according to co-founder and CEO Dr Harald Overholm. First comes the fact that 70% of power worldwide is used by companies. Second, the trio was inspired by the US market, where solar-as-a-service first got traction in the commercial and industrial segment, and shortly after in the residential.
Alight’s co-founder, Dr Harald Overhom. Credit: Patrik Ekenblom
“We had some sort of base hypothesis that commercial solar was a pretty good place to start,” Overholm says. “And we think that the European market is now moving very quickly towards us because government incentives are being rapidly scaled down.”
Alight is developing more than 1 gigawatt (GW) worth of PPA-based projects across Sweden, with a further 170 megawatts (MW) under development across the rest of Europe. It also handles Sweden’s largest operational solar park to date, and is set to have an installed capacity of at least 5GW by 2030. Some of its clients include Toyota, Swedbank, and trading company Bixia.
Alight’s onsite solar panels at Toyota Material Handing in France. Credit: Alight
But the road to success has been no bed of roses.
“People could not understand why we started the company when we did so,” Overholm explains. “And it was also horribly difficult to find investors,” he adds, citing a lack of interest in impact and sustainability projects at the time.
“So when, in 2022, we raised €150 million in equity, with an additional €20 million to €30 million coming in [from] buying out secondaries from previous investors, it was insane.”
Prior to that the company had done two funding rounds — following an initial angel capital injection — raising €2 million in 2015 and €5 million to €6 million in 2019.
Now, Alight is also developing co-located battery storage to mitigate solar power’s intermittent nature and enable its further rollout.
Milkywire
At the age of 31, marketing veteran Nina Siemiatkowski decided to pursue photography in Kenya, where she witnessed first-hand the hurdles local organisations were facing to secure funding and resources in their efforts to address pressing environmental issues.
Siemiatkowski decided to build a company that solves this problem and founded Milkywire in 2018.
The startup provides a smarter and more efficient solution to environmental, cause-driven donation, connecting vetted impact organisations around the world with companies and individuals who want to offer support, but are unsure how to donate effectively.
‘Initially, when I founded Milkywire, the idea was to connect the platform to consumers directly,” Siemiatkowski tells me. “But a year and a half ago we completely pivoted as a business.” Since then, the startup has been implementing a B2B2C business model.
Milkywire’s founder and CEO, Nina Siemiatkowski. Credit: Emma Svensson
Milkywire’s platform enables companies to take responsibility for their environmental footprint and make a positive contribution by financing high-impact initiatives beyond their immediate value chain. Businesses can select organisations from five different causes, such as wildlife and climate transformation.
The platform also offers transparent and traceable reporting of the companies’ donations and impact metrics, which can be used to engage stakeholders and customers. To facilitate that, Milkyware provides integrated tools that enable customers to contribute to the same causes.
The startup currently counts numerous partner companies, including Klarna, PANGAIA, and Footway. To date, it has raised $25 million (€23.5 million) in donations.
“The timing couldn’t be better for us,” Siemiatkowski says. “There’s massive demand for sustainability solutions and, from what I know, we’re sitting with a quite unique solution.”
Doconomy
Founded in 2018 by Mathias Wikström and Johan Pihl, Doconomy has merged climate tech with fintech, and is on a mission to help banks, brands, and consumers to better understand their environmental footprint through financial transactions.
Since launching the world’s first transaction-based footprint calculator, Doconomy has been building a global ecosystem, with its technology used by Mastercard and world leading banks such as BNP Paribas and Nordea — which translates to over 850 million potential end-users across 30 countries.
Driven by the aim to inspire consumer behaviour change and encourage them into a more sustainable lifestyle, the founding duo was interested in the credit card as an everyday tool that’s connected to consumption patterns.
Co-founder and CINO Johan Pihl. Credit: Doconomy
“We looked at how environmental data could be presented in a tool that you’re willing to use every day, and that, in the end, would motivate behavioural change,” Pihl tells me.
The result was Doconomy’s core solution, a cloud-based environmental impact index (Åland Index), which enables CO2 and H2O calculations for all digital financial transactions.
The Åland Index is complemented by a set of other digital tools, such as the Lifestyle Impact Calculator, helping individuals assess their footprint based on lifestyle choices, and the Product Impact calculator, which enables brands to calculate their products’ CO2 footprints. The startup also offers the DO mobile banking service, which allows consumers to manage their finances and everyday climate action.
Co-founder and CEO Mathias Wikström. Credit: Doconomy
Thanks to its data and the ecosystem it’s built, Doconomy has created a standardised language around how impact is measured. But using this language to drive consumer engagement and, in the end, behavioural change, remains “as tricky as ever,” co-founder Mathias Wikström says.
Doconomy is now focusing on achieving exactly this and believes that its recent acquisition of financial well-being fintech startup Dreams Technology will play an integral role in that objective.
What’s the secret to Stockholm’s success?
Stockholm has several unique and powerful ingredients that stimulate startup growth.
For Alight’s co-founder Harald Overholm, the city breeds a culture of entrepreneurship, while a strong network of entrepreneurs, mentors, and angel investors can provide guidance.
The collaboration and advice of like-minded entrepreneurs and expertswas also pointed out by Milywire’s founder, Nina Siemiatkowski, and Sesamy’s co-founder, Karl Rosander, who also added access to capital as an important element of the ecosystem.
“I think collaboration is closer at hand in Sweden than in many different markets,” Mathias Wikström, Doconomy’s co-founder and CEO, says. “There’s a strong social security network, a strong trade labour union, [and] a strong industry and trade labour union agreement dating back to the 40s and 50s. We’re not keeping our success close to our chest. We’re rather sharing it with many, I think slightly more than in other parts of the world.”
Swedish mentality plays a vital role for Johan Ekelin and Christian Ihre — co-founders of Lynxeye, a Stockholm-based strategy consultancy supporting companies in transformative shifts, which has been part of the ecosystem since 1999.
Co-founders Johan Ekelin and Christian Ihre. Credit: Lynxeye
“We’re a bit of a caring nation, you could say, with a more human-centric mentality,” Ekelin tells me. “We want to find solutions to problems, and we try to democratise the offerings, and that’s good for innovation,” he notes, adding that Sweden is characterised by “a high level of social consensus.”
This, according to Ihre, stems from a simplistic survival instinct, the need to “stick together,” due to the country’s weather and climate conditions. Much like the Vikings created their own infrastructure webs and ecosystems, modern society has another kind of ecosystem, where companies, institutions, government, and people know they need each other to survive. “This has transcended our culture for millennia,” Ihre notes.
But this doesn’t mean that Sweden’s business sector is closed within itself. On the contrary, Ekelin believes that creating international brands and companies is one of its biggest strengths.
“Being a small country means that there’s a small home market, so you have to look openly for other opportunities around the world and be informed about what’s going on outside of Sweden.”
With the passage of the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) in 2022, online platforms, including Apple, with EU revenues of 75 billion euros or more and at least 45 million active monthly end users must open up their devices to third party app stores.
The DMA aims to end unfair practices by large online platforms that hold a high degree of market power and function as so-called digital “gatekeepers,” providing key gateways between consumers and business users. The goal of the DMA is to make it easier for small and mid-size tech companies to enter markets currently dominated by the large tech giants.
Under one provision of the law, Apple must allow third-party app stores, such as Setapp, a subscription-based service from MacPaw for iOS and MacOS applications, Steam, a popular distribution platform for video games from Valve, and AltStore, a third party app installer, on its platform. In addition, Apple must also permit sideloading, i.e., allowing users to install software that they download from the Internet.
A number of popular gaming apps have found themselves cut off from the platform.
Although Apple has raised privacy and security concerns about allowing alternative app stores and sideloading on its platform and has not officially stated it will abide by the law, the company is reportedly developing software to comply with European Union requirements scheduled to go into effect in 2024, according to Bloomberg.
“This is all about more competition in the digital sphere,” said Maciej Marek, a senior associate at Dentons’ competition and antitrust division. “There is this perception that digital giants have grown too big and there is not enough competition in this area.”
The DMA is the EU’s largest legislative effort to date to crack down on the monopolisation of the industry by Silicon Valley’s tech giants. While the EU has typically handled each antitrust issue individually, the DMA introduces comprehensive reforms intended to address widespread issues in the entire sector. But the key question is, how will these new regulations really impact Apple, its users, and the EU’s app market moving forward?
Benefits for Apple, users, and developers
Apple’s App Store comes preinstalled on all iOS devices and, as it was the only app store available on iPhones and iPad devices, the tech giant has been able to set the rules for the distribution of apps to users of its devices. Additionally, Apple generates a huge profit from its App Store, taking up to 30% (15% for those with less than $1 million in annual net sales) commission on all App Store transactions and regular subscriptions (subscription fees drop to 15% after the first year).
Although Apple may be somewhat resistant to the requirements of the DMA Mykola Savin, Setapp’s product lead, believes this might actually benefit the company by enabling it to offer its customers more choices, new innovations, and an overall better experience. “We have seen cases like this before, for example, with the new regulations in banking that came with Payment Services Directive 2,” he said.
Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2), which went into full effect on Sept. 14, 2019, forced banks to release their data in a secure and standardised form to more easily share it with third-party providers (including fintechs offering new financial services). At first, banks were resistant to this idea because of security issues but later found that open banking enables them to offer a wider range of services to their customers and facilitates partnerships with startups offering new solutions.
“They were dealing with a lot of sensitive data in terms of bank accounts and transactions but, when it was properly regulated and opened up, now we see a lot of really useful products for budgeting, asset management, and peer to peer payments. So it’s a whole new industry and, again, this translates to a better experience,” Savin explained.
Likewise Savin pointed out that competition can often help push a business to innovate. He cited the famous US antitrust case against Microsoft in the 90s that forced the company to allow other browsers on Windows, rather than simply its own Internet Explorer.
“When it was done properly, and to the courtesy of Microsoft they’ve done it correctly, it was a clear choice for users which browsers to use as a default. This really helped Chrome and other browsers to rise up again because it wasn’t about the product, it was about allowing users to choose the best service. Now Microsoft pivoted to Edge and they’re integrating OpenAI because they were forced to compete and forced to innovate,” Savin said.
It should be up to the user where they get their apps.
Ioannis Kokkoris, director of the Centre for Commercial Law Studies at Queen Mary University of London, pointed out another benefit to Apple.
“There is a benefit to Apple having more than one app store on its platform,” he said. “Maybe there are certain applications that aren’t available on the Apple App Store because the developers only made them for the Google Play Store. By placing the Play Store on its platform, customers who would have purchased [Android] phones will now be more likely to buy iPhones because they can access those other apps.”
For example, a number of popular apps, especially in the lucrative gaming sector, have found themselves cut off from the platform due to Apple’s stringent App Store rules. Fortnite, one of the most popular games, was banned from Apple’s App Store in 2020 because its parent company, Epic Games, attempted to lead users to purchase virtual currency on its own website, breaching Apple’s terms and conditions.
Additionally, the DMA will create a lot of opportunities for smaller independent developers to experiment and find out what works for users, enabling them to create better products and try new business models and distribution channels, Savin said. For example, Setapp works on a subscription basis meaning that app developers may be able to capture an audience that might not be searching for their app directly but would consider using it as part of a productivity suite.
Allowing more competition in the market benefits users because they have more choice as to the app store they want to use, according to Kokkoris. “And more choice is always better for consumers because there will be lower prices, more innovation, and higher quality because you have more competition,” he said.
Security and privacy concerns are legitimate
Marek acknowledged that Apple’s issues around security and user privacy are legitimate, adding that the DMA also recognizes those concerns.
“The DMA clearly states that the gatekeeper can take actions that are necessary and proportionate to ensure that sideloading and third-party apps stores won’t endanger its integrity and security,” Marek said. “But, of course, the question is how exactly to address those concerns when you implement the requirements [of the DMA].”
Testing is necessary before any actual security solution is implemented.
Although the DMA does not include any criteria for determining whether third-party app stores are secure, the European Commission will decide on the criteria based on the views of Apple as well as on the recommendations of technical experts, Kokkoris said.
“Apple knows how to address these security issues,” he said. “And I think Apple could introduce some proper rules and guidelines for third-party stores to follow. And there should also be some general user awareness about security.”
Savin agreed that it’s important for users to be aware of security risks so they can make informed decisions about which applications they can trust.
“Let’s leave the choice to the user. We’re grownups, we make our own choices every day. On the web, we choose what bank to trust, where to purchase our groceries, and I think that should also be true for our data and for where we decide to get our apps.”
Marek added that the European Commission has to ensure the safety and integrity of Apple’s ecosystem or users will likely lose trust in it, “And everyone would be worse off. Not only Apple but also developers and users,” he said. “They must be very careful when implementing the provision because there will be some regulatory dialogue between the Commission and Apple about how to exactly interpret this provision and exactly what they should do to implement it and what safeguards they should implement.”
Consequently, testing is necessary before any actual security solution is implemented — testing on the side of an app, Marek said. He added that after implementation, the Commission should probably reassess the solution to ensure the safety and integrity of the third-party app stores.
“And I think that the Commission should be careful in the sense that they should take it one step at a time when implementing the solution. They should err on the side of safety and then reassess [the solution] periodically. I think it would really be a shame if this just reduces quality for the user.”
The DMA has the potential to further reduce the dominance of big tech within the EU and increase competition. But, as mentioned, this may not be such a bad thing for all parties involved. While the direct impact of the DMA on the business models of these large platforms is still unclear, it may cause others to adopt similar legislation. In fact, there are already examples of laws aimed at curbing anti-competitive practices in Germany and South Korea. Whatever happens, it’s certain that the DMA will make the EU’s app market an interesting one to watch for developers, users, and big tech alike.
Ladies and gentlemen, the moment has almost arrived: TNW València is next week!
In case you’ve been living under a rock (or frequenting another tech site, you traitor), we’re taking our cherished festival on the road. After 16 glorious years in Amsterdam, we’re bringing the show to Spain’s Mediterranean coast — and you’re all invited.
We’re not only there for the sun, sea, and sand — far from it, in fact. València has the fastest-growing innovation ecosystem in Spain, and the most startups per capita in the country. On March 30th and 31st, we’ll showcase the best tech in the region to over 2,000 guests.
Across the two days, attendees will enjoy inspirational talks, networking events, learning opportunities, and the same festival vibes as our Amsterdam flagship. The entire editorial team will also be there, awaiting your company, ideas, and, of course, abuse.
València is one of the world’s most exciting tech hubs.
In total, we’re hosting over 100 speakers, 75 investors, 90 exhibitors, and 3,000 meetings. Admittedly, this has created one big problem: you simply can’t catch them all. To help find your way through the jam-packed agenda, here are eight highlights at TNW València.
1. The official opening ceremony and party
While the main agenda kicks off on March 30, the fun starts a day earlier, at our opening party.
Our guestlist contains a range of political heavyweights. They include Diana Morant, Spain’s Minister of Science and Innovation; Sandra Gomez, Deputy Mayor of València; Arcadi España García, Minister of Finance of the Generalitat Valenciana; and Borja Sanjuán, Vice Mayor of Economic Development at the City of València.
Join them (and us) for drinks, bites, and networking from 19: 00 at Zeus València. To register for the party, click here.
2. A game of padel
The opening party is one of 10 side events, offering a healthy mix of learning, networking, and partying. On March 31, you can even join a padel tournament at the València Tennis Center. I’ll be waiting on the court, so you better bring your F-game.
3. Unmissable speakers
We’ve assembled a dazzling array of keynote speeches, fireside chats, panel discussions, and workshops. With more tech luminaries than a PayPal reunion, it’s hard to rank the speakers — but here are five of my favourites:
Heini Zachariassen, Founder and CEO of Vivino
Zachariassen built the world’s most-downloaded wine app and largest online wine marketplace. His company has made wine more accessible — and I speak from experience. My use of Vivino has become alarmingly frequent, but at least it’s finding me quality plonk at bargain prices.
Our speakers will shine lights on sustainability, AI, deep tech, and much more.
Katica Roy, Founder and CEO of Pipeline Equity
An award-winning economist and former Global 500 executive, Roy founded Pipeline Equity in 2017. At València, she’ll discuss how to close the innovation gap.
Miguel Ángel Leal, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at LaLiga
As a digital chief at LaLiga, Ángel injects innovation into a legendary football league. His role combines the best of both tech and sports, which sounds like a dream job for me — other than my position at TNW, of course.
Jen Carter, Global Head of Technology at Google.org
Carter leads the pro bono initiatives at Google.org, the Big G’s philanthropic arm. Having spent six years at the organisation, and a decade in Google’s Trust and Safety team, Carter has a unique understanding of using tech for good.
Alex Roca, Ambassador at FC Barcelona
It’s not only tech leaders that are taking the stage. One of our most intriguing speakers is Alex Roca, who recently became the first person with a 76% physical disability to complete a marathon. At TNW València, he’ll give his first public speech since achieving the feat.
4. The FT Power Hours
Our beloved overlords at the Financial Times are bringing their best brains to València. At a series of sessions dubbed FT Power Hours, they’ll discuss tech’s hottest business trends with industry leaders.
5. The Startup Pitch Battle
It’s not all fun and games. While we don’t condone violence at TNW, we do love a pitch battle — and this one’s sure to be fiery. Some of the world’s most exciting startups will be presenting their ideas to our distinguished jury.
The startup stakes will be high.
The challengers will compete for the attention of top investors, a collection of prizes, and — most importantly of all — a profile by your favourite editorial team. I mean us, by the way.
And if you need to sharpen your skills, check out the startup pitching workshop at 12: 30 on Thursday.
6. A ride on the TNW Ferris wheel
It wouldn’t be a TNW festival without our cherished Ferris wheel. As well as offering fun rides and stunning views, the carriages are the perfect place for private meetings — partly because your interlocutor can’t leave.
7. A stroll through the business floor
Our exhibition floor has racked up a vibrant mix of ideas and products.
The 92 organisations in the business hall encompass big brands such as Mercadona, Hubspot, and Helloprint; Valencian tech players like Sesame HR, Social Nest, and Delivers.AI; and government agencies including Spain Up Nation, Valencia Activa, Generalitat, Invest in Valencia.
There’s a lot to see, but our floor plan can smooth your route through the space.
The arena is dotted with stages, exhibitors, and lounges
I could go on and on, but my schedule is already bursting at the stems. Hopefully, these seven tips are enough to help your enjoy the festivities.
If they’re not, feel free to give me feedback at the bar. I’ll have an Aigua de València, por favor.
Recently, we asked if it was possible for Europe to have a dominant smartphone again. The answer was simple: no, not unless there’s some sort of miracle.
The reason behind this is multifaceted, but the core point is that because Asia hosts the majority of the world’s mobile manufacturing facilities, it’s borderline impossible for European companies to create a good enough phone at a low enough price to succeed.
But, here at TNW, we had another question: could Europe launch its own mobile operating system?
Why do we need a European mobile OS?
On first inspection, it’s an excellent idea. A European operating system could wrestle some of the power back from Silicon Valley behemoths iOS and Android. Also, it wouldn’t require the use of factories or raw materials, as the software could be developed in the continent itself.
Then let’s not forget that Europe has been at the forefront of digital privacy regulation, with initiatives like the GDPR and strict data-scraping laws enforcing citizens’ rights against data-hungry US tech giants.
A European mobile operating system, then, could be used to ensure privacy at the highest level for people and extend an element of control over the tech ecosystem. That latter point is particularly important, because not only do Apple and Google have control over the apps that appear on their platforms, they also take huge revenue cuts from publishers. That’s a staggering amount of power and income — all of which the EU could make use of.
But… is a European OS even possible?
To find out, I got in touch with several experts. One of them was Jan Stryjak, an associate director at Counterpoint Research. He leads the analyst firm’s research in Europe, and has over 13 years of experience in the telecommunications, media, and tech industries.
The first thing he told me was that there was no space on the market for a new European — or any other, for that matter — mobile operating system. “Two is enough,” he says, referring to iOS and Android. There were attempts in the past to make Windows a third dominant mobile OS, but these failed. While Windows Mobile and Symbian had their days in the sun, Android and iOS edged both out.
“It doesn’t work,” Stryjak tells me about the possibility of another operating system joining Apple and Google’s mobile operating systems. Well, there goes that dream.
When I pressed Stryjak further on the chances for such a thing, the only potential he saw was something for “the really niche tech population who care about privacy.”
Let’s talk about the third option
This topic of privacy is something I discussed with Wayne Huang, VP of Product Operations at Fairphone. His company creates devices that aim to be sustainable and climate neutral, with the goal of making repairable devices that give power back to the consumer.
One of Fairphone’s core customer segments is precisely the tech niche that cares about privacy. When I asked him how this option was expressed on their devices, Huang pointed me towards Fairphone’s partnership with the /e/ Foundation, specifically its Linux-based /e/OS mobile operating system.
In 2020, /e/OS was chosen as an alternative operating system for the Fairphone 3.
Users of Fairphone are able to install the privacy-first /e/OS, which is an open-source operating system that doesn’t track user data. Despite this, Android apps can still be used on the platform and /e/OS will warn you about any built-in trackers they provide.
Huang was unable to give me numbers on how many people use /e/OS on Fairphone devices. The closest figure I found came from Gaël Duval, the creator of the system. In 2021, he claimed there are “between 25,000 and 35,000 users of /e/OS” in total.
What we’ve found, then, is a pretty hard ceiling for a privacy-focused mobile OS. Currently, this is a niche option for niche devices. Yes, it could potentially grow and attract a healthy number of users, but this approach is unlikely to challenge the dominance of Android and iOS.
Instead, as Stryjak explained to me, at best, a new OS on mobile devices will likely be similar to Linux on desktop computers: something that attracts a devoted fanbase, but fails to make it into the mainstream.
Ending things there though is boring. We need to run this thought experiment through to its logical conclusion and truly work out what would happen if Europe developed its own mobile operating system.
Time to pretend
Let’s say that several EU member states disregard the above. They think the experts are misguided: there is room for a third major mobile operating system and they should be the ones to make it. What happens then?
Well, one thing’s for certain: it won’t be plain sailing.
“I’ve been on a number of calls with European Commissioners… where they’ve brought up a Linux system and asked if they can create something like this,” Huang tells TNW. “The challenge is that it’s difficult to bring everyone together to work towards this goal.”
Let’s not forget that the EU consists of 27 individual nations, all with different cultures and agendas. Getting countries that are more sceptical about big government and censorship on board with a European operating system will be a hard sell.
But let’s pretend that, somehow, the EU manages to get each nation to agree that a European mobile operating system is actually a fantastic idea. The topic leapfrogs the invasion of Ukraine, sustainability, gas prices, and inflation to become the pressing matter in the European parliament. What then?
The technical tribulations
Stryjak from Counterpoint tells TNW that the first big problem a European mobile operating system would face is how it would isolate the continent from the rest of the planet.
“The world is getting bigger, but closer at the same time,” he tells TNW. For almost every function in modern society, “you need to have interoperability within Europe and other markets.” In other words, software needs to work with other software, or things come tumbling down.
Stryjak has worked in European telecoms for more than 15 years.
If a European mobile OS was created, it’d require an unbelievable amount of work to make it function with existing apps and functionalities across the world.
Let’s think of it this way: would you switch to a phone that didn’t have a native Gmail app? Or Twitter? TikTok? Instagram? It would take an inordinate amount of time just for those companies to port over their software — and they’re some of the best-resourced organisations in the world.
Imagine how long it’d take for smaller businesses to port over all the apps you may need for work or life. It’d be an undertaking of galactic proportions.
Achieving the “same functionality of Samsung and Apple [phones] would take many iterations to get to,” Stryjak continues. And honestly? People aren’t willing to wait that long for software to get good. They want it to work and they want it to work now.
And then we have the political problems
Continuing on this thought experiment, let’s say this magical European mobile OS manages to overcome these development hurdles, and gets every engineer and coder alive to focus on making their software and hardware work perfectly with this new system. What then?
“If there’s a Europe-specific OS, can it operate in Russia or China?” Stryjak asks. The focus of this system would likely be enforcing GDPR and digital privacy, so could it operate in places where those regulations aren’t as stringent?
The answer, likely, is no.
You only need to look at the privacy uproar around HarmonyOS and Huawei’s tribulations with the US to get a feeling for how countries outside of Europe would react to a state-backed operating system. In short, badly.
If the EU somehow managed to get its member states to agree to create a mobile operating system, the likelihood is that it’d end up under-supported, struggling for users, and banned in various countries across the world.
To put that another way, it’d be pretty useless.
But is there any need for a European mobile OS?
Circling back to the crux of the piece, the answer is similar to hardware: no, not really.
The EU has been one of the biggest drivers in the digital privacy push and, although it could do even more if it had control over its own OS, the reality is that it’s already had a huge impact on technological privacy. As long as the bloc contains such a huge and affluent user base, it will continue to hold some sort of sway over Silicon Valley.
In a dream world, a European mobile operating system could improve a lot of things, but in reality? Pointless.
Ah, the joys of pitching. Your entire masterplan squeezed into a few sentences, a room of powerful strangers with your future in their hands, and mere seconds to impress them. Who doesn’t love a quick dip in a shark tank?
Quite a lot of people, unfortunately. Luckily for them, pitching coach David Beckett is here to help.
Beckett has spent decades mastering the art of public speaking. He first honed his skills through over 1,000 corporate presentations across 16 years at Canon, before switching to the crisper craft of startup pitches.
In 2013, Beckett founded Best3Minutes, which provides in-person and online training in his method. The techniques have now been taught to more than 1,800 startups and scaleups, which have gone on to raise over €420 million between them.
“My goal is not to tell people what to say,” Beckett tells TNW. “My goal is to give them a framework to find their story, practice it, and make it land with their audience.”
At TNW Valènciaon March 30, Beckett will provide his latest pitching workshop. Ahead of the session, he shared some of his top tips for startups.
1. Tune in to your audience
Your pitch needs to align with the desires of your audience. Who are they? What’s important to them? How can you impress them?
Imagine you’ve created a crypto-powered parking app. You could expound on the benefits of storing driver data on a distributed ledger, but few people enjoy torture by blockchain.
”When we work on something day in, day out, we often just want to tell people about what we’ve built — but the audience might not care at all,” says Beckett.
“The execution comes from your product, process, and team.
A more powerful pitch will illustrate a real-world impact. You could say (if it’s true, of course) that people waste 20 minutes every day finding a parking space. With the click of a button, your app cuts the time down to 60 seconds.
That example, however, may not enthral everyone. To make your audience do what you want, you need to know who they are.
2. Focus on the problem and solution
Your pitch needs to focus on pain and gain. This should fit into a simple statement that reveals what you can do for customers.
A human problem makes the issues more relatable. What does the pain result in? How big is the problem? Will people pay to solve it? How have you validated that? Investors want these answers.
“Things that especially trigger them are the size of opportunity and execution against that opportunity,” says Beckett. “And the execution part is product, progress, and team.”
3. Establish a clear objective
A successful pitch results in action. The ultimate target is often a set investment, but startups normally need to take a different first step. It could be a follow-up meeting, an introduction, or scanning a QR code that shows the audience further information. The most important outcome is maintaining a connection.
Beckett’s former students range from furniture giant to Dutch startup Lalaland.
Whatever your objective, make it clear and memorable. You may only have a few minutes to convince your audience to take action.
“Of course, you can’t communicate all the details in that time, but that’s not really the goal,” says Beckett. “The goal of the pitch is getting to the next step.”
4. Use post-it notes to organise your thoughts
Once you’ve got an objective, you need a strategy to reach it. Beckett advises using post-it notes to get the ideas out of your head and into a storyline. To shrink the prep time, he also recommends downloading his Pitch Canvas, a free storytelling tool for structuring your pitch.
“It’s really difficult to deliver the pitch with certainty and passion when you haven’t got the story straight,” he says. “Once you’ve got the story straight, you can start going into the delivery part.”
5. Demonstrate your value
Investors want to see evidence that you can execute your plan. If you’ve got customer traction, explain who’s using the product. If you’ve got a demo, show the product working. When time is short, a screenshot can suffice.
“If you can convince them that it’s a business, not a concept, they’ll think differently about it,” says Beckett. “And what convinces people it’s a business, not a concept, is a working product and customers.”
“Once they say things out loud, they often find what they wrote is too technical.
If your product is still a concept, there are other ways to demonstrate your value. One is showing you have the passion to put in the hours. Another is any funding that you’ve already raised.
“There’s a couple of things that come from that. Firstly, people trust you. Secondly, you’ve been through a due diligence process, so they’re unlikely to get surprises.”
6. Captivate them with your opening
You need to quickly gain the interest of your audience. Investors can see up to 1,000 pitches a year and are always short on time. To capture their attention, your opening has to stand out.
If it doesn’t land, says Beckett, their support “is almost certainly going to be a no-go.”
7. Polish the delivery
Once you have a prototype pitch, it’s time to verbalise it. Practice saying it out loud in front of an audience, and use their feedback to fine-tune your delivery. You can then take a step back and reassess the clarity, focus, and rhythm.
“Once people start saying things out loud, they often find out what they wrote is quite technical, and want to make it more direct,” says Beckett.
Beckett’s masterclass isn’t the only TNW València session on pitching. Startups will also take the stage for a pitch battle.
Your delivery should emphasise the words that matter. Beckett uses the example of a fictional delivery startup. In a pitch, the founder plans to say, “We deliver a sustainable and energy-boosting doughnut to meetings near you.”
If their focus is proximity, they can stress that doughnuts are delivered “to a meeting NEAR YOU.” If their USP is sustainability, they can emphasise that “we deliver a SUSTAINABLE and energy-boosting doughnut.” If they’re selling the energy effects, they can accentuate that it’s a “SUSTAINABLE and energy-boosting doughnut.”
Your delivery must also connect on a human level — a crucial element of pitching. Just one moment that shows your passion for the project can make an enormous difference.
8. Manage your time with a script
In discussions about public speaking, the relative merits of spontaneity and planning are endlessly debated. For Beckett, the best balance depends on your allotted time.
In a half-hour corporate presentation, you might only need to memorise the opening. In a short pitch, however, you’ll probably need a full script.
“For a three-minute pitch, the pressure is too much for most people’s brains to manage,” says Beckett. “If they don’t make a proper plan, they forget to say the things they really want to say, and spend too much time on things that are not so important.”
9. Time to perfection
Beckett has done extensive research on our listening and speaking capacities. He’s concluded that you should pitch a maximum of 150 words per minute.
“If you speak faster than that, people can’t follow,” he says. “It’s best to speak a bit slower so that people can process it. Get a bit of air around the key messages, but with enough energy and speed.”
Those 150 words will fit into approximately nine sentences. A three-minute pitch, therefore, will typically comprise around 27 sentences. If you’re struggling to structure your story, those rough boundaries can help allocate the time.
And if that doesn’t quell the anxieties about being judged in a few minutes, just remember: it will all be over in a few minutes.
David Beckett will be speaking at TNW València, which takes place at the end of March. If you want to experience the event, we’ve got something special for our loyal readers. Use the promo code TNWVAL30and get a 30% discount on yourconference business pass for TNW València.
When Barcelona decided to clamp down on dark stores, it opened a new chapter in the story of rapid grocery delivery. In January, the city’s authorities rolled out new restrictions on buildings used by the likes of Glovo and Getir, which had been relentlessly expanding.
These startups use dark stores as distribution hubs for their speedy deliveries. Couriers zip in and out of the buildings all day to collect goods for customers. The facilities, however, have sparked a backlash in many European cities. Residents are complaining about the noise levels, the gatherings of couriers on the street, and the taking up of urban spaces that the public can’t access.
The criticisms have unleashed a wave of actions against dark kitchens. These restrictions add another obstacle for delivery startups, joining job cuts, consolidation, and a worsening economy.
These issues are changing the fortunes of an industry that surged during the pandemic. Often touting delivery times of 15 or 20 minutes, many companies had sprung up promising groceries to your door at super-fast speeds, even if you only wanted a carton of milk, a loaf of bread, or a six-pack of beers.
The crucial tools in making this possible are dark stores or mini fulfilment warehouses dotted around a city in strategic locations close to densely populated areas. To reach mass scale, you need a lot of the facilities to cover a city’s key markets.
Therein lies the crux of the dispute with city officials — and more authorities are starting to take action.
‘Strict’ rules
Glovo, the Barcelona-based delivery giant, is at the coalface of this changing landscape for rapid delivery.
The company, which started by delivering food from restaurants, has invested heavily in the grocery segment in recent years. The company has also partnered with real estate firm Stoneweg to source property to serve as dark stores. It now has 100 dark stores, or micro fulfilment centres (MFCs), across multiple countries.
Glovo cofounder Sacha Michaud told TNW that the new rules in Barcelona are the most stringent that the company has seen to date.
“Our position on this is that it’s quite a strict way of trying to deal with the problem that many other cities haven’t taken,” he said.
“If you have a neighbourhood and somebody wants to set up a restaurant underneath your block of flats, probably the neighbours are not too keen on that. They’re going to have a lot of people walking in and a lot more movement, but it doesn’t mean you have to abolish restaurants in our cities.”
Michaud cofounded Glovo in 2015. Five years later, the pandemic arrived to transform his business.
Michaud said Glovo is examining the new requirements in Barcelona and will comply with the standards rather than shut its dark stores down.
Under the new rules, companies can refurbish their dark stores to additionally serve as walk-in retail or dining premises. They can also create a space on-site for couriers to wait, which addresses the issue of crowds gathering outside on the street.
A spokesperson for Barcelona City Council told TNW that companies have a two-year window to comply.
The Dutch capital now requires delivery centres to have a specific permit to operate, which gives officials oversight on how many are in operation and where.
The permit rule arose after complaints from residents. Given that dark stores are a new phenomenon, existing zoning laws had to be re-jigged to address the challenges.About 30 dark stores in the city will need to comply with the new rules.
“We’re open to discussions with all relevant parties and stakeholders.
Flink, the Doordash-backed start-up, operates in the Netherlands. A spokesperson said the company was the first of its kind to secure a permit in Amsterdam for a new store. It also has a second application pending.
“In consultation with this municipality, Flink has opted for stores with a ‘business’ destination in the zoning plan, close to residents. The city district chairman inaugurated the first location,” the spokesperson said.
While Flink said its new location is “close” to residents, dark stores cannot be located in the middle of a residential area, as ordered by local authorities.
Flink is also in the midst of a dark store debate in France. In Nantes, the company is under pressure to move one of its centres away from a residential area, following complaints from residents.
“We can’t confirm a move so far in Nantes but are of course open to discuss with all relevant parties and stakeholders,” Flink said.
Shifting markets
The landscape for rapid grocery delivery has changed drastically in just a few months.
Venture capital firms have pumped hundreds of millions of dollars into the sector’s startups, many of them just recently founded, in a land grab for the emerging market. But questions abound about the economics of 15-minute delivery — especially in a post-lockdown world and with the rising cost of living — and what the path to profitability looks like.
Several thriving companies had emerged during the boom. Their rapid rise was typified by Berlin’s Gorillas, which was founded in 2020 and has raised more than €1 billion. The company quickly became the face of the burgeoning industry in Europe, while also expanding into the US.
The progress, however, came to a screeching halt after market conditions swerved — leading to hundreds of job cuts and exits from a number of markets.Last year, Gorillas was acquired for $1.2 billion by Getir, an eight-year-old Turkish company in the sector.
Getir had also been quick to expand in 2020 and 2021, scooping up its own share of the market across Europe, and snapping up British rival Weezy. These deals have put Getir in a prevalent position in several markets across Europe, where the competition has shrunk. Getir declined to provide a comment for this story.
Amid this environment, other companies have recalibrated, often by tightening their belts and narrowing their focus on key markets, abandoning the expand-at-all-costs mindset.
Zapp, the British player founded in 2020, made these types of adjustments after pulling out of international markets and shedding jobs. The company’s senior vice president of strategy, Steve O’Hear, said Zapp is concentrating on owning the London market for now.
“Zapp has always been focused on winning London as its primary market, where we’re seeing tremendous success, having more than doubled the business in the last six months alone,” O’Hear said, adding that the company will look to expand in “similar megacities” in the future.
Prior to joining Zapp, O’Hear spent over 15 years as a tech and business journalist.
Like many of its peers, Zapp’s target is now aimed at reaching profitability in an industry that looks very different today than it did just two years ago.
Glovo’s Michaud said that despite the challenges, there is still growth ahead for the broader food and grocery delivery industry. However, the sector is now contending with another problem: rising costs.
From inflation to surging energy prices, the cost-of-living crisis in Europe is hitting people hard. Inflation also means a higher cost of groceries and less discretionary spending by consumers.
“If they have less money in their pocket, they’re going to spend less and that’s a fact. We might grow a little slower than we were growing before,” Michaud said.
“Consumer slowdown is happening. We have 150,000 retail partners worldwide, 90% of those are SMEs and they’re feeling the pain of consumer slowdown.”
