Information Technology
Europe's Moonshot Moment: New Industry Report Suggests Now is Europe's Time to Lead in Global Software
The joint report by Boardwave, the European software leadership network, and McKinsey & Company is to be released today. Titled Europe's Moonshot Moment: Scaling the European Tech Sector, the report - based on 100+ interviews and analysis of some of Europe's most senior technology leaders - calls for a coordinated push to transform the continent's strength in talent, innovation, and capital into enduring, global outcomes.
The new research argues that conditions are aligning to create a breakout moment for the region's tech ecosystem.
The report finds that while Europe has matured as a tech hub with over 280 software companies generating more than €100 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR), too many still stall at the €30 million ARR mark. This bottleneck prevents promising companies from becoming global players, but this isn't due to a lack of the right ingredients.
Europe has world-class talent, rising early-stage investment, and growing institutional support. What's needed is mobilisation: a collective effort across founders, investors, corporates, and governments to convert momentum into scale.
The report identifies five priority interventions to unlock growth:
said Phill Robinson , CEO and co-founder of Boardwave.
commented Ruben Schaubroeck , Senior Partner from McKinsey & Company.
Several forces are converging to create what the report calls a "moonshot moment":
- New technologies like generative AI are lowering barriers to global scale
- Policy shifts are opening cross-border pathways, like the proposed "28th regime"
- European success stories, such as Mistral, Celonis and Spotify, are inspiring the next wave
- Public and private initiatives are expanding capital access and entrepreneurship support
One of the most powerful enablers of scale, the report finds, is connection: between founders, talent, capital, and institutions.
said Robinson.
Boardwave is Europe's leading network for ambitious software leaders. With over 2,200 members - founders, CEOs, NEDs, and Chairs - we provide the connections, insights, and support to help leaders scale smarter and faster. Our free membership unlocks tailored events, expert-led content, and direct access to top investors, advisors, and industry partners.
McKinsey is a global management consulting firm committed to helping organisations accelerate sustainable and inclusive growth. They work with clients across the private, public, and social sectors to solve complex problems and create positive change for all their stakeholders. They combine bold strategies and transformative technologies to help organisations innovate more sustainably, achieve lasting gains in performance, and build workforces that will thrive for this generation and the next.
This research is independent and reflects the views of the authors. It was not commissioned by any business, government or institution.
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