This document discusses the opportunities for European tech startups in a rapidly changing global landscape. It notes that the internet is growing enormously and will soon connect over 5 billion people, with most of this growth happening outside of traditional Western markets. It argues that Europe needs more diversity and flexible labor markets to keep up, and should aim to create large "unicorn" companies rather than just many smaller "zebra" startups. Overall it presents an optimistic view that with the right mindset, European tech can still thrive globally despite intensifying competition from other regions.

1. Thinking Outside the Box
saul@localglobe.vc
Deloitte Fast 50, Nov 2015

2. Newsflash: the Internet is now enormous

3. And with mobile, it will connect 5.6bn people within 5 years

4. Markets we know are only 14% of
global audience with moderate upside
84% Internet
coverage
85% Internet
coverage

5. China + India = already 32% of global
Internet with lots of room to grow
49% Internet
coverage
24% Internet
coverage

6. “We” are already less than "the <20%"

7. UK & France already smaller than Nigeria

8. Europe will struggle in next 20 years to keep ahead

9. The stakes are high

10. So how is European
tech doing?
Despite appearances,
actually pretty well…

40. It feels like blue skies for startups

41. But we need way more diversity in Europe

42. We need to change how we think about labour markets

43. We know 7% of small companies create
>50% of new jobs
.

44. Europe has too many elephants

45. Cities Companies Universities
1976
1690
1830
3,146 837
Companies >200 yrs old
1821
1885
1096
1088
Athens
1400 BC
1776
Lisbon
1200 BC
Malaga
8th Century BC
Rome
753 BC
Marseille
600 BC
London
43 AD

46. Even Mega-Unicorns are less than 40 years old
$650bn $483bn
$200bn
$422bn
$287bn $280bn

47. These days you can get very big, very fast

48. Only a few sectors have really been seriously disrupted
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
Forbes 2000 Companies Companies Valued over 1$bn
Forbes 2000 list, Cruchbase, Aileen Lee’s list, Fred Wilson’s Hackpad and Index’s own research

49. Only entrepreneurs are crazy enough to believe in Unicorns
Zebras as % of city
population

50. UK is surprisingly well positioned to succeed

51. Open Data
Open Source
Open Standards
Coding in
Schools
25% Govt IT
budget for
SMEs
Govt Digital
Services
Global thought leader in digital transformation

52. London is increasingly Sand Hill Rd for EMEA

53. And it’s just getting started

54. But until Europe can create $50bn unicorns,
it needs to be the best place for Zebras

55. Our mindset needs to be geared for a new world

56. What do we really know about India & China?

57. So let’s not be afraid of the dark

58. Aim high and shoot for the moon

60. @cape
♯majorityworld