Adam Dixon and Robyn Klingler-Vidra break down the intricate ties between government policy, venture capital, and innovation. They explore how nations foster—or stifle—startup ecosystems, why venture capital isn’t a guaranteed path to success, and the global forces shaping entrepreneurship. From Europe's scale-up struggles to China's hyper-competitive market, they reveal the cultural, economic, and geopolitical factors driving (or hindering) innovation.

Key Takeaways

Governments are increasingly acting as venture capitalists to spur innovation.
Venture capital plays a crucial role in fostering start up-led innovation.
A high number of start ups does not necessarily equate to greater business dynamism.
The best innovation ecosystems complement existing industries rather than replicate others.
Europe continues to struggle with the 'scale-up problem' for its start ups.
Bureaucracy remains a major obstacle for business growth in Europe.
China's innovation pace outstrips Europe's, driven by intense competition.
Geopolitical tensions are reshaping venture capital and start up ecosystems worldwide.

Adam Smith's Panmure House:

⁠Website⁠

Adam Dixon:

⁠On X⁠

⁠On LinkedIn

Robyn Klingler-Vidra:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-robyn-klingler-vidra/

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/robyn-klingler-vidra

Robyn’s latest book Start-up Capitalism: https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501780318/startup-capitalism/#bookTabs=1

The Venture Capital State

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