Building Europe's Startup Ecosystems

In today’s episode, Andreas talks with with Kaari Kink, Investment Manager at Superangel and Chair of EstVCA, and Margus Uudam, Partner at Karma Ventures and a long-time pioneer in venture capital, to uncover the secrets behind Estonia’s rise as one of Europe’s most dynamic startup ecosystems.

Estonia, known for producing global champions like Skype, Bolt, and Wise, has become a model for entrepreneurial success thanks to forward-thinking policies, minimal bureaucracy, and a bold mindset. Kaari and Margus share their experiences, reflect on Estonia’s journey, and highlight the policies and initiatives that other European ecosystems can learn from.

Together, we explore:

• The key policies, like Estonia’s progressive stock option framework, that attract and retain tech talent.
• The “Skype Effect” and how it transformed Estonia’s ecosystem.
• Europe’s challenges in harmonizing policies to compete globally with the U.S. and China.
• The role of cross-border collaboration and fund-of-funds in building a resilient VC landscape.

Go to eu.vc to read the full show notes.