The innovation and change manifesto
Startup Europe was formed in March 2013 by Neelie Kroes, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for the Digital Agenda. The initiative promotes innovative web-based businesses start-ups and aims to help Europe create its own ‘Silicon Valley’. The scheme involves a six-part plan designed to connect local innovation ecosystems and provide the right rules and resources for new businesses to succeed.
The Leaders Club, part of Startup Europe, has been developed to act as a role model in internet entrepreneurship and advise the European Commission on how to strengthen the environment for new web businesses in Europe. The group is composed of nine pioneering tycoons including the founders of Spotify, Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon; HackFWD chief executive Lars Hinrichs; Joanna Shields, CEO of Tech City UK; and Seedcamp partner Reshma Sohoni.
Addressing the club in London, Kroes outlined the need for action and a voice for technological entrepreneurs in Europe.
“Europe isn’t Silicon Valley. Perhaps it never will be; perhaps it doesn’t need to be. But I do know that there’s a lot we can learn from the American attitude: the respect and recognition they afford to entrepreneurs, the huge rewards from being able to take risks and innovate, and also the courage to challenge the established order.
“Too often, we make policies on the basis of what the established players tell us. Start-ups are too busy developing their business. But it is not because they don’t have the time or the resources to engage with policy makers or that they do not matter. On the contrary, we need a voice for the tech start-ups in Europe – to fight for them. I would hope that established successful entrepreneurs can raise their hands and convince others to do the same and launch a movement to say that the future is digital and that we need the right policies to support it.”
A recipe for success
Kroes outlined her thoughts on a special ‘recipe’ for business start-up success, written by the leading entrepreneurs and business leaders that make up the Startup Europe Leaders Club. She noted that many of their ingredients could be achieved at supranational level, but member states and national governments also had an important role to play.
She said: “As passionate about the impact that internet innovation can be and as knowledgeable about the environment needed for success, these are the guys who’ve been out there, fought the battles and won.
“Many of their recommendations, like on data protection, or open public data, are things the EU can itself take forward; in some cases we already have done. Other recommendations are not for the EU: they are for governments, local authorities, educators, public buyers, large companies, stock markets, and more. But they are all important. I hope many of those others will be looking at them closely. I know I will.”
“But this isn’t the end of a process: it’s the beginning,” Kroes added. “This isn’t something you’ve handed over and can now leave with the politicians: you all have a duty to promote and promulgate it, to nurture and help the next generation of talent, ensure they have the best possible environment.
“Sometimes you may think of each other as competitors, but in this project you are compatriots: you are creating an ecosystem together. This is a sector, the start-up sector, that needs to mobilise and have its voice heard and you can use all your creativity and imagination to do that. We’re in a world where an online campaign about an unknown issue is watched by 50 million in three days.”
The Startup Manifesto is a campaign for entrepreneurial excellence and focuses on five key areas: education and skills; access to talent; access to capital; data, policy, protection and privacy; and thought leadership. Described as a ‘digital growth plan for the EU’, 22 actions have been developed which it is hoped will help give European businesses the best chance of success in the current economic environment. You can read the manifesto in full here.
Concluding her speech, Kroes described the manifesto as containing a “powerful message” and that it was now time that this recipe “went viral”.
Neelie Kroes
