50

50

50

Next

Next

Impact

Impact

Europe

Europe

A discovery-focused initiative highlighting early stage
impact startups across the EU and UK.

A discovery-focused initiative
highlighting early stage impact
startups across the EU and UK.

Nominations are now open

Nominate a Startup

Across Europe, many diverse-led startups are building ambitious solutions to complex social and environmental challenges, yet remain underrepresented and under the radar at the earliest stages. This initiative exists to surface those companies, support visibility, and contribute to a more inclusive and representative venture ecosystem.

Across Europe, many diverse-led startups are building ambitious solutions to complex social and environmental challenges, yet remain underrepresented and under the radar at the earliest stages. This initiative exists to surface those companies, support visibility and contribute to a more inclusive and representative venture ecosystem.

Nominations close on [DATE]

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

We are inviting nominations

for the first edition of 50

Diverse Led Impact Startups

to watch in Europe

We are inviting nominations

for the first edition of 50 Diverse Led Impact Startupsto watch in Europe

We are inviting nominations

for the first edition of 50

Diverse Led Impact Startups

to watch in Europe

The list will highlight early stage startups headquartered in the EU or UK, led by founders from backgrounds historically underrepresented in European venture capital, and working towards meaningful impact at scale.

Nominations are open to anyone across the ecosystem, including founders, investors, accelerators, operators, and community builders. You may nominate your own company or suggest a startup you believe deserves greater visibility.


The list will highlight early stage startups headquartered in the EU or UK, led by founders from backgrounds historically underrepresented in European venture capital, and working towards meaningful impact at scale.

Nominations are open to anyone across the ecosystem, including founders, investors, accelerators, operators, and community builders. You may nominate your own company or suggest a startup you believe deserves greater visibility.


The list will highlight early stage startups headquartered in the EU or UK, led by founders from backgrounds historically underrepresented in European venture capital, and working towards meaningful impact at scale.

Nominations are open to anyone across the ecosystem, including founders, investors, accelerators, operators, and community builders. You may nominate your own company or suggest a startup you believe deserves greater visibility.


Nominations are now open

Nominate a Startup

NOMINATORS

Selected by leading

investors

Investor Name

Partner, Fund Name

Investor Name

Partner, Fund Name

Investor Name

Partner, Fund Name

Investor Name

Partner, Fund Name

Investor Name

Partner, Fund Name

Investor Name

Partner, Fund Name

Investor Name

Partner, Fund Name

Investor Name

Partner, Fund Name

Investor Name

Partner, Fund Name

Investor Name

Partner, Fund Name

Investor Name

Partner, Fund Name

Investor Name

Partner, Fund Name

Investor Name

Partner, Fund Name

Investor Name

Partner, Fund Name

KEY PRINCIPLES

How we

approach

this

01

NOT RANKED

Alphabetical list. No scoring. No hierarchy.

Alphabetical list. No scoring. No hierarchy.

02

EARLY STAGE FOCUS

Pre Seed and Seed companies building
towards impact at scale.

Pre Seed and Seed companies building
towards impact at scale.

03

VISIBILITY OVER HYPE

Designed for discovery, not benchmarking.

Designed for discovery, not benchmarking.

04

CURATED, NOT EXHAUSTIVE

Informed by nominations and editorial judgment.

Informed by nominations and editorial judgment.

ABOUT THE LIST & METHODOLOGY

Transparency,

Transparency,

not gatekeeping

not gatekeeping

50 Diverse Led Impact Startups to Watch in Europe is a curated, non-ranked initiative designed to highlight early stage companies with the potential to build meaningful impact at scale.

The initiative is currently in its nomination phase. Following the close of nominations, submissions will be reviewed qualitatively using consistent criteria aligned with early stage investing practices.

The focus is on discovery and visibility rather than benchmarking or performance rankings.

ELIGIBILITY

To be considered, startups must:

  • Be headquartered in the EU or UK

  • Be early stage (Pre Seed or Seed) and have raised some external funding

  • Demonstrate a clear impact intent

  • Be led by a founding team that self-identifies as coming from a background historically underrepresented in European venture capital

We rely on founder self-identification and do not require disclosure or verification of personal identity details.

FAQ

Common

questions

Common

questions

WHO'S BEHIND THIS

The

initiative

50 Diverse Led Impact Startups to Watch in Europe is led by two European venture capital
and ecosystem organisations with a shared commitment to early stage investing, impact,
and improving visibility for underrepresented founders.

The initiative is editorial and independent. It is not tied to a single portfolio, geography, or sector.

50 Diverse Led Impact Startups to Watch in Europe is led by two European venture capital and ecosystem organisations with a shared commitment to early stage investing, impact, and improving visibility for underrepresented founders.

The initiative is editorial and independent. It is not tied to a single portfolio, geography, or sector.


50 Diverse Led Impact Startups to Watch in Europe is led by two European venture capital and ecosystem organisations with a shared commitment to early stage investing, impact, and improving visibility for underrepresented founders.

The initiative is editorial and independent. It is not tied to a single portfolio, geography, or sector.


4P CAPTIAL

A day one venture capital investor taking a generalist approach across Sustainability Transformation sectors including Energy, Mobility, Materials, Agriculture, Climate, Circularity, Education, Water, Waste, and Food.

IMPACT SHAKERS

A global impact entrepreneurship ecosystem tackling complex societal challenges through inclusive entrepreneurship.


Editors

Vera Baker

Partner

Linkedin

Yonca Braeckman

Co-founder and CEO

Linkedin

PARTNERS & CONTRIBUTORS

Supported by the

Supported by the

ecosystem

ecosystem

This initiative was informed by nominations and input from a broad group of European investors,
venture capital funds, accelerators, and ecosystem organisations.

Their contributions helped ensure diversity of perspectives, geographies, and sectors
while maintaining a consistent editorial and investment lens.



50 Diverse Led Impact Startups to Watch in Europe is led by two European venture capital and ecosystem organisations with a shared commitment to early stage investing, impact, and improving visibility for underrepresented founders.

The initiative is editorial and independent. It is not tied to a single portfolio, geography, or sector.


This initiative was informed by nominations and input from a broad group of European investors,
venture capital funds, accelerators, and ecosystem organisations.

Their contributions helped ensure diversity of perspectives, geographies, and sectors
while maintaining a consistent editorial and investment lens.


VENTURE CAPITAL PARTNERS

Fund Name

Fund Name

Fund Name

Fund Name

Fund Name

Fund Name

ECOSYSTEM PARTNERS

Partner Name

Partner Name

Partner Name

Partner Name

NOMINATION FORM

Know a startup that deserves visibility?

Nominate a company — or your own — for the first edition of the list. Open to anyone in the ecosystem. Free, and takes less than 5 minutes.

Submit a Nomination