The future of startups is at stake on both sides of the Atlantic
In the 2025 tech ecosystem, founding a startup is more than ever a cross-border event. This is confirmed by the last Transatlantic Founder Index, prepared by Sifted and AVP, which brings together more than 250 high-impact entrepreneurs spread between Europe and the United States. The conclusion: as long as the oceans remain, distances shrink. But differences, those born of cultural DNA, continue to set the pace.
True to their essence, North American founders stand out for their optimism: they rate their access to talent, capital and ecosystem support as a solid 9/10. Their European peers are more cautious, more focused on being efficient with fewer resources. The paradox is clear: where the United States sees speed and ambition, Europe embraces sustainability and resilience.
53% of European founders cite lack of funding as their main obstacle in 2025, compared to 30% of Americans.
Trump also enters the scene. His return to the White House has reconfigured the game: new rates, geopolitical tensions and a domino effect that impacts IPOs, investments and international expansion decisions. Klarna, for example, has paused its IPO due to uncertainty.
The report reveals that the main obstacle for Europeans remains access to capital, while Americans are more afraid of bottlenecks in supply chains and the speed with which technology is advancing. Both agree that talent costs — and a lot — and that adapting to technological changes is an imperative.
But it's not all competition. The Index shows a growing trend: more and more founders understand that collaboration between both worlds is not only possible, but necessary. From French startups migrating to San Francisco in search of investors, to Americans looking with interest at European labor flexibility.
59% of startups in the U.S. The U.S. is actively exploring M&A opportunities, compared to only 42% of European ones. Only 8% on both sides have a priority to go public in the next two years.
The American dream, however, is still beating fast. San Francisco continues to be the magnet that attracts founders like Zuzanna Stamirowska (Pathway) or Radha Vyas (Flash Pack). But in parallel, there is an inverse phenomenon: the European “return”, with initiatives such as Reviens Léon and new policies to attract talent back to the continent.
In 2025, tech success is not measured only in rounds or evaluations. It is measured in the ability to adapt, to climb with a cool head and a warm heart. The new entrepreneur is no longer from one place. It is transatlantic, it is hybrid, it is ambitious and, above all, it is willing to build bridges where before there was only distance.
