A dominant theme echoed throughout the AI RAISE Summit in Paris:
Europe’s evolving role in artificial intelligence and the broader technology ecosystem.
Some of the most anticipated sessions came from global tech investment firm GP Bullhound, and the panel "Investment in AI: Who Gets Funded and Why".
Together, they tackled pressing questions shaping Europe’s position in the global tech race: Where does the continent stand? What trends are accelerating its innovation? And which European startups are on track to become the next unicorns?
Let’s take a closer look at the findings:
1. European Tech Shows Signs of Resilience
Even amid global uncertainty and a post-bull-market cooldown, Europe’s tech sector remains robust.
€15 billion per quarter: That’s the average level of funding Europe’s tech ecosystem has attracted consistently over the last two years.
This marks a +50% increase compared to pre-2020 levels, a sign that investor confidence remains strong and that innovation continues to attract capital
Crucially, this funding isn’t just sustaining existing operations. Companies are actively raising capital to fuel new growth, particularly in AI and cybersecurity.
Across both the GP Bullhound session and the broader summit, there was a shared sentiment: Europe’s AI and tech ecosystem still has significant room to grow — and the foundations are already being laid.
2. A Maturing Ecosystem with Unicorn Momentum
Perhaps the most striking data point: Europe is still minting unicorns at pace.
17 new unicorns have emerged in the past year alone, across 10 different countries.
The hot sectors? Primarily AI and cybersecurity, two of the most strategically relevant verticals in today’s innovation economy.
Total collective value: €1.4 trillion, representing a 3x increase in the past five years.
And since 2015, the number of unicorns has grown 11-fold.
These numbers signal a clear shift: Europe’s startup ecosystem isn’t just growing, it’s maturing, with global-scale ambitions and long-term staying power.
