In recent years, the European startup ecosystem has witnessed a quiet revolution,one led not by individual entrepreneurs or traditional venture capitalists, but by venture studios. Also known as startup studios, company builders, or venture builders, these organizations are fundamentally transforming how startups are launched, scaled, and funded.
From Berlin to Stockholm, venture studios are redefining early-stage investment by creating startups from scratch, combining operational expertise, in-house resources, and capital, and this model is gaining significant momentum across Europe.
What Is a Venture Studio?
A venture studio is a company that creates new startups. Unlike accelerators or incubators that support existing startups, venture studios build their own ventures. They identify business opportunities internally, develop prototypes, and assemble teams to lead the new companies.
They typically provide:
Business ideas
Early-stage funding
Design and development resources
Marketing and go-to-market strategies
Recruitment of founding teams
The goal is to reduce startup risk and increase the chances of success by providing hands-on support from day one.
The Rise of Venture Studios in Europe
While the model originated in the U.S. (with pioneers like Idealab and Rocket Internet), Europe has rapidly embraced the venture studio approach, adapting it to local contexts.
Some notable venture studios in Europe include:
Founders Factory (UK)
Antler (Pan-European)
eFounders (France & Belgium)
Zebra Labs (Germany)
Rainmaking (Denmark)
The rise of these studios aligns with Europe's growing appetite for innovation, digital transformation, and scalable tech-driven solutions,particularly in sectors like fintech, insurtech, and AI.
Why Venture Studios Are Gaining Ground
1. De-risking Early-Stage Investment
Traditional early-stage investment is risky. Many startups fail due to team mismatches, lack of product-market fit, or execution issues. Venture studios address these challenges by:
Carefully selecting problems worth solving
Testing ideas before significant capital is deployed
Bringing in proven operational teams
Providing institutional knowledge and repeatable processes
This de-risks early-stage investment, making it more attractive for investors who want exposure to innovation without shouldering all the volatility.
2. Combining Capital and Execution
Venture studios provide more than just money, they bring in execution. Studios typically invest capital alongside deep operational support in product development, marketing, legal, and hiring.
3. Faster Time-to-Market
With in-house resources and processes, studios can launch startups in months rather than years. Time is money in the startup world , and venture studios know how to save both.
4. Stronger Founder Matches
Studios recruit and match founders to ideas after validating those ideas. This approach ensures founders work on something with traction, not just personal passion. It increases the likelihood of founder-market fit.
Case Studies: Success Stories from European Venture Studios
eFounders: Reinventing the Future of Work
Paris-based eFounders has launched over 30 companies in the SaaS space, including:
Spendesk – a corporate expense management platform
Front – a shared inbox for teams
Aircall – cloud-based phone systems
With a portfolio now valued at over $2 billion, eFounders is a prime example of how studios can build repeatable, scalable, and high-value businesses.
Founders Factory: Partnering with Corporates
Founders Factory, headquartered in London, takes a collaborative approach by partnering with corporates like Aviva, L’Oréal, and easyJet to co-create new ventures. This model blends industry expertise with startup agility, resulting in better distribution and exit opportunities.
Challenges for the Venture Studio Model
While the benefits are significant, venture studios also face key challenges:
High Operational Costs – Running a studio with multiple teams, developers, and resources is expensive.
Talent Bottlenecks – Finding experienced, entrepreneurial founders is not easy, especially for niche industries.
Ownership Structures – Studios often retain significant equity in startups they build, which can sometimes discourage later-stage investors or founders.
Scalability Issues – Unlike VCs who can deploy capital across dozens of deals, studios require hands-on involvement, making scaling slower.
Yet, many of these challenges are being overcome with better models, diversified funding sources, and growing demand for startup building.
The Future: What’s Next for Venture Studios in Europe?
The next decade looks bright for venture studios in Europe.
1. Niche Studios Will Emerge
Expect to see industry-specific venture studios in areas like:
HealthTech
ClimateTech
InsurTech
Food and Agriculture
These studios will leverage sector expertise and regulatory knowledge to build highly targeted solutions.
2. More Corporate-Backed Studios
Corporations looking to innovate outside their core business are increasingly turning to studios. This trend will grow as legacy firms in banking, insurance, and logistics face digital disruption.
3. Studio-VC Hybrids
Some studios are evolving into studio-VC hybrids, combining the company-building model with traditional fund investing. This allows them to back external founders while still building in-house ventures.
4. More Government and EU Support
As European governments continue to promote entrepreneurship and innovation, expect more support for venture studios via grants, incubator partnerships, and regulatory incentives.
Final Thoughts
Venture studios represent a powerful shift in how startups are built and funded in Europe. By reducing risk, providing hands-on support, and accelerating time-to-market, they are making early-stage investing more efficient and effective.
As innovation becomes a priority across sectors, and the demand for high-quality startups continues to rise, venture studios are well-positioned to become a central pillar of Europe’s startup ecosystem.
