With more and more US venture capital firms showing increased interest in Europe, it seems like the European tech ecosystem has now reached a level of sophistication that is finally attracting the big money from overseas. Given this development of the last months and years, COVID-19 might be the spoilsports to this trend and reduce the US interest in European tech companies, however opportunities seem to exceed current challenges. 

This is why we were delighted to bring together experts from Silicon Valley Bank and Deutsche Börse Venture Network with Dentons’ experienced practitioners from Europe and the US to talk about:

Raising US venture capital money for European tech companies

The speakers provided in-depth insights from both sides of the Atlantic shedding light on the venture capital and tech ecosystems from different perspectives.

Below please find statements from the speakers and thought leadership pieces as well as presentations that have been created by our external guests as well as Dentons' practitioners:

“US VCs are for many reasons valuable for the European innovation economy. Especially in challenging times like these their mentally to always consider the ‘glass half full’ is crucial for startups to survive and therefore they shouldn’t be missing in any captable.”

Christian Hoppe, General Manager Sales & Origination, Silicon Valley Bank

“US venture capital has and will play an important role to help European tech companies to scale their business in particular during challenging times.
Benefits such as higher valuations, positive impact on mindset and access to new markets and peer groups should be weighed against tougher competition, presumably more complex shareholder structures and increased foreign control.”

Peter Fricke, Head of Deutsche Börse Venture Network, Deutsche Börse

“25 years ago, 90 % of the money from the Silicon Valley was invested within the Silicon Valley. That obviously changed 10 to 15 years ago, when more money was deployed in New York and Boston. Now in the last 5 years, the money started to past over the pond in a big way. The reason behind this is rather simple: US venture capitalists are looking for less expensive opportunities.”

Victor H. Boyajian, Head of Dentons' Global Venture Technology Practice Group, Dentons US

“Maybe the risk is not so much COVID-19 but missing out on the opportunities that are and will be arising. But we managed to bridge the Atlantic by way of this virtual penal so why shouldn’t we be able to bridge the Atlantic by bringing US money into Europe.”

Dr. Clemens Maschke, Venture Capital Partners, Dentons Europe

“COVID-19 crisis is likely to have an impact on the global economy but the way I see it the tech eco system is different. Right now might be a good time to invest due lower valuations.”

Thomas Schubert, Venture Capital Partners, Dentons Europe

Download section

Dentons’ practitioners bring a wealth of experience on current hot tech topics. Please feel welcome to download some of our recent publication in this sector:

• DeFiing Gravity – DYOR? We did it for you!
• FinTech: Shaping the future
• Tech Investing: Risk Assessment
• Dentons Crypto Review 2019-2020
• Experiences of Deutsche Börse Venture Network