We started a series of interviews with global tech professionals who drive the tech ecosystems of countries and cities, develop startup communities, and push cutting-edge innovations forward across the globe.
The third person we talk to is Yoram Wijngaarde – the founder and CEO of Dealroom, the foremost data provider on startups, growth companies, and tech ecosystems in Europe and around the globe. We asked about the Dealroom’s data which push startups, growth companies, and tech ecosystems, the path of the Ukrainian tech, key highlights of the Ukrainian Ecosystem Map, and the European Startups Dashboard by Dealroom and Sifted.
TechUkraine: When and under which circumstances have the Dealroom been launch?
Yoram: Dealroom was founded in Amsterdam in 2013, born out of a desire for better information about early-stage, high-growth companies, and emerging sectors, in Europe and beyond.
Europe has shown it creates big tech companies too. In Europe, over 190 $1 billion+ startups have been created since 2000. The gap with Silicon Valley has been narrowed. But Europe had been lacking adequate coverage of its startup and venture capital activity.
Creating Dealroom’s database from scratch allowed us to design our product specifically to support Europe’s startup ecosystems. We collaborate closely with strategic partners in each European market. It’s not just about fact-checking the companies you know, but discovering the world’s most promising companies that should be on your radar.
TechUkraine: How does Dealroom’s data push startups, growth companies, and tech ecosystems in Europe and around the globe forward?
Yoram: In any decision making, data is key. We know that startups use investment-grade data, investors, and governments to forge partnerships, direct funding, and fuel the network effects of successful innovation economies. Visibility is also crucial for international recognition, collaboration, and inward investment. Through our ecosystem partnerships, we enhance our data and bring it to a global audience. Open-access Dealroom data now powers a network of 21 tech ecosystems in Europe and around the world.
TechUkraine: What do you think about the path of the Ukrainian tech ecosystem of the last 5 years?
Yoram: Central and Eastern European tech is growing at pace; in the last five years, VC investment grew more than twice as fast in CEE than in Western Europe. Global success stories like Grammarly and rising stars like Insider and Ajax Systems will no doubt inspire the next generation of Ukrainian startups, and attract the attention of global VC. It’s an exciting time for Ukrainian tech.
TechUkraine: Last year Dealroom with support of the Consortium of Ukraine’s leading ecosystem players led by ICU, including UVCA, Western NIS Fund, Horizon Capital, AIN, TechUkraine, and AVentures, represented the Ukrainian Ecosystem Map. Could you benchmark the findings of the startup ecosystem in Ukraine?
Yoram: What’s great is that the Ukraine startup database is a collaborative community tool, as well as a company intelligence database. As a result of the verified contributions of the Ukrainian tech ecosystem, we have already increased the coverage of Ukrainian startups by 33% since launch; it now tracks 1,198 startups and scaleups, up from around 900. This gives us, and tech audiences around the world a much clearer picture of innovation activity in Ukraine, and a robust base for international comparison.
TechUkraine: European Startups project and European Startups Dashboard by Dealroom and Sifted aim to supply real-time insights into the health of startups across the EU. Could you share your advice for startups and scaleups, in Ukraine and globally to stay stronger in these uncertain times?
Yoram: The current crisis has, of course, created challenges for every industry, but we’re actually also seeing a general acceleration of digital adoption. For some sectors like health and groceries, the biggest challenge has been managing growth. Startups are adjusting fast to lengthen runway and meet new market needs. But it’s important to remember that failure is a feature of startup ecosystems. The best and most agile companies will survive, some will thrive.
