11 Sep 2024
New reports in the EIC Scaling Club's “Challenge Roadmaps” series showcase the strategies the analyzed European deep-tech scale-ups plan to use to overcome critical challenges over the next 12 months.
These strategies include leveraging boards for market expansion, prioritizing customer acquisition and retention tactics, and focusing on due diligence and transparent deal preparation to attract lead investors.
“Nearly 60% of European deep-tech scale-ups lack formal boards, and only 35% of executives believe their boards effectively contribute to growth. Furthermore, 80%–90% of firms fail to secure funding after major pitching competitions due to weak investment theses, and 60%–70% struggle to attract a lead investor.
These three reports provide data-driven insights into these challenges. They showcase actionable recommendations and examples of how deep-tech companies can strengthen their boards, craft compelling investment narratives, and secure the funding they need to scale.
By sharing this knowledge, we aim to empower scale-ups and support stakeholders to make informed decisions and drive growth within the European deep-tech ecosystem,” says Josemaria Siota, Executive Director of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center at IESE Business School.
The study is based on literature reviews, workshops, interviews, surveys of international experts and EIC Scaling Club companies, and the analysis of the companies' data.
To see the all reports, visit this link.
Achieving market expansion with the help of strong boards
The top board-related challenge deep-tech scale-ups plan to tackle over the next 12 months is a more substantial focus on market expansion. Companies intend to leverage the boards' networks and experience to enter new markets, accelerate growth, and identify market trends. While prioritizing growth tactics, the analyzed scale-ups plan to decrease their boards' focus on investment strategies.
The report also identifies a notable misalignment between companies' and other stakeholders' views on the importance of boards' involvement in company governance. Other stakeholders perceive board independence and support in the CEO evolution and succession as more important than the companies themselves.
See the full “Strong Board” report:
Putting funnel optimization in the spotlight to improve investment thesis
According to the report on challenges scale-ups face with their investment narrative, companies intend to focus on funnel optimization over the next 12 months. This includes improvements in customer acquisition efficiency, long-term retention, lifetime value assessment, and feedback processes.
The report indicates a shift from the previous priority – implementing pilot projects and use cases to ensure product and market fit. The need to focus on customer acquisition cost and long-term retention has been the primary misalignment between stakeholders and companies, with stakeholders emphasizing funnel optimization tactics more than companies.
See the full “Investment Thesis” report:
Closing in on lead investors by validating the readiness of deals
The report on strategies to secure a lead investor shows a shift in priorities from market validation actions (customer base expansion, industry awards, etc.) to due diligence and deal preparation. It includes transparent documentation, alignment of expectations, collection of references from past investors, and creation of a friendly capital structure and investment terms.
The report identifies a significant misalignment in the importance that deep-tech companies and other stakeholders place on the long-term plans and scalability of scale-ups. Companies see this development area, including actions like developing a scalability roadmap and future funding strategy, as more critical, while other stakeholders value market validation tactics more.
See the full “Lead Investor” report:
About the reports
The “European Deep-Tech Scale-Ups: Challenge Roadmaps” reports “Strong board,” “Investment thesis,” and “Lead investor” are part of a series of 10 studies analyzing the challenges deep-tech ventures face during their growth journey – from commercializing their innovation and growing the business to attracting investment and contributing to the ecosystem.
-
About the EIC Scaling Club
The EIC Scaling Club is a curated community where 120+ European deep tech scale-ups with the potential to build world-class businesses and solve major global challenges come together with investors, corporate innovators and other industry stakeholders to spur growth.
The top 120+ European deep tech companies will be carefully selected from a pool of high-growth scale-ups that have benefitted from EIC financial schemes, other European and national innovation programmes, and beyond.
The EIC Scaling Club is an EIC-funded initiative implemented by Tech Tour, Bpifrance (EuroQuity), Hello Tomorrow, Tech.eu (Webrazzi), EurA and IESE Business School.
Subscribe to our newsletter here to stay up-to-date!
Recent Articles
Persistence, stamina, and grit are more important than ever – Interview with Patrik Sobocki
11 Sep 2024
EIC Scaling Club
48 companies
EIC
Digital Security & Trust
Interview
UMNAI
hybrid intelligence
neuro-symbolic AI
UMNAI: The missing piece of today’s AI – Hybrid Intelligence
11 Sep 2024
EIC Scaling Club
Next-Gen Computing
48 companies
EIC
Interview
Basemark
augmented reality
AR
automotive industry
Basemark: Transforming the driving experience with augmented reality
21 Aug 2024
EIC Scaling Club
Deep tech
quantum computing
photonics
Next-Gen Computing
48 companies
Interview
Science tech
Quix Quantum
QuiX Quantum: Building a quantum future with photonic power
15 Aug 2024
EIC Scaling Club
Deep tech
48 companies
Digital Security & Trust
deep tech scale-ups
QuoIntelligence
threat intelligence
Marco Riccardi
QuoIntelligence: Democratizing threat intelligence
13 Aug 2024
european deep tech
eic scaling club mentors
New Space
Interview
deep tech scale-ups
Tero Vauraste
President
Finland
Arctic
Learning is a lifelong journey – Interview with Tero Vauraste
9 Aug 2024
EIC Scaling Club
Deep tech
quantum computing
Next-Gen Computing
EIC
Interview
Science tech
deep tech scale-ups
qubits
quobly
Quobly: Tackling the world's growing computational challenges with quantum power
8 Aug 2024
EIC Scaling Club
Deep tech
Report
smart mobility
Next-Gen Computing
cohort 1
Renewable Energies
EIC
Digital Security & Trust
Challenge Roadmap
European deep-tech scale-ups focus on market expansion, funnel optimization, and investment readiness level to attract growth funding
6 Aug 2024
Open Call – EIC matchmaking opportunity: Pitch your maritime and shipping industry innovations
1 Aug 2024
Digital sector
european deep tech
Ignition Forum
deeptech scale-ups
Video interview
imec
Interview
Science tech
Jo De Boeck
Imec: Bridging the gap between lab and market
29 Jul 2024
EIC Scaling Club
Deep tech
Report
smart mobility
Next-Gen Computing
Renewable Energies
EIC
Digital Security & Trust
Challenge Roadmap
EIC Scaling Club report identifies top go-to-market challenges of European deep-tech scale-ups
24 Jul 2024
EIC Scaling Club
Deep tech
Next-Gen Computing
48 companies
Interview
Science tech
GScan
Infrastructure
muon tomography
GScan: Pioneering infrastructure assessment with muon tomography
18 Jul 2024
EIC Scaling Club
Deep tech
tech tour
Next-Gen Computing
Ignition Forum
mentors
meet the mentors
Video interview
Investment
Semiconductors
Investors
Interview
hardware
Marek Kotelnicki
VIGO Ventures
Deep-tech is very close to our hearts – Interview with Marek Kotelnicki
17 Jul 2024
EIC Scaling Club
Deep tech
48 companies
cohort 1
EIC
Digital Security & Trust
Interview
Science tech
François Mattens
XXII
XXII: Revolutionizing video analytics with AI-powered computer vision
10 Jul 2024
Deep tech
New Biotech Platforms
Corporates
Public Funds
EIT Food
Investors
Agencies
Cohort 2
Science tech
Cohort 2: Meet the New Biotech Platforms stakeholders
9 Jul 2024
EIC Scaling Club
Deep tech
48 companies
cohort 1
Renewable Energies
EIC
Interview
Science tech
Nicolas Heuzé
Sweetch Energy
Sweetch Energy: Providing a source of renewable energy that ‘ticks all the boxes’
8 Jul 2024
EIC Scaling Club
Deep tech
Next-Gen Computing
Ignition Forum
cohort 1
EIC
Interview
Marta Garcia Pedruelo
Multiverse Computing
How a paradigm-shifting company can benefit from the EIC Scaling Club – Interview with Marta Garcia Pedruelo
3 Jul 2024
EIC Scaling Club
Deep tech
Ignition Forum
cohort 1
Renewable Energies
EIC
Interview
bound4blue
Dana Camps
Decarbonizing maritime shipping with state-of-the-art technology – Interview with Dana Camps
2 Jul 2024
EIC Scaling Club
Deep tech
48 companies
cohort 1
EIC
Digital Security & Trust
Interview
Michal Tresner
threatmark
ThreatMark: Building AI-powered defense against evolving banking fraud
1 Jul 2024
EIC Scaling Club
Deep tech
48 companies
cohort 1
Renewable Energies
EIC
Interview
aerones
Endijs Bernics
Scaling new heights: How Aerones conquers the wind industry
21 Jun 2024
EIC Scaling Club
EIC
Batteries & Energy Storage
Public Funds
Stakeholders
Agencies
Cohort 2
EIT Manufacturing
Cohort 2: Meet the Battery & Energy Storage stakeholders
20 Jun 2024
EIC Scaling Club
EISMEA
EIC
Agri & Food Tech
Corporates
Public Funds
EIT Food
Stakeholders
Agencies
Cohort 2
Cohort 2: Agri & Food Tech stakeholders unveiled
17 Jun 2024
EIC Scaling Club
Deep tech
smart mobility
Next-Gen Computing
Ignition Forum
Renewable Energies
EIC
Digital Security & Trust
Investment
VC
Batteries & Energy Storage
Clean Fuels & Hydrogen
Agri & Food Tech
Cardiovascular Therapies
New Biotech Platforms
New Space
Mikko Suonenlahti
We can build many more unicorns together – Interview with Mikko Suonenlahti
13 Jun 2024
Digital sector
EIC Scaling Club
Deep tech
Next-Gen Computing
companies
EIC
Digital Security & Trust
New Space
Fabrizia Zanca
SettleMint
Bridging the Blockchain Chasm with Innovative Solutions – Interview with Fabrizia Zanca, VP of People at SettleMint
10 Jun 2024
EIC Scaling Club
Deep tech
smart mobility
Next-Gen Computing
Ignition Forum
Renewable Energies
EIC
Digital Security & Trust
Investment
VC
Batteries & Energy Storage
Clean Fuels & Hydrogen
Agri & Food Tech
Cardiovascular Therapies
New Biotech Platforms
New Space
Thomas Ferre
EIB
EIB's role in Europe's deep tech ecosystem – Interview with Thomas Ferré
6 Jun 2024
EIC Scaling Club
Next-Gen Computing
Renewable Energies
EIC
Digital Security & Trust
climate tech
Larissa Skarke
Investment
VC
World Fund
Finding investment as a deeptech scaleup – interview with Larissa Skarke of World Fund
28 May 2024
smart mobility
Next-Gen Computing
Renewable Energies
Digital Security & Trust
imec
Olivier Rousseaux
Meet the man building deep tech ventures and spin-offs for IMEC: An interview with Olivier Rousseaux, its Director of Venture Development
24 May 2024
On European competitiveness and entrepreneurial education: Interview with Maria Zubeldia of Oxford's Saïd Business School
22 May 2024
Renewable Energies
Video interview
Carbon Equity
climate tech
Jacqueline van den Ende
Batteries & Energy Storage
Clean Fuels & Hydrogen
Agri & Food Tech
'Mobilising private capital to address the world's greatest (climate) challenges': Carbon Equity CEO Jacqueline van den Ende is on a mission
15 May 2024
EIC Scaling Club
Next-Gen Computing
Ignition Forum
Renewable Energies
Video interview
EIC
Michiel Scheffer
Digital Security & Trust
EIC Board
Batteries & Energy Storage
Clean Fuels & Hydrogen
Agri & Food Tech
Cardiovascular Therapies
New Biotech Platforms
New Space
Scaling up Europe's deep tech ecosystems: An interview with EIC Board President Michiel Scheffer
14 May 2024
EIC Scaling Club
Next-Gen Computing
Ignition Forum
Renewable Energies
ERA
Video interview
Anna Panagopoulou
EIC
European Commission
Digital Security & Trust
Batteries & Energy Storage
Clean Fuels & Hydrogen
Agri & Food Tech
Cardiovascular Therapies
New Biotech Platforms
New Space
'Building the unicorns of tomorrow in Europe' - Video interview with Anna Panagopoulou, Director of 'ERA & Innovation' at the European Commission
8 May 2024
The Innovator
Jennifer Schenker
VaultSpeed
Heimdall Power
Tilkal
Renewable Energies
Digital Security & Trust
The Innovator put the spotlight on three EIC Scaling Club companies: Tilkal, VaultSpeed and Heimdall Power
29 Apr 2024
Next-Gen Computing
mentors
meet the mentors
eic scaling club mentors
Renewable Energies
Digital Security & Trust
Meet the Mentors: Presenting the curated list of business experts to advise the first cohort of scale-ups
24 Apr 2024
Report
Next-Gen Computing
market highlights
research
market highlights report
insights
data
Renewable Energies
Digital Security & Trust
EIC Scaling Club Report(s): Insights on four market sectors poised for deep tech innovation
9 Apr 2024
EIC Scaling Club
Next-Gen Computing
European Innovation Council
Jean-David Malo
EISMEA
Renewable Energies
Digital Security & Trust
Batteries & Energy Storage
Clean Fuels & Hydrogen
Agri & Food Tech
Cardiovascular Therapies
New Biotech Platforms
New Space
Interview: EISMEA Director Jean-David Malo takes stock of the EIC's achievements to date, and challenges ahead
29 Mar 2024
EIC Scaling Club
Next-Gen Computing
48 companies
first cohort
companies
deeptech scale-ups
cohort 1
Renewable Energies
Digital Security & Trust
Agri & Food Tech
48 high-growth tech companies join the EIC Scaling Club to collectively bolster Europe’s deep tech scale-up ecosystem
28 Mar 2024
Next-Gen Computing
axelera
alexera ai
fabrizio del maffeo
Digital Security & Trust
Batteries & Energy Storage
Accelerating computer vision on edge devices as a 'small, fast-growing Nvidia': Interview with Fabrizio Del Maffeo from Axelera AI
25 Mar 2024
smart mobility
Next-Gen Computing
Earlybird
Christian Nagel
Renewable Energies
Digital Security & Trust
Batteries & Energy Storage
Clean Fuels & Hydrogen
Agri & Food Tech
Cardiovascular Therapies
New Biotech Platforms
New Space
The Earlybird gets the interview: A chat with seasoned VC investor Christian Nagel
14 Mar 2024
Changing the fate of Europe through deep tech investments: Q&A with Jolt Capital's Jean Schmitt
5 Mar 2024
smart mobility
eit
Maria Tsavachidis
eit urban mobility
Renewable Energies
Batteries & Energy Storage
Clean Fuels & Hydrogen
Agri & Food Tech
Moving on up: EIT Urban Mobility CEO Maria Tsavachidis on how to make cities more liveable thanks to sustainable mobility
28 Feb 2024
Making clean, scalable fusion power plants a reality: An interview with Proxima co-founder and CEO Francesco Sciortino
27 Feb 2024
The Innovator
Jennifer Schenker
Next-Gen Computing
Renewable Energies
Digital Security & Trust
Batteries & Energy Storage
Clean Fuels & Hydrogen
Agri & Food Tech
Cardiovascular Therapies
New Biotech Platforms
New Space
Making media moves: Insights from The Innovator founder (and EIC Scaling Club Council Member) Jennifer Schenker
26 Feb 2024
The key to Europe levelling up its game, and insights on the Swiss (deep) tech ecosystem: An interview with Jennifer Webb (Swisscom Ventures)
15 Feb 2024
Safety first: Soter Analytics helps prevent workplace injuries (interview with CEO Matthew Hart)
13 Feb 2024
smart mobility
eif
european investment fund
roger havenith
etci
european tech champions initiative
Next-Gen Computing
Renewable Energies
Digital Security & Trust
Batteries & Energy Storage
Clean Fuels & Hydrogen
Agri & Food Tech
Cardiovascular Therapies
New Biotech Platforms
New Space
Building (and funding) real European deep tech champions: An interview with EIF deputy chief Roger Havenith
6 Feb 2024
Shaping light as a service - A chat with Jean-François Morizur, CEO of French photonics scale-up Cailabs
2 Feb 2024
Warning: Joining the EIC Scaling Club may get your company acquired! (Veronika Oudova, S-Biomedic)
30 Jan 2024
EIC Scaling Club
EIC Scaling Club Council
iqm
quantum computing
jan goetz
Next-Gen Computing
Digital Security & Trust
Batteries & Energy Storage
Catching up with IQM co-founder and CEO (and EIC Scaling Club Council member) Jan Goetz
24 Jan 2024
Deep tech
smart mobility
tech tour
tech tour growth50
growth50
Next-Gen Computing
Renewable Energies
Digital Security & Trust
Batteries & Energy Storage
Clean Fuels & Hydrogen
Agri & Food Tech
Cardiovascular Therapies
New Biotech Platforms
New Space
Spotting Europe's next unicorns: Check out the Tech Tour Growth50 list
18 Jan 2024
Shift4Good co-founder Yann Marteil backs EIC Scaling Club's mission to accelerate global impact
19 Dec 2023
Thoughts on European deep tech from Massimo Portincaso (Arsenale, Deepwave Ventures, Hello Tomorrow, ex-BCG)
15 Dec 2023
Deep tech
Next-Gen Computing
48 companies
2024 Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge
Digital Security & Trust
Spotlight on the DeepTech Alliance: Q&A with Thomas Klem Andersen
16 Nov 2023
EIC Scaling Club
smart mobility
Next-Gen Computing
Renewable Energies
Digital Security & Trust
Batteries & Energy Storage
Clean Fuels & Hydrogen
Agri & Food Tech
Cardiovascular Therapies
New Biotech Platforms
New Space
Presenting the members of the EIC Scaling Club Council
2 Nov 2023
Digital sector
Deep tech
smart mobility
Next-Gen Computing
Renewable Energies
Digital Security & Trust
Batteries & Energy Storage
Clean Fuels & Hydrogen
Agri & Food Tech
Cardiovascular Therapies
New Biotech Platforms
The Rise of Deep Tech in the Baltics
11 Oct 2023 - Location 3