European Commission

We started Superplus (with the help of the government start up fund “Innovation Norway”) because we wanted to use our experience from gaming, teaching and research to improve the lives of children with special needs. Our products were designed using the “child first” principle; focusing on creating engaging, motivating and playful experiences that can be customised to the child’s needs. Superplus enables children with special needs to communicate and interact with the world around them; to express themselves and share their emotions; build relationships and get a sense of mastery over their lives.

It would help entrepreneurs if funding programmes were easier to understand and to apply for; and were more readily available. Keep removing those barriers!

“Entrepreneurs are important because we can go and challenge the status quo, we can truly make the world a better place; more open, more tolerant and more connected.”

Hero(es): Kristian Segerståle

Start up capital: Own and Investment from Innovation Norway

Mentor(s): Yes

Can you code?: Yes

Employees: 3

Education/ Training: Gaming Industry

Product/ Service: E- learning

We started Montepass because we are passionate about digital innovation and what it can offer businesses and consumers alike. Our flagship platform, Zaposli, is a job seeking website that brings employers and jobseekers in Montenegro together in one convenient place. Our vision is that Zaposli becomes an employment hub for the whole region.

If I were in charge of enterprise policy, I would sponsor business incubators; organise competitions to encourage digital innovation; and make sure entrepreneurship is taught in all schools at the earliest opportunity.

“Entrepreneurs are important to society because we bring positive change and help people become more independent and free in their thinking.”

Hero(es): Steve Jobs

Start up capital: Own

Mentor(s): Yes

Can you code? Yes

Employees: 7

Education / Training: IT

Product / Service: Online jobs marketplace

I started Officine because I saw an overlooked market opportunity, the lack of specialised IT platforms and skills to manage credit. Today, the company is a one-stop credit management solution that increases our clients’ liquidity by simplifying the reconciliation and recovery process. We then identify investors interested in buying the credit.

As for policies that would increase European enterprise: the keys are simplification and reduction of red tape; lower corporate tax rates and employee contributions for the first 3 to 5 years of a start up’s life; and better value borrowing through government guarantees.

“Entrepreneurs are important to society because they introduce innovation in products and processes, create wealth and employment and improve the balance of trade.”

Hero(es): Larry Page and Sergey Brin

Start up capital: Family and associates

Growth rate p.a: 68%

Mentor(s): No

Can you code? No

Employees: 60

Education / Training: Legal and banking

Product / Service: Financial services software

I started Trendiction because I am passionate about social media and I love building things. My co-founder and I have developed a series of powerful and user-friendly tools (with some help from business angels, private equity and Luxinnovation, a local government programme), that give our customers unique insight into their internet presence; which in turn allows them to react faster, better and more accurately to consumer feedback, resulting in better products. Our most popular product, Talkwalker, was rated one of the top five best social media monitoring tools and online reputation management tools globally in 2013.

If I were in charge of enterprise policy, I would select a handful of entrepreneurs and support them for a year while they develop their ideas.

“Entrepreneurs are important to society because we bring new ideas, hope, vision and change.”

Hero(es): Mark Zuckerberg

Start up capital: Own

Mentor(s): Yes

Can you code? Yes

Employees: 42

Education / Training: Computing

Product / Service: Social media analytics

Vinted was born when I tried to solve my own wardrobe problem: a closet full of clothes, but still nothing to wear. My vision was to bring everyone together so we could share our treasures with each other. We aimed to bring technology to the pre-loved fashion industry and solve the customer’s problems of discovery and transaction. Using Vinted, women can buy and sell their pre-loved clothing and find great clothes that others have for sale. By integrating shipping, payments and instant messaging services, we connect sellers and buyers, offering them a very smooth and friendly trading experience.

The best way to grow more entrepreneurs like me would be to create a network of successful entrepreneurs to share their knowledge.

“Entrepreneurs are important to society because our “out of the box” thinking changes the world.”

Hero(es): My team and my friends

Start up capital: Own

Growth rate p.a.: 117%

Mentor(s): No

Can you code? No

Employees: 117

Education / Training: PR

Product / Service: Online fashion marketplace

Meniga was started to help people manage their personal finances better so that they could make the most of their money. I also hope it inspires them to think about their finances and improve their financial literacy. Digital technology (plus a local R&D grant and R&D tax credits) made it easier for us to expand onto a global stage.

As for helping other entrepreneurs like me, I would recommend tax incentives for early stage start ups; fast track immigration permits so that start ups can compete for global talent; and the creation of a really ‘great’ business environment through flexible labour markets and light touch regulation.

“Entrepreneurs are great role models because we work hard to improve the world though innovation; taking risks to have a positive impact on society.”

Hero(es): Humble and generous people

Start up capital: Savings

Growth rate p.a: 266%

Mentor(s): Advisers rather than mentors

Can you code?: Yes

Employees: 80

Product/ Service: Online financial services

At first I was simply curious whether my idea of selling last minute affordable tickets for theatre performances would really make hundreds of thousands of people happier. It turned out that the answer was yes! Nowadays (and with the support of the European Entrepreneurship Foundation) Ma este Színház! operates in eight different Hungarian cities and we sell more than 150,000 tickets annually. Also, we recently expanded to last minute concert tickets with the launch of Ma este Koncert! For me, the key benefit of digital technology is that it allows you to start up with limited funds.

European governments, please make it easier to set up and run a company; create a one-stop-shop for aspiring entrepreneurs; and give tax breaks for entrepreneurs rather than complex government funding arrangements! This will help Europe in reaching its 2020 targets.

“Entrepreneurs are important to society because we dare to innovate, drive change, create employment and generally create new wealth.”

Hero(es): My grandmother
Start up capital: Own
Growth rate p.a: 327%
Mentor(s): Zsolt Kalocsai and Peter B. Zaboji
Can you code? No
Employees: 4
Education / Training: Sociology
Product / Service: Entertainment applications

Digital technology (and a grant from the Croatian Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Crafts) has enabled us to express ourselves in a very creative and meaningful way. Our most popular product is ‘Wall of Tweets’, a simple and engaging Twitter wall solution that enables people attending events to share their tweets in real time on a big wall. We have also developed a number of smaller helper apps for Twitter list management, search engine optimisation and data analytics, as well as a framework for dashboard-like data representation. We enable people to interact with each other, to share, to enjoy, to express themselves and realise their potential. For us, it’s all about the people.

For entrepreneurs to succeed we need to lower taxes and social security contributions; reduce bureaucracy; and listen to entrepreneurs.

“Entrepreneurs have a positive impact on everyone’s life: we have the potential to contribute, grow, develop and inspire people.”

Hero(es): My team and best friend
Start up capital: Own
Growth rate p.a: 65%
Mentor(s): No
Can you code? Yes
Employees: 12
Education / Training: Astrophysics
Product / Service:  Social media analytics

Read more about UX Passion here. 

My partner Alex Vraskides and I had the vision to make mobile a mainstream marketing medium 12 years ago. MINT, our marketing technology platform delivers the highest conversion rates in the industry. We have advertised goods to over 700 million consumers with close to 100 million making a purchase. We are connected in 40 countries and 23 languages and we are increasingly focused on the emerging markets where we can offer services that have a huge impact on local communities such as English lessons or health alerts.

I would lower tax rates for start ups; modernise intellectual property rules; and develop partnerships between leading universities and start up communities across Europe.

“Entrepreneurs are important to society because we create jobs. The best of us fuel progress in people’s everyday lives through truly innovative products and services.”

Hero(es): My father

Start up capital: Business angels

Growth rate p.a.: 28.4%

Mentor(s): No

Can you code? Yes

Employees: 157

Education / Training: International and EU politics

Product / Service: Online marketing services

Learn more about Upstream here.

Yoopies started because I have 3 sisters, 2 of whom are mothers. When I realised that their only choice to find a babysitter was either to rely on poorly written classified ads in supermarkets or third party agencies that requested high fees, I saw a great opportunity to create an online childcare platform that parents could trust. So Yoopies is building a future for itself (helped by the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme) by providing that trust to its customers by leveraging the power of online social media
recommendations.

Personally, I’d like to see a European Visa for Entrepreneurship to allow anyone to create a company in the EU; a single legal form for European companies; and a European incubator programme.

“Entrepreneurs are useful to society because we change the world! We improve the everyday life of millions of people.”

Hero(es): My sisters

Start up capital: Venture capital

Growth rate p.a.: 300%

Mentor(s): My investors

Can you code? No

Employees: 9

Education / Training: Business

Product / Service: Childcare website