For decades, European Tech insiders have looked over the Atlantic with a mixture of admiration and frustration. They throw jealous eyes on the deep into the VCS, an enormous consumer market and a pipeline of elite talents and viewed pipeline of elite talents.
The sentiment drives Europe to replicate the Silicon Valley model. But Vidya Peters, CEO of Dutch Unicorn Datasnipper, argues that this approach is incorrect.
Instead of only imitating the US technology, she asks startups and scale -ups to use the strengths of Europe. An essential part is sustainable, long -term growth.
“Five years ago, it was not very fashionable to be profitable,” Peters told TNW. “But I think European sensitivity is a strength here, because European companies have always followed this approach and now it is highly valued in the current economic climate.”
This is strong with the growth of Silicon Valley in contrast to all mentality. European companies already benefit from this own approach. “W.When you come out some of these companies, you are much more durable in your growth and competitive advantage, ”says Peters.
Datasnipper is a prime example. The company was profitable early, scaled quickly and recently met an evaluation of USD 1 billion. Before your headliner discussion TNW conference In June Peters shared a few secrets behind the success of the company.
One is based on another European brand: Data protection. Data protection and security are integral functions of the core product of Datanipper, a AI-powered platform, which automates repeating financial and examination procedures.
“It was very important for our customers that we do not train in their documents and data – and so a central piece of how we built our AI products,” says Peters. “We check and check your data to provide knowledge, but this data is you.”
The company must also adhere to the EU's strict data laws. Critics argue that these rules suppress innovation, but Peters indicate the advantages.
“Europe really has the opportunity to lead in this room by compensating for innovations with customer data protection,” she says.
By embedding security and transparency in AI, startups and scale -ups can achieve a competitive advantage over the US rivals.
“It can help European companies win customers in any other way than their American colleagues.”
Datasnipper also has roots in another European trademark: A bar in Amsterdam.
From Amsterdam to the world
In 2017, Maarten Alblas and Jonas Ruyter had a beer. A friend who worked for KPMG was to them. In his job, he looked at a joint distress: an enormous table that required a careful exam. He had to check the document after invoices, bank statements and receipts to check the data.
Alblas and Ruyter believed that software could alleviate its suffering. They opted for a solution: an intelligent automation platform that would dramatically increase the quality and efficiency of common examination procedures. The idea led to the foundation of Datasnipper.
Your software proved to be a hit for auditors. Her user base had soon spread from the Netherlands to Great Britain and Germany. After they had achieved success in Europe, they aimed at new markets beyond the continent.
In order to further promote growth, the Vidya Peters company appointed CEO in 2023. During her time in the software giant, the company went to the stock exchange in the NYSE before it was taken over by Salesforce for USD 6.5 billion.
Later she gained extensive experience in the technical landscape of Europe. In 2019 she was Chief Operating Officer from Marqeta, a payment processing company. Again she helped her society to go public. In 2022 Marqeta gave its market debut on Nasdaq. The company ended the day with a market capitalization of over $ 16 billion.
At Datasnipper, she focused on accelerating growth and global expansion.
The strategy has harvested rewards. In 2024, Deloitte called the The fastest growing technology company In the Netherlands for the second time in a row. Last month, the business reached the coveted Unicorn status after collecting $ $ 100 million in an evaluation of USD 1 billion. Over 500,000 audit and finance experts in more than 125 countries are now using the software.
As a datasas nipper, the company scaled from another European advantage: access to international talent.
The talent pipeline from Datasnipper
“People underestimate the ability to stop here from all over the world,” says Peters.
Datasnipper benefited directly from this access. From the Netherlands, the company can set global talents more easily in a visa than in the USA. Peters describes this as a “secret weapon” for European startups and scale -ups.
“With the vision options you have in Europe, it is much easier to make the ability to spend work visa much easier in Europe than in the USA.”
A large number of people are now working for datasnipper. In The company's Amsterdam headquarters, 70% of the employees, come from the Netherlands.
“This is incredibly valuable because we have every language you may want to sell in Europe and you can attract them to Amsterdam here,” says Peters.
The global view from Datasnipper was significantly involved in the expansion. After Datasnipper had set up in Europe, she opened offices in New York, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur and Mexico City.
Despite its global expansion, Datasnipper remains firmly rooted in the Netherlands. One of the country's many attractions is a simple question of time.
“People forget that America is not the heart of the world,” says Peters. “You can wake up in Europe and sell to the Asian -Pacific area. And after lunch you can sell to the USA. “
Europe's advantages and disadvantages
Despite the advantages of life in Europe, startups are still considerable challenges here. One of them is the different regulations, tax laws and banking systems that present roadblocks for growth on the entire continent.
“We are not fully using to be part of a European Union and enable companies to expand on the continent,” says Peters. “It would be extremely advantageous if we could open places in Europe, just like you in the USA, in a different state.”
Financing is another hurdle. European VCS tend to be risk avers and make capital more difficult. “We had conversations with probably every major risk capital company in the USA – they knocked on our door,” says Peters. “But the European VCs have not inspired themselves.”
It wasn't a big problem for Datasnipper. The US companies alone had produced an oversubscribed round. However, Peters was surprised: Where were the European investors? With strange timing, she grabbed the financing.
“Was it the risk appetite?” Peters is surprised. “What made her a little more careful?”
These are frequent questions in European technology. However, startups and scale -ups do not have to wait for the answers.
Peters advises them to think beyond limits. “Don't be limited to the country in which you are in or in Europe,” she says. “Contact VCS all over the world.”
In this case, Peters hopes that the investment landscape of Europe will switch to a braver financing model. But even if this is not the case, companies can carry out their own success on the entire continent.
Vidya Peters becomes further insight into TNW conferencewhich takes place on June 19 to 20 in Amsterdam. Tickets for the event are now for sale. To get a 30% discount, use the Code TNWXMedia2025 on the check-out.
