European Investment Fund (EIF)

At the Ugly Duck 2025, one message stood out: it’s time to tell a different story about European risk capital. Not just about returns, but about outcomes. About the resilience we build and the impact we create together. Thank you to everyone who joined, shared insights, and challenged ideas. See you next year! #UglyDuck2025

Strengthening Europe’s venture and growth capital ecosystem is essential for scaling innovative companies.💫 We welcome the EU Economy and Finance new study identifying barriers and opportunities to improve access to finance across the 🇪🇺.

Did you know that women hold only 14% of top positions in venture capital firms across Europe? What do you think are the barriers holding back gender balance? #EmpoweringEquity

What a powerful day at Empowering Equity 2025! Together, we shared ideas, stories, and strategies — all driven by one common goal: advancing gender equality in European finance. Thank you to everyone who made today a day of progress, purpose, and possibility. #EmpoweringEquity #EIF

This week, two key events will highlight our ongoing commitment to both innovation and inclusion:   Ugly Duck 2025 Our annual venture capital gathering brings together 550+ emerging and established fund managers from across Europe – from cleantech to deeptech, life sciences and beyond. Together, we’ll exchange insights, discuss market trends, and identify the levers needed to drive the ecosystem forward.   Empowering Equity Women remain underrepresented in European private equity and venture capital. Through Empowering Equity, the EIF champions a more inclusive ecosystem creating pathways for diverse founders and fund managers to thrive.   Tune in as we continue to shape a more innovative, equitable, and resilient European investment landscape. #EIF #VentureCapital #EmpoweringEquity #PrivateEquity #UglyDuck25

When diversity becomes part of the structure, not just the slogan, the whole financial ecosystem benefits.   The EIB Group has just released its new ‘Debt Financing for Gender Equality in the EU’ report. This 2025 mapping study offers a deep dive into how financial institutions across Europe are backing women-owned businesses.   The findings? There’s clear progress, with 𝟵𝟱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘀 already on the market — some designed specifically for women-led companies, others making female entrepreneurship a key target group. But there’s still huge untapped potential to go further.   And the study sets out some clear steps to make that happen: 🔹 Collect and use sex-disaggregated data 🔹 Apply common, internationally recognised definitions for women-owned and women-led businesses 🔹 Tailor financial products to local markets and real needs 🔹 Pair finance with mentoring, training, and networks 🔹 Build partnerships that extend reach and impact 🔹 Communicate in ways that connect   Read the full study, here: https://lnkd.in/e6WrCr2C #InvestEU #EIBAdvisory European Investment Bank (EIB); European Microfinance Network; FEBEA - European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks and Financiers Rafael de Castro Alves; Georgiana Buturoiu; Andrea Bratu; Simone Petrillo; Juana Medus Cristina Dumitrescu; Silvia Manca; Carmen Vera García; Minerva Elias Franquesa

With microlux, we’ve been helping entrepreneurs access microfinance and grow their businesses in Luxembourg since 2016! 🇪🇺🇱🇺

Are we finally turning the page on uncertainty? 🤔 Optimism often mirrors how the economy is doing. And today, it’s easy to see the glass half empty: war in Europe, global uncertainties, and shifting policies from our closest allies all weigh on prosperity. But does this reality really capture the opportunities that venture capital and private equity can offer? For the first time, the EIF Equity Survey compares Europe with the US and other regions, drawing on insights from over 1,200 VC and PE managers (a record high!). And the outlook is improving. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝘂𝘀: ✅ Expectations for the near future are improving, even if current sentiment remains below pre Ukraine war levels. ✅ Managers’ expectations on fundraising and the exit environment have significantly improved. ✅ Europe scores strongly on innovation, talent, investment opportunities, and ambitious founders. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻: 🔴 Scale-up capital and exits are still hard to access, putting the ecosystem under strain. 🔴 Tax regimes, weak exits, and regulatory fragmentation weigh on Europe’s competitiveness. 🔴 More European companies are looking to the US, drawn by more attractive market and IPO opportunities. Europe still has hurdles to clear. But as the macroeconomic picture brightens, so does sentiment – especially near-term expectations. So, let’s build on this optimism. This survey was made with the support of Invest Europe.

The EIB Group is doubling down on the green transition.   Phase two of the Climate Bank Roadmap is now approved — and it sends a clear message: saving the planet is smart business. And frankly, we can’t afford to wait.   Encouragingly, European SMEs are adapting, growing, and preparing to future-proof the green economy. And we’re ready to support them every step of the way.   Whether its backing breakthrough innovators, helping businesses grow, or unlocking finance for green sectors – we want to drive change where it matters most.   Because there’s no other choice. 💚