For many entrepreneurs, launching a new business venture represents an opportunity to wipe the slate clean and make a new start - potentially even in a brand new city or country. Deciding on the location of your base of operations can be one of the most important decisions you make, and many of Europe's major cities have invested heavily in attracting startup capital in recent years.
Here are five of the best European cities for starting a business in 2017.
Amsterdam
When Amsterdam bills itself as 'Europe's most connected tech city', it isn't just employing spin. From the ease of navigation along the small Dutch capital's attractive cobbled streets and canals to its excellent air and rail connections across the continent, Amsterdam has proven to itself to be a vibrant and highly modern cornerstone of European business and innovation. English is also widely spoken throughout the city. Globally recognised businesses including Netflix, Tesla and Uber have Amsterdam offices, while homegrown startups such as The Things Network are making major waves all over the world.
Berlin
Germany's cosmopolitan capital consistently ranks among the world's top startup cities, and some pundits have speculated that continued growth coupled with uncertainty over 'Brexit' could push it ahead of London in the next few years. Over 50% of startup employees currently working in Berlin hail from other countries, attracted by the city's excellent entrepreneurial eco-system and diverse, supportive community. Living costs in Berlin are surprisingly affordable, and with many top businesses and educational institutes making the city their home, the talent pool is exceedingly rich across a wide variety of sectors.
Dublin
Another city that hopes to benefit from the UK's forthcoming exit from the European Union, Dublin could well open its doors to global entrepreneurs who wish to keep their headquarters in an EU capital. Industry giants such as Google, Twitter and Facebook already have offices in the city, as do numerous well-funded research centres. This international flavour is matched by a strong sense of community - Dublin is a small, friendly city where many business leaders and entrepreneurs find it easy to connect and collaborate. As of May 2016, around 2,250 startups called Dublin their home.
Lisbon
Portugal may be better known as a holiday destination than a global tech hub, but in recent years their capital has emerged as a major player on the global scene. Cost of living is low, the climate is attractive, and heavy investment in infrastructure and attracting foreign companies has been a core part of Portugal's recovery strategy after years of recession. In November 2016, the global tech conference Web Summit took place in Lisbon, solidifying a three-year partnership and shining a light on this underrated corner of Europe's business scene.
Stockholm
Unlike Lisbon, Stockholm could neither be described as a sunny or a cheap place to make your home. Despite this, the Swedish capital has produced more billion dollar "unicorn startups" per capita than any other city in Europe - including Spotify, Skype and Mojang. One of the most English-fluent countries in the world, Stockholm offers an excellent standard of living and one of the best business ecosystems in Europe. With a high focus on global exports and heavy government investment in research and development, Stockholm is also one of the most outward-looking business hubs around. If your business thrives in Sweden, international success is likely to follow.
Which European entrepreneurial hot spots would you recommend to a new startup? Have you ever relocated yourself to start a new business venture? Let us know in the comments section below...
