More than 130 companies from nine European countries to attend Euronext’s academic campus at the Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship in the Netherlands
Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Lisbon, London, Oslo and Paris – 10 September 2019 – The fifth edition of TechShare, Euronext’s dedicated programme for European tech companies focused on the IPO, brings together a record number of companies, including, for the first time, six companies from Ireland.
This year’s edition will include 132 tech companies, four times more than at the time of the programme’s launch in 2015, with participants representing a more mature corporate profile overall than in previous years.
- On average, the participating companies each generate annual revenues of about €11 million and employ 80 people, versus 54 employees in the first edition.
- Two-thirds of the companies are backed by private equity investors and have raised an average €18 million in capital before joining the programme. This compares to an average €6 million raised by participants in 2015.
Since its inception in 2015, TechShare has steadily extended its reach across Europe. Last year, the programme welcomed companies from Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland. Participants from these countries will this year comprise 40% of the group, confirming the interest in TechShare among European tech companies across the region. This is further demonstrated by the inclusion of six companies from Ireland, who will be building on their participation in the IPOready programme run by Euronext Dublin.
5th Edition of TechShare
The TechShare programme was launched in 2015 with 30 companies from France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Portugal participating in the first truly pre-IPO oriented programme in the capital markets sphere.
Since 2015, a total of 275 companies have participated in the previous four editions, four of which have listed on Euronext and several others preparing for a listing.
Over four years, a total 45 VC funding deals have occurred following the companies’ participation in TechShare. About 70% of those deals involved late-stage VC and PE growth deals from private equity investors, showing the pre-IPO funding dynamism for some companies before potentially going to the market.
Stéphane Boujnah, CEO and Chairman of the Managing Board, said:
“As the largest listing venue for tech companies in Europe, Euronext is the go-to market for tech companies considering a listing. Over the next months, academics, banking and law specialists as well as Euronext experts will help prepare these companies for the next step in their growth strategy. They will also benefit from access to the TechShare network, which is fast becoming one of the largest tech financing communities across Europe.”
Kickoff at Rotterdam’s Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship
The 132 tech companies participating will convene at Rotterdam’s Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship on 20 and 21 September for an academic campus on capital markets.
Over the course of two days, top executives from companies in the life sciences, cleantech and TMT industries across Europe will work with professors from the Rotterdam School of Management under the form of expert sessions and group workshops. topics covered include the entrepreneurial mindset, leading growth, scaling beyong borders, attracting talents and managing ownership.
In addition, founder stories from Onno van de Stolpe, CEO of Galapagos and Brent Wissink, CFO of Takeaway.com will relate their experience of the IPO process and how they used capital markets to grow their business internationally.
The eight-month training, from September 2019 to April 2020, is structured around three main complementary modules, before graduating from the programme in May 2020:
- Two academic campuses with leading business schools, Rotterdam School of Management and Nova School of Business and Economics in Lisbon next March 2020;
- Four workshop sessions in each country with expert partners about the IPO process, the legal perspective, IPO valuation, equity story, financial communication, corporate governance and post-listing life;
- Individual coaching with audit firms, lawyers and communications/investor relations specialists providing customised advice on a more bilateral basis.
Martin Luxemburg, Director of the Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship, adds:
“TechShare represents a clear example of how sharing knowledge and experience can help grow a company. Fueled by our own belief that entrepreneurship is the primary driver for innovation, we develop people and teams to master innovation within their organisation. In our quest to encourage entrepreneurship not only at home but across the globe, we look forward to welcoming 132 international tech companies to Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship and supporting them in developing their entrepreneurial competences with the academic knowledge and network of Erasmus University Rotterdam.”
Notes to Editors
Profile of participants and key facts & figures are available below.
CONTACTS -
Pauline Bucaille (Europe/Paris) : +33 1 70 48 24 41; pbucaille@euronext.com
Robbert ter Hart (Amsterdam): +31 20 721 41 33; rhart@euronext.com
Pascal Brabant (Brussels): +32 2 620 15 50; pbrabant@euronext.com
Michael Russell (Dublin): +353 1 617 4221; mrussell@euronext.com
Sandra Machado (Lisbon): +351 210 600 614; smachado@euronext.com
Per Eikrem (Oslo): +47 22.34.17.40; per.eikrem@oslobors.no
About TechShare
Launched in September 2015, TechShare is the only European programme dedicated to non-listed tech companies. With annual cohorts of fast‐growing European tech companies, the programme is an educational network designed to help these high‐potential businesses understand the role of capital markets and how they can help them reach the next stage of their growth. Last year, for the first time Euronext welcomed companies from outside its domestic markets, with participants from Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland. This decision follows the opening of new representative offices in these countries and demonstrates the potential and dynamism of European companies in the tech sector. The number of companies participating has also increased significantly with 132 companies this year compared with 30 companies in 2015, representing a four‐fold increase in only four years. The 2019-2020 class has a broad diversity with participants from across Europe: 13 from Belgium, 35 from France, 23 from Germany, 6 from Ireland, 12 from Italy, 12 from the Netherlands, 7 from Portugal, 12 from Spain, and 12 from Switzerland.
About Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship
The Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship is the leading centre for entrepreneurship in Europe. Fuelled by our belief that entrepreneurship is the primary driver for innovation, we strive to embed entrepreneurship in the DNA of people by applying the knowledge and network of Erasmus University Rotterdam, a university founded by entrepreneurs more than 100 years ago. With 35+ academic trainers and researchers in the field of entrepreneurship, we offer action oriented executive entrepreneurial training and development courses to corporate teams and novice entrepreneurs, adding up to around 3.000 students annually. These training- and development programmes often take place at our learning environment, situated in the Rotterdam Science Tower at the heart of the Rotterdam Makers District. Our own entrepreneurship campus consists of more than 10,000 m2 is the home base for our community consisting of 100+ innovative companies.