A recent report by venture capital firm Accel, titled the “2023 Euroscape Report,” reveals that European software-as-a-service (SaaS) and cloud services startups are experiencing a resurgence, propelled by the transformative power of Generative AI (GenAI). The report highlights that while investment in these sectors had dipped due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has now returned to levels reminiscent of 2019. Accel Partner Philippe Botteri expressed optimism about the industry’s resilience, noting that “valuations, investment levels, and unicorn creation are now back in line with 2019 levels.”
The new normal in European tech
Recovery and resilience: The Euroscape report indicates that funding in cloud services across Europe and Israel reached $11 billion in 2023, which was a significant drop from the $31 billion seen in 2021. However, Botteri attributes the 2021 figure to “inflated valuations and the COVID tech boom,” describing it as a distortion. Despite this dip, there are promising signs of recovery, including the strengthening Nasdaq, which has returned to 80% of its all-time high in 2023, a contrast to the 14-year recovery period seen after the 2000 financial crisis.
The GenAI effect
A transformative trend: The standout trend in 2023 is the rise of Generative AI (GenAI), which is reshaping the software landscape and opening new avenues for innovation and funding. GenAI has played a pivotal role in driving innovation, securing funding, and creating unicorn startups across Europe. Among the SaaS and cloud unicorns created in 2023, an impressive 45% are native to GenAI, including notable companies like AI21 Labs, Stability, and Synthesia.
Investment disparities: While Europe is competitive with the United States in terms of large funding rounds for non-GenAI SaaS and Cloud companies, it lags behind significantly in GenAI investments. The report highlights that the seven largest AI investments in the US amounted to $14.1 billion, whereas the equivalent figure for Europe and Israel was a mere $900 million. Nevertheless, the report remains optimistic about European GenAI, citing the region’s substantial talent pool and 50% more AI journal publications compared to the US.
GenAI’s impact: Botteri underscores the transformative potential of GenAI, stating, “GenAI is redefining the potential of software, bringing the opportunities for enterprise automation and productivity improvement to a new level.” Europe and Israel’s strong position in this field is attributed to the presence of numerous research and talent hubs and the emergence of exciting AI startups across various sectors.
Funding trends
Rising categories: The report identifies three categories that have seen an increase in funding compared to the previous year: GenAI, Security, and SaaS companies specializing in specific industries (vertical SaaS). These categories have stood out amid macroeconomic challenges, emphasizing profitability over growth.
Profitability focus: Despite the overall recovery, the report highlights a shift in companies’ priorities toward profitability. The fastest-growing quartile of Euroscape-listed companies saw their growth decline from 68% in Q1 2021 to 23% in Q2 2023, while free cash flow increased from -9% in Q1 2021 to +5% in Q2 2023. However, the report notes that this shift has not been as rapid as expected.
Downrounds: In response to macroeconomic headwinds, many companies are opting for profitability over rapid growth. The report reveals that a significant majority of SaaS unicorns in Europe and Israel, specifically 102 out of 122, have not raised funding in the last year. Among the 20 that did secure equity funding, only six did so at a lower valuation.
The Euroscape report paints a promising picture of the European SaaS and cloud services landscape in 2023. While there were challenges due to the pandemic and changing investment priorities, the resurgence of funding levels and the rise of GenAI have revitalized the industry. Europe and Israel’s potential in the GenAI sector, coupled with a focus on profitability, bode well for the region’s tech ecosystem. As the world moves towards a new normal, European startups are poised to leverage the power of GenAI to drive innovation and growth in the software-as-a-service and cloud services sectors.
