The Next Web Original and proudly opinionated perspectives for Generation T
- Ending graciouslyby Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten on 29 September 2025 at 12:00
A few decades ago, when I was raising funding for a startup, I made a lasting impression on an investor by not only talking about how successful we would be, but also highlighting what would happen if we weren’t. Later, in an informal setting, I asked him what had persuaded him to invest in us. […]
- How robotics could turn e-waste into a tech goldmineby Ray Fernandez on 24 September 2025 at 09:00
E-waste has become a global problem. Unfortunately, the majority of discarded used technology, known as e-waste, is dumped or processed in unsafe conditions. Around 78% of electronic products aren’t properly recycled — and the garbage pile keeps growing. In 2024, the world churned out 1.22 […]
- Startup wisdom: 5 prompt engineering tips for vibe coding successby Dainius Kavoliūnas on 24 September 2025 at 06:03
Startup wisdom is a new TNW series offering practical lessons from experts who’ve helped build great companies. This week, Dainius Kavoliūnas, head of no-code platform Hostinger Horizons, shares his tips on vibe coding. Vibe coding has become an indispensable tool, especially for […]
- How European battery startups can thrive alongside Asian giantsby Joseba Villate on 23 September 2025 at 09:00
The global battery market is experiencing unprecedented growth, with projections showing the sector will reach $400bn by 2030. Yet European entrepreneurs often feel locked out, watching Chinese giants like CATL dominate headlines with record-breaking IPOs while homegrown champions like Northvolt […]
- The EU’s €2T budget overlooks a key tech pillar: Open sourceby Daniel Stenberg on 23 September 2025 at 08:30
On July 16, the European Commission proposed a €2tn seven-year budget – the largest in the EU’s history – to boost autonomy, competitiveness, and resilience. The spending plan addresses cybersecurity, innovation, and other key digital pillars, but omits a crucial component: open source. […]
- Opinion: Europe’s VCs must embrace risk — or resign the AI era to US controlby Alex Menn on 22 September 2025 at 08:00
Europe’s AI startups are losing ground to the US — and their own investors are to blame. Only 5% of global venture capital is raised in the EU, according to the European Commission. The US, by contrast, attracts more than half, while China takes 40%. Yet Europe isn’t capital-poor: households […]
- VCs are growing wary of ‘AI-washing’ – but real innovation is still winning investorsby Dimitri Masin on 18 September 2025 at 10:00
Venture capital investment surged to a 10-quarter high of €108.3bn in Q1 2025, fuelled by artificial intelligence, which accounted for over €44.6bn raised. In recent years, AI has felt like a money-printing machine. Investors, eager to avoid missing out on the next big thing, were quick to […]
- Opinion: Ukraine is becoming a global defence tech powerhouseby Stepan Veselovskyi on 17 September 2025 at 14:00
The full-scale war has reshaped priorities for Ukraine’s tech sector. Innovative military technologies and advanced defence solutions are not only essential for the country’s security — they’re also among the most promising vectors for business growth. Ukrainian defence tech is tested […]
- Startup wisdom: Why resilience is the most underrated metric in startup successby Nina Aziz Justin on 17 September 2025 at 07:00
Startup wisdom is a new TNW series offering practical lessons from experts who’ve helped build great companies. This week, global traction strategist Nina Aziz Justin — founder of The Resilience Mentor — shares her approach to building resilience. In the startup world, we’re taught to […]
- Europe’s AI boom is leaving femtech behindby Karolina Löfqvist on 16 September 2025 at 08:00
Left unchecked, Europe’s narrow focus on AI investment will come at the health of half its population. As venture capital floods disproportionately into the AI sector, women’s health innovation — the definition of essential infrastructure — is once again left fighting for scraps. In 2021, […]
