Revolut and Peers Back ‘Built in Europe’ VC Talent Push

Europe’s startups are showing that a Silicon Valley ZIP code is not required to build a world-class business. 

Revolut  Mistral, Wayve and ElevenLabs are among the backers of the six-figure 'Built in Europe' campaign, which seeks to overturn the idea that the continent struggles to produce globally significant tech companies.

The initiative is the brainchild of Balderton Capital, one of Europe's longest-standing venture firms, which has recruited leaders from many of the region's largest technology companies to front the movement.

Unveiled on 1 July 2026 across London, Paris, Berlin, Munich and Stockholm, the campaign spans billboards, digital advertising and a specialised jobs platform that aggregates open roles from 1,000 startups.

The push aligns with major technology events in June 2026, including London Tech Week and VivaTech in Paris, France, underscoring Europe's momentum in fintech and Gen AI.

Hiring engine for startups

At the centre of the initiative is BuiltInEurope.com, a jobs platform developed in-house by Balderton Capital to connect talent with high-growth companies.

The firm uses API integrations and direct data feeds from startups to keep listings current, aiming to reduce friction for both candidates and hiring teams.

Balderton says the site is designed to become the largest startup talent hub in Europe, reflecting a maturing ecosystem with depth across functions and stages.

Roles span critical sectors including deeptech, fintech, climate and healthtech , signalling breadth beyond consumer software into regulated and science-led markets.

From potential to proof

Suranga Chandratillake, General Partner at Balderton Capital, tells Sifted: “For too long, the narrative around European tech has been stuck on all the things that need to change. Built in Europe aims to shift the conversation from potential to proof.”

The campaign features founders from AI startups including ElevenLabs, Lovable and Synthesia, highlighting Europe’s growing leadership in foundation models and applied gen AI.

Deeptech companies such as Quantum Systems, The Exploration Company and Proxima Fusion also back the project, pointing to advances in robotics, space and fusion.

Alex Kendall, Co-Founder and CEO at Wayve, tells Sifted: “If you think about what’s going to matter in the next 100 years, it’s the really hard, deep technology, and startups are where that’s built. It’s the most adventurous, exciting thing you could do – build or join a startup in Europe.”

Keeping talent in Europe

A core aim is to retain top-tier engineering talent in Europe, rather than see it drawn to the US, by showcasing the scale and impact available on the continent.

Similar efforts, such as Project Europe, have pooled support from founders to fund entrepreneurs under 25 years old, strengthening early-stage pipelines.

Balderton Capital, which has previously backed Depop and Darktrace, believes the conditions for European builders are stronger than ever and that the narrative should reflect that progress.

Anton Osika, Co-Founder of Lovable, tells Sifted: “There has never been a better time to build from Europe than now. The talent is here, the capital is here, the ecosystem is here. And we have the ambition to match.”

What it means for fintech

For fintech leaders, the campaign signals a widening, cross-border pool of product, engineering, data and compliance talent, which is critical for scaling regulated financial services.

Revolut’s involvement reflects the sector’s maturity and global outlook, as European companies expand into payments, banking as a service and embedded finance.

BuiltInEurope.com adds a continent-wide channel for sourcing specialists in risk, fraud, data science and Gen AI, supporting faster hiring across multiple jurisdictions.

With US$1.3bn fundraised, Balderton expects the platform to anchor the next generation of European builders. 

The initiative, with major unicorns on board, marks a step change in how European tech asserts its global position.