About Consumer sector in Europe
The Consumer sector in Europe comprises 383K companies, including 21.3K funded companies having collectively raised $216B in venture capital money and private equity. Out of these, 10.7K are Series A+ funded, and 81 have achieved unicorn status.
Consumer sector in Europe has seen 4.91K acquisitions and 3.65K IPOs.
This sector includes companies providing products and services to consumers through technology.
Consumer sector is also known as Consumer IT or Consumer Technology.
Companies that provide ecommerce platforms to consumers to buy products and companies that provide tech based services solutions to consumers. Also includes tech based sports solutions, mobile apps, productivity tools, etc that are used directly by consumers. Companies that provide solutions to businesses i.e., both products and services are excluded.
Top Consumer Companies in Europe
There are 382,969 Consumer startups in Europe which include Deliveroo, Farfetch, Glovo, Spotify, Avito. Out of these, 21,266 startups are funded, with 10,684 having secured Series A+ funding, and 81 achieving unicorn status.
2026 has seen the creation of 2,669 Consumer startups in Europe. Over the past 10 years, an average of 7,897 new companies have been launched annually. Notably, several of these startups have been founded by alumni of University of Cambridge, University of Oxford and HEC Paris.
Here is the list of top Consumer startups in Europe
1. Deliveroo
Operator of an online marketplace connecting consumers with local merchants. This platform facilitates the delivery of prepared meals, groceries, and retail products from various vendors to residential and commercial addresses. Logistics technology coordinates the movement of goods between suppliers and recipients. The service manages the fulfillment process to ensure items are transported from the point of sale to the final destination.
Key facts about Deliveroo
- Founded Year: 2013
- Location: London (United Kingdom)
- Stage: Acquired
- Total Funding till date: $2.95B
- Investors: Fidelity Investments, Amazon and 122 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series H, Jan 16, 2021, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 86/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 659 Competitors
2. Farfetch
Online retailer offering multi-category fashion products. The product catalog includes apparel, handbags, shoes, watches, jewelry, backpacks, belts, and more for men, women, and kids. In addition, the company also offers pre-owned fashion products. Its mobile application is available for Android and iOS platforms.
Key facts about Farfetch
- Founded Year: 2007
- Location: London (United Kingdom)
- Stage: Acquired
- Total Funding till date: $709M
- Investors: Headline, Advent Life Sciences and 30 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Post IPO, Apr 27, 2020, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 86/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 86 Competitors
3. Glovo
Operator of an online platform for on-demand delivery services. The platform facilitates the ordering and delivery of various items. These items range from food and groceries to pharmaceutical products and other retail goods. The platform connects customers with local businesses and independent couriers.
Key facts about Glovo
- Founded Year: 2015
- Location: Barcelona (Spain)
- Stage: Acquired
- Total Funding till date: $1.16B
- Investors: Seaya, Antai Ventures and 61 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series F, Apr 01, 2021, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 86/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 3 of 586 Competitors
4. Spotify
Provider of a platform for streaming digital music and podcasts. The platform allows users to listen to a wide variety of audio content. It is accessible via web browsers and dedicated applications.
Key facts about Spotify
- Founded Year: 2006
- Location: Stockholm (Sweden)
- Stage: Public
- Total Funding till date: $2.06B
- Investors: TPG, The D. E. Shaw Group and 126 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Post IPO, Feb 10, 2023, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 86/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 1,531 Competitors
5. Avito
Online marketplace platform offering multi-category second-hand products. Its product catalog includes pet supplies, automobiles, fashion, stationery, property, electronics, beauty, home products, and more. Its mobile application is available on Android and iOS platforms.
Key facts about Avito
Companies founded year-on-year in the Consumer sector in Europe
2,669 new startups have been founded so far in 2026 in the Consumer sector in Europe. 14,950 Consumer startups in Europe were founded in 2020 - this is the most number of startups founded in any year in the last 10 years.
- Total Number of Companies
Year | No. of companies |
|---|---|
2026 | 2,669 |
2025 | 2,080 |
2024 | 2,890 |
2023 | 5,090 |
2022 | 7,262 |
2021 | 11,717 |
2020 | 14,950 |
2019 | 12,396 |
2018 | 10,706 |
2017 | 9,217 |
Stage-wise distribution of Consumer sector companies in Europe
Out of the total 382,969 Consumer companies in Europe, 21,266 have secured funding. Among them, 10,684 have reached Series A or higher, and 9,341 to Series B or beyond.
Founded - 382,969
Funded - 21,266
Series A+ - 10,684
Series B+ - 9,341
Series C+ - 8,951
Company Stage | No. of companies |
|---|---|
Founded | 382,969 |
Funded | 21,266 |
Series A+ | 10,684 |
Series B+ | 9,341 |
Series C+ | 8,951 |
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Funding Trends in the Consumer sector in Europe
Total funding year-on-year in the Consumer sector in Europe
The Consumer sector in Europe saw a total funding of more than $182B in the last 10 years. The most amount of funding was in 2021 at more than $41.3B. There has been a total funding of $4.39B in 2026 till date.
- Total Funding
Year | Total Funding |
|---|---|
2026 | $4.39B |
2025 | $19.8B |
2024 | $12.2B |
2023 | $14.2B |
2022 | $23.3B |
2021 | $41.3B |
2020 | $17.2B |
2019 | $18.7B |
2018 | $21.9B |
2017 | $9.27B |
Recent Funding Rounds in Consumer in Europe
In the year 2026, till September 2026, Consumer companies in Europe have raised $3.36B in equity funding across 290 rounds.
In the same period last year (i.e. till September 2025), Consumer companies in Europe had raised $4.2B across 432 rounds.
So, 2026 has seen a 19.93% drop in funding in Consumer companies in Europe as compared to 2025.
Here are some recent, important funding rounds in Consumer companies in Europe:
Company | Round Raised | Amount Raised | Funding Date | Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Series A | 2992 | Sep 30, 2026 | ||
Series A | 1211 | Sep 29, 2026 | ||
Series A | 3509 | Sep 23, 2026 | ||
Series B | 4956 | Sep 23, 2026 | ||
Series C | 7926 | Sep 23, 2026 |
Top Investors in Consumer in Europe
Europa is the top investor in Consumer companies in Europe based on number of companies invested.
Here are some top investors in Consumer companies in Europe:
Investor | Location | Top Portfolio Companies |
|---|---|---|
Palo Alto (United States) | ||
Sunnyvale (United States) | ||
Menlo Park (United States) | ||
Paris (France) |
M&A activity in Consumer sector in Europe
In the year 2026, till September 2026, 185 acquisitions happened in Consumer sector in Europe. Last year, in 2025, a total of 329 acquisitions happened in Consumer sector in Europe.
Here are some recent, important acquisitions in Consumer sector in Europe:
Company | Acquisition Type | Acquisition Date | Acquirers |
|---|---|---|---|
Business Acquisition | Sep 24, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Sep 21, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Sep 17, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Sep 17, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Sep 15, 2026 |
Acquisition trends in Consumer sector in Europe
Here are the acquisition trends in Consumer sector in Europe:
- Total Number of Acquisitions
Year | No. of companies |
|---|---|
2026 | 185 |
2025 | 329 |
2024 | 400 |
2023 | 438 |
2022 | 601 |
2021 | 470 |
2020 | 372 |
2019 | 348 |
2018 | 402 |
2017 | 332 |
IPOs in Consumer in Europe
In the year 2026, till July 2026, 3 IPOs happened in Consumer sector in Europe.
Here are some recent, important IPOs in Consumer sector in Europe:
Company | IPO Date | Exchange Symbol |
|---|---|---|
Jul 31, 2026 | Euronext Exchange (Euronext) | |
Jul 14, 2026 | Euronext Exchange (Euronext) | |
Jul 01, 2026 | National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) | |
Oct 31, 2025 | National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) | |
Sep 23, 2025 | Stockholm Stock Exchange (STO) |
Colleges which produce the most Consumer companies in Europe
Companies founded by alumni from top colleges in the Consumer in Europe
Most number of Consumer startups in Europe have been founded by alumni from University of Cambridge, University of Oxford and HEC Paris.
College | No. of companies |
|---|---|
University of Cambridge | 316 |
University of Oxford | 282 |
HEC Paris | 221 |
INSEAD | 181 |
London School of Economics and Political Science | 168 |
Imperial College London | 164 |
University College London | 144 |
Harvard University | 129 |
Stanford University | 127 |
London Business School (LBS) | 113 |
Total funding in Consumer companies founded by alumni from top colleges in Europe
In the last 10 years, University of Cambridge graduates' Consumer companies in Europe have raised the most funding among top colleges. INSEAD alumni are second, and University of Oxford alumni are third.
College | Total Funding |
|---|---|
University of Cambridge | $7.07B |
INSEAD | $6.27B |
University of Oxford | $5.96B |
Harvard University | $4.65B |
Harvard Business School | $4.64B |
London School of Economics and Political Science | $4.45B |
Stanford University | $4.13B |
University of Pennsylvania | $3.64B |
Wharton School | $3.6B |
HEC Paris | $3.2B |
Top News in Consumer in Europe
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Hush to Open Three New Stores in October to Enhance Omnichannel PresenceFashion Network•Sep 28, 2026•hush
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Aldi UK partners with Deliveroo for on-demand grocery deliveryRetail Technology Innovation Hub•Sep 25, 2026•Deliveroo, ALDI
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Mammut and Junya Watanabe launch collaborative capsule collectionFashion Network•Sep 25, 2026•Mammut
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