About SaaS sector in Europe
The SaaS sector in Europe comprises 103K companies, including 17.2K funded companies having collectively raised $199B in venture capital money and private equity. Out of these, 9.28K are Series A+ funded, and 92 have achieved unicorn status.
SaaS sector in Europe has seen 4.76K acquisitions and 1.91K IPOs. This represents almost 6.5% of all such companies - which is higher than the 4.5% exit rate of tech companies in general.
This sector includes companies providing cloud-based, multi-tenant and subscription or on-demand B2B software applications.
SaaS sector is also known as SaaS Solutions, Advanced SaaS or Digital SaaS.
All B2B software that offers cloud-based, multi-tenant solutions for business functions like Marketing, HR, Sales, Business Intelligence, etc are included in this sector. 1. All On-premise B2B software are excluded. 2. All companies that do not offer their own proprietary software are excluded. 3. Services and Consulting firms are also excluded. 4. Resellers are also excluded.
Top SaaS Companies in Europe
There are 103,247 SaaS startups in Europe which include PayU, Qonto, Visma, Starling Bank, Adyen. Out of these, 17,196 startups are funded, with 9,279 having secured Series A+ funding, and 92 achieving unicorn status.
2026 has seen the creation of 5,453 SaaS startups in Europe. Over the past 10 years, an average of 4,702 new companies have been launched annually. Notably, several of these startups have been founded by alumni of University of Cambridge, University of Oxford and Imperial College London.
Here is the list of top SaaS startups in Europe
1. PayU
Provider of online payment solutions and financial services for businesses. It enables local and cross-border transactions in over emerging markets. It provides a comprehensive technology stack for online payments, supporting various payment methods and facilitating secure transactions. It also offers innovative financial services to support the growth of e-commerce and digital payments.
Key facts about PayU
- Founded Year: 2002
- Location: Amsterdam (Netherlands)
- Stage: Series C
- Total Funding till date: $35.1M
- Investors: Naspers, 212 Vc and 5 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series C, Jul 15, 2025, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 84/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 4 of 7,200 Competitors
2. Qonto
Provider of business account, payment cards, and financial management solutions. The company offers tools for customer and supplier invoicing, team expense management, and accounting and bookkeeping. It provides integrations to boost productivity, along with resources such as a resource hub, blog, and finance glossary. The company also provides payment terminals and payment links.
Key facts about Qonto
- Founded Year: 2017
- Location: Paris (France)
- Stage: Series D
- Total Funding till date: $717M
- Investors: Alven, Valar Ventures and 26 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series D, Apr 21, 2022, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 82/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 44 Competitors
3. Visma
Developer of cloud software for business management and accounting tasks. These applications facilitate financial administration, resource planning, and digital documentation for various organizations. The software suites assist with invoicing, electronic signatures, and operational workflows. These tools support administrative processes for small businesses, medium enterprises, and public sector entities.
Key facts about Visma
- Founded Year: 1996
- Location: Oslo (Norway)
- Stage: Acquired
- Total Funding till date: $198M
- Investors: Aeternum Capital, Vind and 27 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Unattributed, Sep 09, 2021, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 82/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 151 Competitors
Provider of digital banking services including savings and payment accounts. These services include personal and business current accounts, savings products, and tools for managing budgets and expenses. The platform enables users to track spending, categorize transactions, and automate bill payments. Additional features include virtual debit cards for specific spending categories and integrated accounting software for tax compliance. Deposits are protected through a government-backed compensation scheme.
Key facts about Starling Bank
- Founded Year: 2014
- Location: London (United Kingdom)
- Stage: Series D
- Total Funding till date: $1.01B
- Investors: Merian Global Investors, Goldman Sachs and 35 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series D, Apr 21, 2022, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 82/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 7 of 2,482 Competitors
5. Adyen
Provider of end-to-end payment, data, and financial management platform solutions. The platform facilitates payment acceptance, revenue protection, and financial control. It allows businesses to add payment methods and expand into new markets. The platform connects online and offline channels to create customer experiences using cross-channel insights. It helps businesses understand their data and manage fraud.
Key facts about Adyen
- Founded Year: 2006
- Location: Amsterdam (Netherlands)
- Stage: Public
- Total Funding till date: $266M
- Investors: Iconiq Capital, Index Ventures and 15 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series C, Sep 30, 2015, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 81/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 8 of 4,191 Competitors
Companies founded year-on-year in the SaaS sector in Europe
5,453 new startups have been founded so far in 2026 in the SaaS sector in Europe. 7,822 SaaS 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 | 5,453 |
2025 | 1,938 |
2024 | 2,718 |
2023 | 3,895 |
2022 | 3,555 |
2021 | 5,122 |
2020 | 7,822 |
2019 | 6,271 |
2018 | 5,433 |
2017 | 4,822 |
Stage-wise distribution of SaaS sector companies in Europe
Out of the total 103,247 SaaS companies in Europe, 17,196 have secured funding. Among them, 9,279 have reached Series A or higher, and 7,598 to Series B or beyond.
Founded - 103,247
Funded - 17,196
Series A+ - 9,279
Series B+ - 7,598
Series C+ - 7,091
Company Stage | No. of companies |
|---|---|
Founded | 103,247 |
Funded | 17,196 |
Series A+ | 9,279 |
Series B+ | 7,598 |
Series C+ | 7,091 |
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Funding Trends in the SaaS sector in Europe
Total funding year-on-year in the SaaS sector in Europe
The SaaS sector in Europe saw a total funding of more than $178B in the last 10 years. The most amount of funding was in 2021 at more than $30.5B. There has been a total funding of $20.9B in 2026 till date.
- Total Funding
Year | Total Funding |
|---|---|
2026 | $20.9B |
2025 | $19.3B |
2024 | $13.7B |
2023 | $20B |
2022 | $27.6B |
2021 | $30.5B |
2020 | $16.4B |
2019 | $12.9B |
2018 | $10.9B |
2017 | $5.6B |
Recent Funding Rounds in SaaS in Europe
In the year 2026, till July 2026, SaaS companies in Europe have raised $13B in equity funding across 664 rounds.
In the same period last year (i.e. till July 2025), SaaS companies in Europe had raised $7.4B across 695 rounds.
So, 2026 has seen a 75.54% rise in funding in SaaS companies in Europe as compared to 2025.
Here are some recent, important funding rounds in SaaS companies in Europe:
Company | Round Raised | Amount Raised | Funding Date | Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Series C | 9146 | Jul 30, 2026 | ||
Seed | 3285 | Jul 30, 2026 | and 3 more | |
Series B | 2064 | Jul 29, 2026 | ||
Series A | 9338 | Jul 29, 2026 | and 2 more | |
Seed | 3843 | Jul 29, 2026 |
Top Investors in SaaS in Europe
Europa is the top investor in SaaS companies in Europe based on number of companies invested.
Here are some top investors in SaaS companies in Europe:
Investor | Location | Top Portfolio Companies |
|---|---|---|
Palo Alto (United States) | ||
Sunnyvale (United States) | ||
Redwood City (United States) | ||
Menlo Park (United States) |
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M&A activity in SaaS sector in Europe
In the year 2026, till July 2026, 217 acquisitions happened in SaaS sector in Europe. Last year, in 2025, a total of 467 acquisitions happened in SaaS sector in Europe.
Here are some recent, important acquisitions in SaaS sector in Europe:
Company | Acquisition Type | Acquisition Date | Acquirers |
|---|---|---|---|
Business Acquisition | Jul 30, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Jul 29, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Jul 27, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Jul 23, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Jul 22, 2026 |
Acquisition trends in SaaS sector in Europe
Here are the acquisition trends in SaaS sector in Europe:
- Total Number of Acquisitions
Year | No. of companies |
|---|---|
2026 | 217 |
2025 | 467 |
2024 | 488 |
2023 | 471 |
2022 | 593 |
2021 | 582 |
2020 | 403 |
2019 | 341 |
2018 | 296 |
2017 | 262 |
IPOs in SaaS in Europe
In the year 2026, till March 2026, 1 IPO happened in SaaS sector in Europe.
Here are some recent, important IPOs in SaaS sector in Europe:
Company | IPO Date | Exchange Symbol |
|---|---|---|
Mar 24, 2026 | Stockholm Stock Exchange (STO) | |
Dec 22, 2025 | Euronext Exchange (Euronext) | |
Nov 03, 2025 | London Stock Exchange (LSE) | |
Jun 03, 2025 | London Stock Exchange (LSE) | |
Apr 23, 2025 | Nordic Growth Market (NGM) |
Colleges which produce the most SaaS companies in Europe
Companies founded by alumni from top colleges in the SaaS in Europe
Most number of SaaS startups in Europe have been founded by alumni from University of Cambridge, University of Oxford and Imperial College London.
College | No. of companies |
|---|---|
University of Cambridge | 323 |
University of Oxford | 265 |
Imperial College London | 205 |
HEC Paris | 144 |
University College London | 144 |
INSEAD | 113 |
London School of Economics and Political Science | 111 |
Harvard University | 94 |
London Business School (LBS) | 84 |
Stanford University | 84 |
Total funding in SaaS companies founded by alumni from top colleges in Europe
In the last 10 years, University of Cambridge graduates' SaaS companies in Europe have raised the most funding among top colleges. Stanford University alumni are second, and HEC Paris alumni are third.
College | Total Funding |
|---|---|
University of Cambridge | $7.14B |
Stanford University | $6.18B |
HEC Paris | $3.56B |
University of Oxford | $3.23B |
Imperial College London | $2.76B |
INSEAD | $2.45B |
University College London | $1.93B |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $1.61B |
IIT Delhi | $1.48B |
London School of Economics and Political Science | $1.34B |
Top News in SaaS in Europe
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Monk Launches Cash Forecast 2.0 to Provide Live, Risk-Weighted Cash Flow PredictionsPR Newswire•Jul 29, 2026•Monk AI
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Bynder Announces Record H1 2026 Growth Driven by Enterprise AI Adoption and Customer ExpansionGlobeNewswire•Jul 28, 2026•Bynder
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Qualys Obtains ENS High-Level Certification for its Cyber Risk Management PlatformEuropa Press•Jul 28, 2026•Qualys
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Tradable Launches Fund Secondaries Platform for Investor LiquidityGlobal Fintech Series•Jul 27, 2026•Tradable
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