04 Apr 2025
New Prosus report makes the case for European Big Tech
Prosus outlines how Europe can build its own Tech Champions League and create its first trillion-dollar tech company.
Prosus believes that Europe has all the key ingredients – including world-class tech talent, groundbreaking research, and thriving startups – to build its own Champions League of Big Tech companies that can compete with the US’s ’Magnificent 7’ and China’s ’Terrific 10’. A new research report created with the global intelligence platform dealroom.co1 supports this belief.
In the report, titled ‘Towards a European Tech Champions League: The case for European Big Tech’, Prosus unpacks the challenges and opportunities for Europe in creating Big Tech champions, and outlines the future path to Europe’s first trillion-dollar company – a proven playbook of building compounding tech ecosystems that has driven success in the US and China. The report is the second in a series published by Prosus looking at major innovation trends in Europe.
Key takeouts from the report:
- To create Europe’s first trillion-dollar tech company, companies need to build compounding tech ecosystems. This means companies must leverage their strengths in one area to build other businesses on top, creating networks of products and services that feed into each other and drive growth.
- To reach the trillion-dollar milestone and build compounding tech ecosystems, Europe must invest in category-defining champions, streamline regulation that fosters progress, unify capital markets to scale innovation, and attract top global talent while building strong tech hubs.
- To drive European competitiveness, Prosus sees opportunities to invest US$10bn+ in European tech, build a global AI lab in Amsterdam and lead in creating a US$100bn+ European ecosystem player.
“Europe has all the ingredients for a thriving ecosystem, but it’s getting stuck with too much focus on risks and regulations,” says Fabricio Bloisi, Prosus Group CEO. “Europe needs more Big Tech to drive innovation, create jobs, and shape the future. At Prosus, we are ready to do our part and help build the next generation of European US$1 trillion companies.”
Download the full report and read our blog post to learn why it’s time for Europe to go big on tech.
About Naspers:
Established in 1915, Naspers has transformed itself to become a global consumer internet company and one of the largest technology investors in the world. Through Prosus, the group operates and invests globally in markets with long-term growth potential, building leading consumer internet companies that empower people and enrich communities. Prosus has its primary listing on Euronext Amsterdam, and a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and Naspers is the majority owner of Prosus.
In South Africa, Naspers is one of the foremost investors in the technology sector and is committed to building its internet and ecommerce companies. These include Takealot, Mr D Food, Superbalist, AutoTrader, Property24 and PayU, in addition to Media24, South Africa’s leading print and digital media business.
Naspers has a primary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (NPN.SJ), a secondary listing on the A2X Exchange (NPN.AJ) in South Africa, and has a level 1 American Depository Receipt (ADR) programme which trades on an over-the-counter basis in the United States of America.
For more information, please visit www.naspers.com.
About the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA):
Since its inception in 2010, the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA) has assumed a leading position in long-term, strategic and transdisciplinary research through generating research and creating platforms for engagement. Our research, policy debates, convening power and scenario planning expertise have assisted in finding lasting and effective solutions to the challenges South Africa is facing.
MISTRA deliberates on socio-economic issues that have both a local impact and a global resonance. The Institute is founded by a group of researchers, academics, policy-makers and former governance practitioners.
MISTRA carries out research that addresses the country’s complex challenges, straddling issues of nation-formation, economic growth, social equity and South Africa’s global positioning. The research is conducted through a process of engagement and facilitation, drawing on the wide range of available expertise in the country and globally.
For more information, please visit www.mistra.org.za