Hard data on the European tech ecosystem forms the backbone of The State of European Tech, but just as important are the annual survey results we obtain from our readers — the people working in the tech community and driving Europe forward. This fast-track insight highlights the insights that can only be gathered by speaking to those who live and breathe the ecosystem.

European tech companies attract more funding than ever, yet the continent still has some way to catch up to the US. The European funding gap is a critical challenge, and the potential rewards in closing it are immense, from enabling more founders to build $B companies to retaining top talent and capturing more value within Europe.

Numerous initiatives and campaigns have taken aim at the lack of diversity in the European tech ecosystem. But despite these efforts, the needle hasn’t moved nearly enough over the past decade.