Eric de Montgolfier
Chief Executive Officer
CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT
Championing European private capital
Invest Europe works for and with its members, representing the entire industry ecosystem toward European institutions and key stakeholders throughout Europe. We are at a critical turning point, when private capital is recognised as being integral to Europe’s economic sovereignty, and aligned with its strategic goals.
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Europe urgently needs investment to develop and renew. Into this environment, steps European private capital, supported by long-term investors with vision and conviction.
Invest Europe is the voice of European private equity, venture capital, infrastructure funds and long-term investors. We are also, as our name suggests, the champion of investment in Europe. Our work showcases private capital’s strengths in generating returns for investors and providing investment to businesses to enable them to grow. It also demonstrates how our members support Europe’s economy and society and are aligned with the continent’s long-term strategic goals.
In a dislocated and disorderly world, the EU and broader continent are firmly built on shared values of peace, trade and cross-border collaboration, underpinned by rule of law, democratic decision-making, and enduring institutions. This ensures transparent governance, protection of individual liberties, a strong business environment, and integrated financial markets. Yet, while the foundation is strong, Europe urgently needs investment to develop and renew – modern infrastructure, defence capabilities, innovation, and the green and digital transitions. Into this environment step European private equity, venture capital and infrastructure funds, supported by long-term investors with vision and conviction.
In the second half of 2025, we launched our ‘Quiet Power’ campaign to shine a light on the enduring qualities of Europe and the opportunities in European private capital. Our campaign highlighted the expertise of European managers, as well as the regular outperformance of their funds, based on data gathered by Invest Europe’s Research team. By early 2026, our campaign video had achieved more than 5 million views on YouTube, while our website had received more than 70,000 visits.
We are reaching investors in the virtual world and in the real world. Our events put investment opportunities at their heart and major on fostering connections between GPs and LPs. For instance, our 2025 Venture Capital Forum in Amsterdam had record attendance, and featured our famous “rotating dinner”, as well as a new Single Family Office event-within-an-event for this important and growing investor set.
Bringing LPs and GPs together facilitates investment in European private capital; our work with policymakers helps ensure the conditions for it to flourish. Invest Europe’s Public Affairs team followed over 40 live regulatory topics in 2025, conducted more than 35 meetings with senior officials, and produced in excess of 40 consultation responses.
We both respond, and we lead.
Our first Infrastructure Conference in Brussels brought together over 100 policymakers, global investors and industry experts to align private capital deployment with EU digital and energy transition goals. As a strategically important sector to European competitiveness, infrastructure funds received the full weight of Invest Europe’s machine, including new data, promotion, and advocacy. You will see throughout this Annual Report, the same applies to large buyouts, listed private capital, mid-market private equity and venture capital, also backed by best practice guidance, and expert-led education and training.
A strong Europe requires a strong private capital industry. And a strong industry requires a strong and trusted voice. Invest Europe has built its reputation in Brussels and across the continent over many years. It is precisely for environments like these when we can speak, and be sure of being heard.