TL;DR: European Founders and Investors Redefine Success in 2026
In 2026, European startup founders and venture capitalists are prioritizing personal growth and sustainable leadership alongside business achievements.
• Founders are embracing improved work-life balance, healthier habits, and reflection time for smarter decisions.
• Investors are focusing on generational empathy, climate-driven innovations, and personal well-being to enhance their impact.
• Key lessons: prioritize health, create space for reflection, and connect with younger generations for broader insights.
Take Action: Align your resolutions to your startup's mission and consider joining founder communities like Fe/male Switch for continued support.
As we step into 2026, the entrepreneurial universe in Europe is buzzing with insights, ambition, and introspection. Founders and venture capitalists (VCs) across the continent are redefining what success looks like, not just for their companies but for themselves. It’s an electrifying moment of self-awareness and industry evolution, but this excitement brings an urgent question to light: how can founders and VCs grow deeper, wiser, and more resilient while steering the demanding currents of the startup world?
As a serial entrepreneur with decades of experience navigating business challenges across multiple industries, I’ve learned that setting impactful resolutions is about aligning personal growth with professional goals. This year, I delved into conversations with Europe’s top founders and investors to uncover their 2026 resolutions. Some, like me, are focusing on the delicate art of balancing ambitious career milestones with intentional self-improvement. Others are fine-tuning their leadership strategies for hyper-growth, while a few are boldly questioning traditional approaches to innovation.
How are founders redefining personal growth in 2026?
For years, being a startup founder was synonymous with round-the-clock hustling, poor work-life boundaries, and immense personal sacrifice. But 2026 marks a shift. Founders are now choosing smarter priorities, focusing on personal health and relationships alongside their businesses. The goal? To achieve sustainable success.
- Joe McDonald, cofounder of Tem Energy, has committed to “creating space” for reflection. After years stuck in the daily grind of running a company, he’s taking breaks in nature to rethink strategy. This approach isn’t just about self-care; it’s a fundamental input for visionary decisions.
- Alicia Navarro, founder of Flown, is tackling the common pitfall of neglecting health. She’s focusing on implementing healthier habits, such as scheduling midday gym sessions and adopting mindful eating patterns.
- Alastair Paterson, CEO of Harmonic Security, reflected on the startling lessons learned from traveling with young children. “If I can negotiate with a toddler on a long-haul flight, I can handle scaling my company,” he said. His resolution? To channel that parental resilience into his entrepreneurial pursuits.
What leadership lessons are investors taking to heart?
Investors play a pivotal role in shaping startups, and their 2026 resolutions showcase a mix of professional milestones and personal ambitions. While their portfolios serve as a barometer for success, many investors are also prioritizing self-improvement that enables them to better serve their teams and founders.
- Tom Henriksson, General Partner at OpenOcean, wants to achieve two unicorn exits this year. Simultaneously, he’s focusing on personal well-being. “This year, I’d like to lose a few pounds and really work on improving my golf handicap,” he shared.
- Alessandro Hatami, a serial entrepreneur turned investor, expressed the importance of staying aligned with generational shifts. “I aim to listen, not judge, younger people’s motivations. Their perspectives are crucial in today’s changing landscape.”
- Juliette Devillard, founder of Climate Connection, is urging her peers to stick with climate tech innovations, despite pressing challenges. “2026 should be the ‘year of quiet climate solutions.’ Let’s focus on solutions instead of abandoning programs.”
This balance of professional ambition and mindfulness is not just refreshing but necessary in an industry that too often rewards burnout. Smart investors know their effectiveness depends on bringing their best selves to the table.
3 lessons every entrepreneur should take into 2026
- Create space for reflection: As Joe McDonald highlighted, clarity comes from stepping back. Schedule time to disconnect and look at the bigger picture. Immense clarity often emerges when you remove distractions.
- Build generational empathy: Alessandro Hatami hit the nail on the head, success often depends on aligning with younger talent and their unique worldview. Engage them and adapt your leadership style for better outcomes.
- Prioritize health to sustain performance: Alicia Navarro’s resolution to incorporate healthy habits isn’t just about staying fit, it’s about showing up as the best version of herself to lead a growing team.
The most exceptional founders I’ve met never underestimate the value of slowing down to speed up. Their 2026 resolutions showcase a willingness to reevaluate what’s working and what’s not.
Conclusion: Aligning resolutions with your startup’s mission
Founders and VCs in Europe are redefining what success means in 2026. From focusing on personal well-being to listening actively and staying adaptable, these principles highlight one thing: scaling a startup isn’t just about building products and securing funding. It’s about growing as leaders and humans.
This year, challenge yourself to get serious about identifying the changes you need to make for personal and professional fulfillment. Start by pinpointing the one area, whether it’s leadership, health, or strategic thinking, that will have the greatest impact on you and your company. Then, act decisively.
If you’re struggling to navigate this, join a community like Fe/male Switch, designed for modern founders like you. Together, we can achieve the right mix of grit, reflection, and growth in 2026. It’s your year to lead with purpose.
FAQ on Europe's Founders and VCs Setting Resolutions for 2026
How are startup founders balancing personal growth with professional success in 2026?
Startup founders in 2026 are focusing on combining personal health and intentional habits with their ambitious career goals. For instance, Alicia Navarro, founder of Flown, is adopting mindful eating, scheduling gym sessions, and embracing healthier daily routines to sustain peak performance while scaling her business. Similarly, Joe McDonald, cofounder of Tem Energy, steps away from day-to-day operations occasionally to reflect and strategize amid nature, indicating a shift toward valuing mental clarity alongside business growth. These strategies are aimed at achieving sustainable success that nurtures both personal well-being and company scaling.
What are investors prioritizing in their professional and personal lives in 2026?
Europe’s investors are focusing on achieving key professional milestones while also investing in their personal development. Tom Henriksson, General Partner at OpenOcean, is aiming for two unicorn exits but also dedicating time to personal goals such as improving his health and golf skills. Meanwhile, serial investor Alessandro Hatami emphasizes generational empathy, aiming to better understand and align with young professionals’ motivations. This balanced approach ensures they can stay effective and energized while supporting their portfolios.
Why are reflection periods essential for entrepreneurs in 2026?
Leaders are realizing the importance of stepping back from the fast-paced startup environment to foster strategic clarity and innovative thinking. Joe McDonald, cofounder of Tem Energy, finds time in nature to pause, rethink strategies, and gain a broader perspective for impactful decisions. As startups face continuous growth challenges, these breaks provide founders with the mental space required for visionary leadership and adaptability in an ever-evolving market landscape.
How can building empathy with younger generations benefit leaders?
Alessandro Hatami, a seasoned entrepreneur turned investor, underscores the importance of listening to and understanding younger generations’ motivations. This alignment helps leaders leverage diverse perspectives shaped by technology, social factors, and economic changes. Engaging and adapting leadership styles to these evolving values not only fosters generational harmony but also unlocks innovative potential within teams.
What lessons from parenting are being applied to entrepreneurship?
Alastair Paterson, CEO of Harmonic Security, draws inspiration from his experiences parenting young children during long flights. His resolution for 2026 involves channeling the resilience and patience learned in parenting toward scaling his company. This approach highlights the value of applying interpersonal skills derived from personal life to professional contexts such as managing teams and navigating complex challenges.
Why is prioritizing health critical for startup founders?
Alicia Navarro, founder of Flown, emphasizes that adopting healthy habits like mindful eating and regular exercise helps founders show up as their best selves. Health directly affects energy levels, focus, and decision-making, making it a key factor for sustaining leadership performance while managing high-pressure startup responsibilities.
How are investors responding to challenges in climate tech innovation?
Juliette Devillard, founder of Climate Connection, is encouraging investors to remain committed to climate tech solutions despite economic difficulties. She predicts 2026 will be the “year of quiet climate solutions,” with efforts focused on impactful programs rather than abandoning initiatives. This resilience ensures critical innovations that address global climate challenges are sustained over the long term.
What leadership strategies are critical for scaling teams effectively?
Delegating and empowering teams is a crucial element of leadership in 2026. Richard Dana of Tembo reevaluated his role after realizing the need to delegate more to focus on company growth, while Wouter Durville at TestGorilla emphasizes teamwork as the foundation of leadership success. These approaches help leaders avoid micromanagement, enabling scalable team dynamics and sustained business growth.
What are the top resolutions for founders looking to improve strategically?
Key resolutions include creating time for reflection to improve strategy, adopting healthier lifestyle habits for sustained energy, and learning to delegate to focus on broader business goals. Joe McDonald’s nature retreats, Alicia Navarro’s health-focused resolutions, and Richard Dana’s delegation efforts serve as examples. These actions prepare founders to navigate challenges while fostering personal and professional growth.
How can entrepreneurs align their resolutions with their startups’ missions?
Founders can align personal and professional goals by identifying high-impact areas for growth within themselves and their businesses. This includes prioritizing strategic thinking, adopting team-centric leadership styles, and focusing on health to enhance resilience. Communities like Fe/male Switch support founders in refining their goals and achieving purposeful leadership.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the “gamepreneurship” methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the point of view of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.