Bitpanda
Vienna, Austria · StartupRetail investing platform offering cryptocurrencies, stocks, ETFs, and precious metals with fractional trades.
StartupGrowthFintechInvesting
Accelerator
Plug and Play Spain
Spanish arm of Plug and Play (since 2012) connecting startups with corporate partners in fintech, insurtech, and mobility. Operates from Valencia with pilots and venture funding; global alumni include PayPal and Dropbox. Scope: International.
SpainValenciaFintechInsurtechMobility
Details
Location
Valencia, Spain
Category
Accelerator
Profile
/spain/accelerator/plug-and-play-spain
Related entries
Startups with overlapping focusBlaBlaCar
Paris, France · StartupBlaBlaCar is the world’s leading long-distance carpooling platform, often hailed as France’s flagship startup success. Founded in 2006 by Frédéric Mazzella (along with Francis Nappez and Nicolas Brusson), BlaBlaCar was born from Mazzella’s realization that countless car journeys had empty seats. The platform (named after users’ self-described chattyness level – “Bla”, “BlaBla”, or “BlaBlaBla”) connects drivers with spare seats to passengers traveling the same way, so they can share the ride and costs. Today, BlaBlaCar has a 100 million-member community across 22+ countries, serving over 25 million travelers per quarter pre-pandemic. It operates in most of Europe and parts of Latin America and Asia, having successfully localized carpooling in markets like Germany, Russia, Brazil, and Turkey. The company also branched into bus travel: in 2018, BlaBlaCar acquired Ouibus from SNCF, rebranding it BlaBlaBus, to offer intercity bus routes alongside carpool rides. BlaBlaCar’s business model charges a roughly 10–20% booking fee from passengers in mature markets, though in new markets it often launches free to build liquidity. Known for its strong community culture, BlaBlaCar emphasizes trust – it introduced verified profiles, ratings, and even an optional “Ladies Only” carpool option. The company achieved unicorn status in 2015 when it raised $200 million at a $1.6 billion valuation and later was valued around $2 billion. Despite the pandemic’s impact on travel, BlaBlaCar rebounded by 2022, even reporting profitability. In 2023, it raised €100 million in financing to fuel growth. BlaBlaCar is often cited in case studies (Harvard, etc.) as a pioneer of the sharing economy in Europe, proving that a people-powered platform can transform intercity transport. By bringing cost-effective travel to millions and fostering new friendships on the road, BlaBlaCar has truly brought “ridesharing” into the mainstream – and stands as one of Europe’s few consumer-tech unicorns with global reach.
StartupGrowthMobilityMarketplace
Bolt
Tallinn, Estonia · StartupEuropean mobility platform covering ride-hailing, micromobility, and food delivery.
StartupGrowthMobilityMarketplace
bunq
Amsterdam, Netherlands · StartupMobile-first bank that lets individuals and businesses control accounts, cards, and payments.
StartupGrowthFintechBanking
Cazoo
London, United Kingdom · StartupOnline marketplace that simplifies buying, financing, and swapping nearly-new cars in Europe.
StartupGrowthMobilityConsumer
Chainalysis
Copenhagen, Denmark · StartupChainalysis was co-founded in 2014 by Danish entrepreneur Michael Gronager to bring transparency to crypto markets. The company builds blockchain analytics software used by exchanges, regulators, and law enforcement to trace illicit activity and manage compliance risk. Chainalysis grew into a global leader in crypto intelligence, raised major rounds, and built offices worldwide while keeping a Danish engineering footprint. It is one of the most valuable companies with Danish founding roots in the blockchain sector.
StartupGrowthBlockchainComplianceFintech