Europe’s startups need talent to thrive. Help us make it happen.

€5bn
Equity boost for European startup employees since the campaign launched
7
European countries now match or beat the US for stock options rules
500
Startup CEOs and founders, plus every leading investor, back Not Optional
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COUNTRY
TOTAL SCORE
Latvia
30
Estonia
30
Lithuania
30
Canada
28
Israel
28
UK
27
Portugal
26
France
26
USA
25
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● commentary
“Common rules needed to foster Europe’s startups”
If Europe wants to compete effectively with the US, it must focus on the real prize: creating the right conditions to foster European champions. After years of policy stagnation, momentum for change is building.
FINANCIAL TIMES EDITORIAL BOARD
"Germany approves financial reforms to help its tech industry compete with Silicon Valley"
Germany on Friday approved a package of key reforms to its capital markets frameworks.
Ryan Browne
"New policies to help startups flooding in across Europe"
European policymakers are putting in place a series of new laws and initiatives to help the continent rival Silicon Valley, hoping to promote more investment in European tech startups and also attract talent to the sector.
Michael Stothard
"Can Europe become the most entrepreneurial continent?"
Europe’s tech sector is worth four times what it was five years ago as the leading generation of companies and founders give back to the next wave of ambitious tech firms. But there’s still work to be done to close the gap to the US and Asia.
Dealroom report
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The journey so far

2018

● Not Optional letter signed by over 500 CEOs, founders, investors and employees of Europe’s startups calling for reform to stock options rules sent to policymakers across Europe.

2020

● France reforms BSPCE rules, allowing international companies and employees to gain access to its popular stock options scheme.

2021

● 27 European countries sign the Startup Nations Standard (SNS), committing to improve national stock option rules.

● Latvia and Lithuania update their stock option policies, placing both at the top of our rankings alongside fellow Baltic State Estonia.

2022

● Spain introduces its new Startup Law, reforming stock option rules.

● France further reforms BSPCE rules to widen the scope of companies that can benefit.

● European Commission announces a working group to look at stock options policies across the EU.

2023

● UK ranks as the top G7 country for employee stock options, following reforms to its CSOP.

● EU Commission Stock Options Working Group holds first sessions and produces recommendations for EU and Member State stock option reforms.

● Ireland expanded the scope of its tax-advantaged scheme KEEP.

● Netherlands reforms rules so employees are now taxed at the point stock becomes tradable, rather than when they receive options.

2024

● Germany and Austria transform their employee share ownership rules, with Germany shooting up in the rankings from last place to being on par with the US.

● Not Optional begins campaigning for mutual recognition of European ESOP regimes facilitating cross-border scaling across the single market.

● Not Optional joins EU Inc in calling for a new single, pan-European startup entity.

Elon Musk and Rishi Sunak discuss European stock options
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Stripe and TransferWise founders speak about the importance of stock options
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Not Optional speaks with France's former digital minister and Mistral AI co-founder
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