[UK] Startup founders receive Europe’s lowest salaries

New research has revealed that UK startup founders are earning significantly less than their European counterparts, despite being in the lead for venture capital funding, DIGIT reports. 

Creandum’s third annual early-stage founder compensation report shows that UK founders are being paid less than those across Europe, including founders in France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Benelux nations. 

UK founder’s average salaries have risen by 16 per cent since 2024, however, founders in France have enjoyed a 60 per cent pay rise, while those across the Benelux region - comprising Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg - have reportedly seen their average salaries increase by 90 per cent.

The dramatic disparity comes despite UK startups acquiring a third of Europe’s VC funding last year; as much as French and German startups combined. 

Creandum’s research was compiled through a survey of 688 founders. It reveals that as European funding begins to return to startups, salaries are increasing across all stages, except Series A.

The most significant raises are for founders at early-stage companies.

For founders of bootstrapped and Pre-Seed startups, the data reportedly shows that the median compensation climbing by 138 per cent and 40 per cent, respectively, despite bonuses at Pre-Seed firms totalling just 5 per cent. 

Yet, with bonuses making up 26 per cent of salaries for bootstrapped founders, their total compensation is, on average, higher than their Pre-Seed and Seed counterparts. According to DIGIT, this continues a 2023 trend which saw bootstrapped founders more likely to pay themselves a bonus. 

The gender pay gap persists, with female founders at the Pre-Seed level being paid 23 per cent less than their male counterparts. But some smaller signs of change leave room for hope, with pay gaps narrowing elsewhere.

Bootstrap female founders earn, on average, just 3 per cent less than men while women at the Series B level are paid 13 per cent less. At the Seed and Series A stages, Creandum said that female founders were actually earning more than men.

In addition, the study found that in the wake of a ‘bumper year’ for European fintech - when funding increased by 45 per cent to $1.6 billion (£1.3 billion) in Q3 2024 - fintech founders remain the highest earners at bootstrapped, Pre-Seed and Seed stages.

Source: DIGIT

(Link via original reporting)

New research has revealed that UK startup founders are earning significantly less than their European counterparts, despite being in the lead for venture capital funding, DIGIT reports. 

Creandum’s third annual early-stage founder compensation report shows that UK founders are being paid less than those across Europe, including founders in France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Benelux nations. 

UK founder’s average salaries have risen by 16 per cent since 2024, however, founders in France have enjoyed a 60 per cent pay rise, while those across the Benelux region - comprising Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg - have reportedly seen their average salaries increase by 90 per cent.

The dramatic disparity comes despite UK startups acquiring a third of Europe’s VC funding last year; as much as French and German startups combined. 

Creandum’s research was compiled through a survey of 688 founders. It reveals that as European funding begins to return to startups, salaries are increasing across all stages, except Series A.

The most significant raises are for founders at early-stage companies.

For founders of bootstrapped and Pre-Seed startups, the data reportedly shows that the median compensation climbing by 138 per cent and 40 per cent, respectively, despite bonuses at Pre-Seed firms totalling just 5 per cent. 

Yet, with bonuses making up 26 per cent of salaries for bootstrapped founders, their total compensation is, on average, higher than their Pre-Seed and Seed counterparts. According to DIGIT, this continues a 2023 trend which saw bootstrapped founders more likely to pay themselves a bonus. 

The gender pay gap persists, with female founders at the Pre-Seed level being paid 23 per cent less than their male counterparts. But some smaller signs of change leave room for hope, with pay gaps narrowing elsewhere.

Bootstrap female founders earn, on average, just 3 per cent less than men while women at the Series B level are paid 13 per cent less. At the Seed and Series A stages, Creandum said that female founders were actually earning more than men.

In addition, the study found that in the wake of a ‘bumper year’ for European fintech - when funding increased by 45 per cent to $1.6 billion (£1.3 billion) in Q3 2024 - fintech founders remain the highest earners at bootstrapped, Pre-Seed and Seed stages.

Source: DIGIT

(Link via original reporting)