Capital Supply in a Changing World (Swedish Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (SVCA))

Summary

• The EU faces an annual investment gap of €750-800 billion to boost productivity, support the digital transition, and meet climate goals.p.4
• In Sweden, annual investment needs exceed 300 billion kronor according to Mario Draghi's competitiveness report.p.4
• The US accounts for 70% of global venture capital investments in early-stage growth companies.p.5
• US pension funds allocate an average of 10% of their capital to venture capital funds, compared to just 0.12% in the EU.p.5
• European venture-backed startups raise on average 50% less capital than their American counterparts.p.5
• Between 2007 and 2024, private equity and venture capital actors invested over 600 billion kronor into thousands of Swedish businesses.p.11
• State actors account for less than 1% of the venture capital supplied in Sweden.p.7

Key insights

1. The United States attracts 70% of all global venture capital investments.p.5
2. A single American venture capital firm raised $15 billion in 2025, equalling the total venture capital raised across the entire European Union that year.p.5
3. European banking rulebooks contain three times the volume of regulations found in the US and Canada.p.6
4. Expected reforms to US 401(k) pension plans could unlock part of $10 trillion in retirement savings for private equity and venture capital investments.p.6
5. Sweden is Europe's fourth largest tech nation by invested capital, behind the UK, Germany, and France.p.12
6. Swedish risk-capital-backed companies received over 1,000 billion kronor in total financing including debt between 2007 and 2024.p.11
7. At the end of 2025, zero Swedish startups featured among the top 500 unlisted startups globally in Bestbrokers' ranking.p.13
8. Sweden is one of the few Western European nations lacking clear legal statutory rules for how venture fund returns are taxed.p.15