Midas List
Europe
Since 2017, The Midas List Europe has recognized the top 25 venture capitalists based in Europe and the Middle East. A company is considered for attribution if it has exited in the last five years at $100 million+ or is a private, unexited company valued at $200 million+.
Qualifications
- A VC must invest on behalf of third-party Limited Partners. Investments off personal balance sheets or for a single corporation, foundation, etc. do not qualify.
- The investor must reside in Europe or the Middle East, investing in a portfolio that includes European and/or Middle Eastern companies.
- Companies submitted for Midas List Europe must have exited in the last five years at $100 million+ or be a private, unexited company valued at $200 million+.
Methodology
Private and valued at $200 million+
Last Year’s Midas List Europe
Quantity & Rank Investments
Next, we calculate a ranking for each VC’s investment in a qualifying company, which is based on generated deal value, size of exit or private valuation, and other key metrics weighted to favor more recent deals, earlier stage investments, and higher investment multiples. We then aggregate the number of “winning” investments per VC to determine a total deal attribution score, which informs a deal metric ranking against others. Then, we consider the total number of qualifying deals for each VC to determine a deal count ranking. Below we break down how each of these ranking scores are determined.
A Look Into The Model
In this simplified example we demonstrate how the model considers deals by three VCs who invested in the same company, XYZ, at different stages. Each VC who is invested in the company receives a score for their deal based on several variables (see top row for select sample metrics). This process is repeated for all companies attributed to each VC – which amounts to a total deal attribution score. This score determines the ranking by deal metrics for each individual.
Here we demonstrate how the model considers the total number of investment deals attributed to each VC, with a weighted emphasis on exited companies. Together, the number of exited and private deals amount to a total deal count score. This score determines the ranking by deal count for each VC.
FAQs
The submission timeline is determined by Forbes’ editorial calendar each year, but the Midas List Europe typically launches in early fall. The list is published a few months later. The process kicks off with an email inviting interested parties to submit – if you’d like to be added to the email list to receive notification when submissions open, please email us at midas@truebridgecapital.com.
Yes. All information shared in submissions is secure and completely confidential. Data is submitted directly to TrueBridge in order to allow a third party to receive and analyze the data. We understand how critically important and sensitive this data is, and have measures in place to ensure its security and confidentiality.
Try using the “reset password” button. If that doesn’t work, please reach out to us at midas@truebridgecapital.com and we’ll take care of it.
Yes. VCs who made investments at a prior firm can submit those deals as well as any they have worked on at their new firm.
Fields in the “required” category are paramount, fields in the “important” category are crucial for a submission to be competitive, and those in the “helpful” bucket are qualitative context requests.
This section allows submitters to provide more qualitative context about a partner’s or firm’s involvement in a company and its success.
Every deal must be attributed to at least one partner-level investor. It is possible to split attribution between two investors. The percent credit between them can be split however a firm deems is appropriate but should add up to 100%.
Please categorize it as realized even if the position has not been monetized.
None. We analyze investment data and do not require any company operating data to be submitted.
No problem – we want to get your full, accurate data! Contact us at midas@truebridgecapital.com before the submission deadline and we can reopen your submission for you to add anything that was omitted.
It is intended to recognize the most successful venture investors based in Europe and the Middle East through a data-driven, analytical process. Venture capital has a significant impact on global innovation, but is opaque to many entrepreneurs and others outside the industry.
Yes. All information shared in submissions is secure and completely confidential. Data is submitted directly to TrueBridge in order to allow a third party to receive and analyze the data. We understand how critically important and sensitive this data is, and have measures in place to ensure its security and confidentiality.
The submission timeline is determined by Forbes’ editorial calendar each year, but the Midas List Europe typically launches in early fall. The list is published a few months later. The process kicks off with an email inviting interested parties to submit – if you’d like to be added to the email list to receive notification when submissions open, please email us at midas@truebridgecapital.com.
The Midas List is very competitive and global in nature. There are simply many, many VCs with incredible records of success.
Try using the “reset password” button. If that doesn’t work, please reach out to us at midas@truebridgecapital.com and we’ll take care of it.
The Midas List Europe recognizes the most successful venture investors in Europe and the Middle East. Investors should be based in one those areas to submit for Midas List Europe. VCs must also invest capital on behalf of third parties – that is, they must have LPs. Investors investing from personal balance sheets and corporate investors are not currently eligible.
Eligible portfolio companies must have exited in the last five years through public offering or sale at a $100 million valuation or more, or carry an un-exited private valuation of $200 million or more at their last priced round.
Forbes has determined that investors who have stepped down from their firm or been asked to resign over a moral issue such as sexual misconduct will be subject to removal from the List.
The submission timeline is determined by Forbes’ editorial calendar each year, but the Midas List Europe typically launches in early fall. The list is published a few months later. The process kicks off with an email inviting interested parties to submit – if you’d like to be added to the email list to receive notification when submissions open, please email us at midas@truebridgecapital.com.
Yes. All information shared in submissions is secure and completely confidential. Data is submitted directly to TrueBridge in order to allow a third party to receive and analyze the data. We understand how critically important and sensitive this data is, and have measures in place to ensure its security and confidentiality.
Ready to Apply?
Application open Fall 2025