This panel tackles a persistent strategic dilemma: despite stronger early-stage momentum, Europe still lags in scaling its best startups into enduring global players. The growth-stage funding gap remains a structural vulnerability - especially for funds and founders who want to stay anchored in Europe without defaulting to US capital or relocation.This session goes beyond repeating the familiar “gap” narrative. Instead, it will explore where the actual pressure points lie within the growth capital stack - whether in volume, structure, ticket size, or syndication - and what exactly needs to evolve in fund design, LP behaviour, and cross-border investment mechanisms to unlock scalable outcomes in Europe.‍