The European Digital Forum is a platform dedicated to empowering web entrepreneurs and growing Europe’s digital economy. It is led by the Lisbon Council and Nesta, in collaboration with the European Commission. It was inspired by the Leaders Club, an independent group of founders in the field of tech entrepreneurship, and first called for in the Startup Manifesto for entrepreneurial excellence.

• The European Digital Forum is a think tank led by the Lisbon Council and Nesta, in collaboration with the Startup Europe Initiative and the European Commission. Founding partners of the European Digital Forum include Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA), the European Investment Fund and Telefónica. Accenture serves as partner.
• The European Digital Forum was first proposed in the Startup Manifesto and later launched by European Commission Vice-President Neelie Kroes at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2014.
• The objectives of the European Digital Forum are achieved through high-level policy summits and fringe events at established tech fora; the development of a one-of-its-kind indicator to measure the quality of the startup ecosystem and a repository of best practices, as well as a hard-hitting communication and community-building strategy, including policy support and monitoring actions.
• The European Digital Forum operates at the intersection of web entrepreneurship (i.e. founders, investors) and public policy (i.e. politicians, civil servants), exploiting synergies between the two groups and engaging them in a future-oriented exchange. This dialogue is placed squarely in a broader policy setting – underlining the significance of web entrepreneurship to innovation performance, growth and job creation – and is underpinned by a dynamic, world-class research and outreach programme.