Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen: "Europe doesn't need to become Silicon Valley"

Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen: "Europe doesn't need to become Silicon Valley"

Author: Sifted July 25, 2025 Duration: 33:59
Supercell is one of Europe's leading video game companies — with enduring hit titles like Clash of Clans and Brawl Stars under its belt. But, as CEO and cofounder Ilkka Paananen explains on this episode of Startup Europe — the Sifted Podcast, developing new and popular games is a tough business. He sits down with Amy Lewin to explain how Supercell tries to foster creativity by empowering its game development teams by giving them maximum autonomy, and by taking the fear out of failure through ...

Each week on Startup Europe-The Sifted Podcast, host Amy Lewin sits down with the people actually shaping the continent's technology landscape. This isn't about abstract theories or distant analysis; it's built from direct conversations with the founders rolling up their sleeves, the operators scaling teams, and the investors backing the next big ideas. Alongside Sifted's own journalists, Amy delves into the specifics of building a business, examining the strategies, setbacks, and successes that define the journey. The discussions go beyond the headlines to explore the real mechanics and human stories behind the companies causing a stir. Tuning into this podcast offers a genuine, behind-the-scenes look at innovation as it happens, grounded in the reporting and network that Sifted brings. It’s for anyone curious about the practical realities of European tech, from seasoned investors to aspiring entrepreneurs wanting to hear how it’s really done. You’ll find a focus on tangible lessons and candid insights, making each episode a detailed snapshot of a dynamic and fast-moving ecosystem.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 100

Startup Europe — The Sifted Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Climate tech’s growing pains with Pale Blue Dot’s Heidi Lindvall [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:27
She’s one of the three founders of Pale Blue Dot, a Malmö-based early-stage climate tech fund which launched in 2020 and backs pre-seed and seed-stage startups reducing and reversing the effects of climate change, in Eur…
Index Ventures partner Martin Mignot on where Revolut should list [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:19
Name a big European tech company, and there’s a high chance Martin Mignot, partner at Index Ventures, invested in it. Martin’s portfolio includes some of the continent’s big winners, like car sharing platform BlaBlaCar,…