The three 28-year-old founders of Furo have found that staying close to home has paid off, securing $4 million in funding and enterprise clients in Germany.

"We're moving faster in Europe than if we'd stayed in the U.S.," co-founder Lena Sophia Voß said, highlighting the importance of being close to customers and network.

Furo’s journey is emblematic of a broader trend: startups can now thrive with one foot in their home country and one in Silicon Valley. Munich’s CDTM helped the founders connect with U.S. investors and gain valuable connections.

Voß explained, "Starting Furo in Munich was highly beneficial for growth, because a lot of people in our network recommended us to our first customers, and we had operational expertise and mentorship close by."

Not only does Europe offer cheaper talent, but the quality is on par, with less competition from Big Tech. Furo remains connected to U.S. investors, showing that global networks remain crucial.