You might have though diversity and impact was out of fashion, but apparently it’s alive and well. And Europe has no shortage of startups claiming to make an “impact”. But what does Impact mean in 2026, which companies are genuinely worth watching? “Next Impact Europe”, is a new platform created by two investors: 4P Capital in Paris, and Impact Shakers, a VC and accelerator. They’ve unveiled an inaugural list of 50 impact startups, selected from 520 nominations across 35 countries. The initiative aims to give greater visibility, and potentially greater access to capital, to diverse founders tackling challenges ranging from climate and waste to healthcare, food and education. To discuss how the companies were selected, what “impact” really means in venture capital in 2026, and whether greater visibility can translate into investment, Mike Butcher spoke to Yonca Braeckman, founder of Impact Shakers and co-founder of Next Impact Europe.