McKinsey & Company vs SoftServe

Europe's quantum startups need more than research funding

According to McKinsey's 2026 Quantum Technology Monitor, global investment in quantum technology startups reached €11.15 billion ($12.6 billion) in 2025, a 6.3-fold increase from the previous year. However, the share from public sources dropped dramatically to 3% from roughly one-third in 2024. The author, Marie Lepske, argues that public funding often goes to research infrastructure, universities, and training, which strengthens the ecosystem but does not directly provide startup capital. She emphasizes that founders must look beyond headline commitments to understand where money is actually directed and what it can fund. While Europe has a strong research base—producing 22% of global quantum publications and 17% of top-cited papers—she stresses that this does not automatically translate into financing for scaling companies. The article concludes that European founders need to plan for private capital, as ecosystem funding and company financing serve different purposes.

• Global investment in quantum startups reached €11.15 billion ($12.6 billion) in 2025, 6.3x more than 2024.
• Only 3% of 2025 quantum startup funding came from public sources, down from roughly one-third in 2024.
• The EU produces 22% of global quantum-computing publications and 17% of top-cited papers.

McKinsey: Global Assets Reach $165T, ETF Boom Drives Growth

According to a McKinsey study, global assets under management reached a new high of $165 trillion in H1 2026, up from $151 trillion at the end of 2025. Net inflows are projected to grow by 5% annually, the highest in a decade. European ETFs saw strong inflows, with $255 billion raised in H1 alone, nearly matching the previous full year. However, market concentration is increasing, with the top five ETF providers in the US capturing 94% of net inflows, and the top ten private credit funds accounting for 72%. Technology spending by asset managers rose 13% to $41 billion in 2025, driven by IT modernization and AI investments, which currently add costs before delivering significant savings. McKinsey concludes that growth in assets does not automatically translate into higher profitability, and firms must focus on specialization and efficient tech investment.

• Global assets under management reached $165 trillion in H1 2026, up from $151 trillion at end of 2025.
• European ETFs attracted $255 billion in net inflows in H1 2026, nearly matching the previous full year.
• In the US, the top five passive ETF providers captured 94% of net inflows, up 8 percentage points from five years ago.

Social Media Shapes Travel Planning, Trust Drives Bookings

A joint study by McKinsey and Skift, based on a survey of over 1,000 travelers and 200 user diaries, reveals that social media and AI are reshaping travel planning. 60% of respondents get new travel ideas from social media, while only 13% use AI for inspiration. However, trust remains crucial: 52% insist on controlling booking details, and 43% book through traditional channels like travel agencies or booking platforms. The abundance of options is overwhelming (45% frustrated by comparing across platforms), leading 63% to prefer platforms offering about ten curated choices. AI is used for research (71%) but not for final bookings. Post-booking, 51% have cancelled a stay after finding a better deal, highlighting the need for flexible conditions and transparency. McKinsey advises travel companies to simplify search, personalize offers, and maintain control for customers to build loyalty.

• 60% of respondents get travel ideas from social media.
• 52% insist on controlling booking details before confirmation.
• 43% booked their last trip via travel agencies or traditional booking platforms.

SoftServe Appoints Andriy Stytsyuk as Chief Executive Officer

SoftServe announces appointment of Andriy Stytsyuk as CEO, effective immediately. Also, the company acquires NewVision Software, adds India-based expertise, and establishes local presence in Saudi Arabia.

SoftServe Launches Saudi Arabia Entity for AI Innovation

SoftServe, an AI and technology services company, announced the official launch of a new entity in Saudi Arabia, operating from Riyadh. This expansion marks a significant milestone in its commitment to the Middle East region and increases its global presence to 54 offices in 17 countries. The company aims to bring enterprise-grade AI capabilities and digital transformation expertise to regional organizations, offering onsite responsiveness and localized solutions. The expansion aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, with SoftServe committing to cultivate local talent and support sovereign AI development. This follows SoftServe's acquisition of India-based NewVision Software, marking its first formal expansion into the Middle East market.

• SoftServe officially launched a new entity in Saudi Arabia, based in Riyadh.
• The expansion brings SoftServe's global presence to 54 offices in 17 countries.
• The entity aims to deliver enterprise-grade AI and digital transformation services to Saudi organizations.

EHI Study: Agentic Commerce Becomes Strategic Retail Priority

According to an EHI study commissioned by Softserve, agentic commerce is evolving into a strategic topic for the retail sector. The study reveals that approximately 60% of retail companies are engaging with AI systems that autonomously execute or control purchasing or trading processes. Over 11% already use concrete applications, while 40% currently see no use case in their own business. Key challenges include data quality and a lack of skilled personnel, with only 39.2% rating their data as good and only about 20% feeling adequately staffed. Investments are expected to increase significantly over the next five to ten years. The study also highlights that online retail is expected to be most affected, with 85.8% of participants anticipating a strong impact within five years.

• Around 60% of retail companies are dealing with AI systems for autonomous commerce processes.
• Over 11% of companies already use concrete agentic commerce applications.
• 40% of surveyed companies see no current use of agentic commerce in their business.