Across Europe, retirement is no longer viewed solely as a time of rest. Increasingly, older generations are choosing to launch new ventures, drawing on decades of experience, networks, and financial stability. Senior entrepreneurship, once seen as a niche, is now emerging as a driver of innovation, employment, and cross-generational collaboration.
Modern retirees bring more than just free time. Many carry deep industry knowledge, financial discipline, and resilience built from years in the workforce. These qualities, paired with Europe’s growing support for later-life entrepreneurs, are shifting perceptions of what retirement can mean.
Michael Wishman, Strategic Advisor at Montegna Private, a London-based business consulting, citizenship, and residency services company, notes that “the entrepreneurial mindset matures with age.” He adds that “seniors create not only businesses, but also mentorship opportunities for younger generations.” Wishman also remarks that “experience becomes a form of capital, as retirees know how to manage risk in ways younger founders often cannot.”
Several European countries are adapting. France offers mentorship and financing schemes tailored for older founders. Germany has established support programs for business transfer, where seniors take over existing enterprises. In the Nordics, governments are piloting flexible pension schemes that allow retirees to combine part-time work with entrepreneurship.
Southern Europe, with its high proportion of retirees, is seeing growth in small-scale tourism, agribusiness, and family-run enterprises. Wishman comments that “these models prove that entrepreneurship is not bound by age but by opportunity.”
Still, access and awareness remain uneven across the continent. Bureaucracy, complex tax systems, and outdated assumptions about retirement often create unnecessary barriers.
Sergey Pogosov, Immigration Consultant for EU countries at Montegna Private, states that “for many retirees, entrepreneurship is also a pathway to residency.” He explains that “clearer visa rules would attract both talent and capital.”
Digitalisation is also playing a role. Retirees are increasingly embracing online tools, e-commerce platforms, and digital marketing to scale businesses quickly and reach international markets. Yet, many face challenges in navigating modern regulatory environments and accessing digital upskilling.
Pogosov observes that “digital adoption is now a deciding factor, as those who embrace it can compete globally, even from small towns.”
Clearer communication and accessible pathways will be crucial. Support structures from mentorship to simplified legal frameworks need to be adapted for older entrepreneurs who bring different needs than younger founders.
For senior entrepreneurship to thrive in Europe, policy frameworks must evolve to reduce friction, encourage intergenerational exchange, and recognise the value retirees bring to the economy. As more seniors turn retirement into reinvention, Europe has an opportunity to redefine aging, not as withdrawal, but as contribution.
For more information, email: info@montegnaprivate.com or call +44 7425 755220