This introductory chapter frames the importance of high-growth firms, so-called scaleups, as the primary engines of innovation, job creation, and economic development. While entrepreneurship remains central to policy agendas, the authors argue that the key lies not in the mere creation of startups but in fostering conditions for rapid, scalable growth. The chapter critiques the limited efficiency of venture capital alone in producing scaleups, especially in the European context. As a potential solution, it introduces the rise of venture builders, startup support organizations that de-risk entrepreneurship and systematically support startup creation and scaling. The book’s objectives within this evolving ecosystem are to distill diverse venture builder models and evaluate their suitability for generating scaleups. Grounded in empirical research from Europe, this chapter sets the stage for a nuanced exploration of the mechanisms that enable ventures to move beyond survival toward sustained exponential growth.