Europe can choose to be the epicenter for innovators. But will we?
EU Inc: a call to European policymakers to unify the startup ecosystem
It’s 2035. Europe’s first trillion-dollar tech company, born in a Krakow garage, now employs 120,000 people across the continent. A pan-European team leads the world in quantum computing. Europe has become the home of the world’s most valuable and innovative businesses, and a magnet for top talent in robotics, climate tech, AI, manufacturing and beyond.
This might sound far-fetched. But it doesn’t have to be – if we act now.
Building a true single market
The multitude of countries and cultures in Europe is its unfair advantage. But because of that, our startup scene is fragmented. Legal and regulatory compliance is a burden, and cross-border collaboration is rare. While US angels invest coast-to-coast, European capital sticks within national borders. The results: stifled momentum, unrealized potential, and an artificial limit on our startups’ chances of success.
Despite these challenges, Europe stands at the threshold of an exciting future. We’re outflanking the US in new tech founders. We’re a global leader in climate tech investment. Our deep tech scene is thriving, and European startups create jobs three times faster than other sectors.
We are at a unique inflection point of talent and technology. What we need is the framework to unleash it.
EU-Inc: a single pan-European startup entity
Created under the 28th regime, this new entity will establish the institutional foundations for Europe’s future competitiveness, with exponential returns.
The new entity would:
- Standardize investment processes, enabling truly pan-European investments;
- Create a single employee stock options regime, spreading the benefits of startup success more widely;
- Simplify cross-border operations, including employment and capital flows;
- Fully digitize incorporation, slashing the process to just 48 hours – all in English, all online.
The results? Faster scaling. More breakout successes. An influx of global capital. Europe becomes the best place to build a groundbreaking business, and the launchpad for the largest and most impactful companies of the future.
This isn't about mimicking Silicon Valley. It’s about amplifying our unique European strengths: our diversity, our decentralized talent pool, and our unique startup hubs.
The ingredients are here. The momentum is building. European startups, investors and leaders stand united and ready to act.
Policymakers, the choice is yours. Be the architects of Europe’s tech renaissance, or a footnote in the history of its missed opportunity.
Let’s not just imagine what the future might be – let's create it together.