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Latest News October 14, 2021 Bringing together startup communities: our Annual Summit 2021

We hosted our 7th consecutive (very successful!) Annual Summit! Every year we gather our Members so startup communities can connect broadly and discuss our yearly priorities and vote on our Mandate for the following year. Here’s what happened at our Virtual Summit:  After much consideration, our Members voted on the following three key priorities for …

DSA 4 Startups Latest News platforms Policy October 5, 2021 Will the DSA favour startup innovation in the Single Market?

The Digital Services Act can provide the harmonisation that startups need to operate across EU markets by updating and clarifying the rules governing platforms. Following the recent discussions in the co-legislative bodies of the EU, namely the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, it’s unclear that all parties are considering startups’ growth perspectives …

Digital Single Market DSA 4 Startups Latest News Policy September 21, 2021 Tweaking the Country of Origin principle in the DSA – A threat to the Digital Single Market

As the discussions around the Digital Services Act (DSA) progress, one principle is of key importance for startups – the Country of Origin, also known as the Internal Market Clause. The principle states that a company must follow the legislation of its country of establishment, regardless of where its services are offered. Concretely, a second-hand …

Digital Single Market DSA 4 Startups Latest News platforms Policy September 8, 2021 How will marketplace startups in the EU deal with new platform rules?

There are about 10,000 startup platforms in the EU, many of which are online marketplaces. The Digital Services Act has the potential to empower these to launch their businesses and scale in the EU, if it preserves the founding principles of the platform economy and gives entrepreneurs legal clarity. As the discussions are underway in …

Latest News Startups July 29, 2021 Tech Policy for Startups – Where are we at?

2021 has been a busy year for digital policy and we are expecting more coming our way after the summer. Legislation on platform regulation, artificial intelligence and data sharing are piling up at the EU institutions. It will shape and define the future innovation economy and startups ecosystems in the EU and beyond, so it’s …

Latest News July 16, 2021 We’re hiring! Office Administrator position (Part time)

We are looking for a part time (1 day a week) Office Manager to join our international and dynamic team in Brussels! We’re looking for a startupper: a self-starter, independent, motivated and tech savvy individual. Our ideal candidate will have first-hand experience as an Office Administrator with advocacy organisations in Brussels. The candidate will support the …

Competition Latest News July 6, 2021 Let consumers make their pick & trust startups to deliver!

Startups exist because they respond to consumer needs – whether online or offline. Legislation that empowers innovation and ambitious startups also benefits consumers. However this only works if legislation isn’t designed to artificially pick winners and losers, for instance by favoring offline distribution mechanisms under a misleading guise of perceived fairness.  COVID-19 fundamentally changed the …

DSA 4 Startups Latest News Open Letter Uncategorized May 27, 2021 Joint statement to the 27 May Competitiveness Council on The Digital Services Act (DSA)

The undersigned organisations support the objective of the Digital Services Act (DSA) to increase digital innovation, online safety, and fundamental rights protection in the European Union Single Market. Considering the importance of this file we take this opportunity to congratulate the Portuguese Presidency and the Member States for the significant progress at the Working Party …

Innovation Latest News Startups May 5, 2021 Is the European Union promoting entrepreneurship and innovation?

Supporting startups is not just a question of money, regulation should also encourage starting and scaling up. In its working programme, the European Union has made the promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship one of its priorities. Through numerous funding programmes and initiatives, the European Union is making efforts to step up its game to become …

Latest News Startup Nations Standard April 27, 2021 A worldwide Startup Nations Standard: An 8-step recipe for global recovery.

It’s not a coincidence that countries such as Estonia, the UK or the US have some of the highest startup rates in the world. They offer regulatory, administrative and financing conditions that are attractive to entrepreneurs.  Entrepreneurs are naturally attracted to start up in an ecosystem that maximises their chance to scale-up. They consider factors …