#AFS

THE 5 W’s (and 1 H)
  • 1.
    WHAT
    • Startups need favourable regulatory and structural conditions to thrive, the SNS is a series of proven best practices designed to encourage Member States to make their national ecosystems startup-friendly.
  • 2.
    WHO
    • The SNS is an initiative launched by the European Commission but it’s up to individual Member States’ to implement the standards in order to be labelled a “Startup Nation”.
  • 3.
    WHY
    • Policy makers understand and acknowledge the role startups can play in the economy. This is especially relevant in the post-COVID-19 recovery. Startups are the most agile, innovative and resilient economic actors, they have proven ability to develop disruptive innovations to address societal needs and create the jobs of the future.
  • 4.
    WHEN
    • The Commission is said to release the initiative on the 19th of March of 2021, when Member States can begin to adhere to the standards. We will be monitoring the progress of Member States in adopting these best practices, which will be reflected on the map below.
  • 5.
    WHERE
    • This initiative is originally thought to be for EU Member States, however, the Standards are proven best practices, these best practices extend to every country outside the EU too.
  • 6.
    HOW
    • Each country has to implement these changes individually. Member States can learn from each other in the process.

#Building

For over a year, we’ve shared input with the European Commission to build the Startup Nations Standard. On  the 19th of March of 2021, the European Commission launched the Startup Nations Standard of Excellence! The objective: Make the European Union the most attractive Start-up and Scale-up continent.

THE 5 W’s (and 1 H)
  • 1.
    WHAT
    • Startups need favourable regulatory and structural conditions to thrive, the SNS is a series of proven best practices designed to encourage Member States to make their national ecosystems startup-friendly.
  • 2.
    WHO
    • The SNS is an initiative launched by the European Commission but it’s up to individual Member States’ to implement the standards in order to be labelled a “Startup Nation”.
  • 3.
    WHY
    • Policy makers understand and acknowledge the role startups can play in the economy. This is especially relevant in the post-COVID-19 recovery. Startups are the most agile, innovative and resilient economic actors, they have proven ability to develop disruptive innovations to address societal needs and create the jobs of the future.
  • 4.
    WHEN
    • The Commission is said to release the initiative on the 19th of March of 2021, when Member States can begin to adhere to the standards. We will be monitoring the progress of Member States in adopting these best practices, which will be reflected on the map below.
  • 5.
    WHERE
    • This initiative is originally thought to be for EU Member States, however, the Standards are proven best practices, these best practices extend to every country outside the EU too.
  • 6.
    HOW
    • Each country has to implement these changes individually. Member States can learn from each other in the process.

THE #BuildingStartupNations CAMPAIGN

JOIN THE CAMPAIGN

THE #BuildingStartupNations CAMPAIGN

JOIN THE CAMPAIGN

The Startup Nations tracker

SNS Map

8 Standards of

Startup in a day

An entrepreneur can establish a startup in one day for a fee that reflects only administrative costs. Entrepreneurs can find all startup-relevant information in one place online.

Innovation in regulation

A country has policies in place to avoid administrative burden/red tape for startups as well as policies that promote experimentation and innovation for startups through sandboxes.

Diversity & inclusion

Nations commit to ensuring legislation that promotes diversity in all its forms. Commitment to tear down ethnic, gender, religious, sexual orientation and social economic background barriers to entrepreneurship.

Digital first

Member States commit to designing all day-to-day interactions between startups and authorities in a digital first manner.

Startup Visa

Visa applications for founders and high-tech staff from 3rd countries, submitted by startups, are processed within a month.

Access to finance

Member States use their Recovery and Resilient Facility funding to enhance access to venture capital for startups through EIB, Promotional Banks or other dedicated vehicles, leveraging private investments, to address the existing investment gap.

Stock options

Stock options are recognised and subject to capital gains tax at moment of cash out and not before.

Innovation procurement

There is a national target and focused effort to encourage startups to participate and obtain a fair share of innovation procurement spending.

The Startup Nations tracker

Startup Nations Standard
Which countries are signatories to the Startup Nations Standard manifesto?

Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden

Who is not a signatory to the Startup Nations Standard manifesto?

Bulgaria, Hungary

Useful

The Startup Nations Standard website
The Startup Nations Standard Manifesto
What we have been saying about the SNS

News

#BuildingStartupNations

News

#BuildingStartupNations

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