Karen Boers European Innovation Policies in the #DSM

Our mission

We help tech entrepreneurs to be successful by providing quality access to service providers, business partners,

customers, and investors.

Through our joint network, we connect startups and technology, create critical mass and international

exposure and help develop the entrepreneurial climate.

STARTUPS.BE COMMUNITY: • 1500+ #BeTech startups • 100+ #BeTech enablers • 400+ investors

• 10+ corporate innovators • 75.000+ online community • city-region-national-EU policy

Our activities

1-STOP-SHOP & MATCHMAKER

Access to

- customers & partners

- coaching & experts - investors - startups &

innovation

CENTER OF EXCELLENCE

Data insights & Research

Knowledge base (speakers, mentors & jury members) Startup Voice in Policy Making

INTERNATIONAL GO-TO-MARKET

Go Global Conference

- Pitch & demo stage - B2B meetings - Investor & PR

contacts Go Global Missions

- Explore new markets

- Connect to local ecosystem

Startups – a way of life A curious nature

• Chief Knowledge Officer • Eager to learn & try • Think ‘out of the box’

Customer = King

• Validate at all times • Buy (from startups) = Innovate

with startups • FIND => PROVE => SCALE

Collaborate by default

• Open Source & Open Knowledge Community

• Little patenting => lots of sharing

• Go-to-market partners are KEY

Startups - barriers

Go-to-market Access to funding Admin killers

Startups - barriers

Go-to-market

CROSS-FERTILIZE & SHARE KNOWLEDGE DIGITAL SINGLE MARKET = MUST

HUMAN CAPITAL MOBILITY

DIGITAL & BUSINESS SKILLS - DIGITAL ECONOMY & SOCIETY INDEX: DIGITAL

SKILLS STILL LAGGING (ESP. SOUTH/EASTERN EU) - GET BIZDEV PROFILES OUT OF THEIR COMFORT

ZONE - INCREASE MOBILITY (STARTUP VISA) AGGRESSIVE GO-TO-MARKET REQUIRED - PARTNERSHIPS / TAKE-OVERS ARE INTERESTING - STARTUP-CORPORATE MATCHMAKING HOME MARKETS ARE TOO SMALL & EU MARKET IS FAR FROM HOMOGENOUS - FOR MANY (HIGH-GROWTH) STARTUPS GOING OVERSEES IS THE BEST SOLUTION (FOR NOW)

Startups - barriers

Access to funding

INCENTIVE SCHEMES ACCESS AT EU LEVEL

BUY FROM STARTUPS – INCL GOV

EARLY STAGE: LOCAL MONEY IS AVAILABLE - AWARENESS CREATION ON FUNDING MIX &

OPEN ACCESS THROUGH THE COMMUNITY - LOW ENTRY & FLEXIBLE EU SCHEMES NEEDED GROWTH STAGE: LACK OF GROWTH CAPITAL - HIGH-GROWTH FUNDS REQUIRED AT PAN-

EUROPEAN LEVEL CUSTOMERS ARE YOUR BEST INVESTORS - SUPPORT ORGANIC GROWTH BY PROVIDING

(ACCESS TO) (FIRST) CUSTOMERS

Startups - barriers

Admin killers

FLEXIBLE LEGISLATION & EXEMPTIONS INNOVATION NURTURING POLICY

LIMITED LIABILITY FOR EARLY STAGE - EASY CREATION & SHUTDOWN - HIRE FAST & FIRE FAST - (FIRST) HIRES ARE KEY - SOCIAL CHARGES RELATED TO REVENUES FEAR OF FAILURE SHOULD NOT PARALYSE THE SYSTEM - FOSTER LESSONS LEARNED - NURTURE SERIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP - KILL THE ZOMBIES ENTREPRENEURS PAY IT FORWARD - TAX SHELTER vs CAPITAL GAIN TAX - TAP INTO THEIR EXPERTISE ON VOLUNTARY BASIS

Startups in public policies Gain a deeper understanding of entrepreneurs’ needs

• Direct debate with the stakeholders • Bottom-up policy support: Manifesto Movement

& Startup Associations

Accept failure as part of the process • Flexible admin environment: hire fast – fire fast & bankruptcy • Image building

Digital Single Market = MUST • Increase mobility across EU for startups & staff • Convergence in corporate law, IPR, taxation, etc. across EU

Act as (first) customer • Buy from startups • Flexible procurement