

VC | E463 | Andreas Klinger, Prototype Capital & EU INC (Achievement finalist) v1
May 9, 2025
Andreas Klinger, GP at Prototype Capital and former CTO at On Deck, spearheads the EU Inc. initiative to unify Europe’s fragmented startup ecosystem. He discusses his journey from Product Hunt to VC and how to standardize business practices across borders. Klinger emphasizes the need for a grassroots approach to regulatory reform, the role of media in ambition, and the importance of balancing macro-level change with micro-level support for founders. Their conversation highlights collaborative action as key to positioning Europe as an innovation leader.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Klinger's VC Journey
- Andreas Klinger transitioned from founder and CTO roles to full-time VC, leveraging his hands-on startup experience.
- He has been investing through a microfund while engaging deeply with the ecosystem and recently decided to go full-time VC for more capacity.
VC Success Requires Unique Game
- VC success depends on identifying your own unique game and strengths rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
- Being embedded in a specific ecosystem or technology field can grant better deal flow and access than pure full-time investing.
Bias to Action in Europe
- Focus on high-impact initiatives that are absolutely needed to fix Europe's tech ecosystem.
- Bias towards action: launch imperfect solutions to inspire improvement and foster change rather than over-strategizing.