EUVC

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.

49:27

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Andreas Klinger

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Quick takeaways

EU Inc. aims to standardize corporate structures across Europe, simplifying regulations to empower startups and enhance cross-border scaling.

Andreas Klinger emphasizes the need for action-oriented initiatives in the startup ecosystem, urging VCs to engage with tangible, systemic change.

Deep dives

Fragmented Regulations and Startup Challenges in Europe

Startups in Europe are hindered by a fragmented regulatory landscape that complicates their scaling efforts across different nations. This disjointed system creates barriers that prevent founders from accessing resources and support efficiently, ultimately impeding innovation and growth. The need for a standardized approach to corporate structures has become increasingly urgent, prompting initiatives like EU Inc. to address these challenges. By simplifying legal and regulatory requirements, this movement aims to empower European startups to thrive on an international stage.

Intro

3min

Balancing Venture Capital with Other Endeavors: A Strategic Discussion

3min

Driving Innovation and Unity in Europe's Startup Ecosystem

5min

Cultural Contrasts in Sustainability

6min

Investing in Innovation: Prototype Capital's Strategy

10min

EU Inc.: Streamlining Startups Across Europe

23min

In this episode, Andreas Munk Holm sits down with Andreas Klinger—founding team at Product Hunt, ex-CTO at On Deck, and now GP at Prototype Capital—to dive into the work behind EU Inc., a grassroots initiative to fix Europe’s fragmented startup ecosystem by rewriting its regulatory plumbing.Klinger shares how his experience as a founder and investor on both sides of the Atlantic led to a mission to standardize how we do business in Europe. They unpack how EU Inc. is working with the ecosystem—associations, communities, and top GPs—to propose a concrete policy blueprint aimed at simplifying scaling across borders.But the conversation goes much deeper: into the role of media as a self-selecting tool for ambition, how to build conviction and access as a micro-VC, and why VCs must engage with both macro-level systems change and micro-level founder support to make a lasting impact.Here’s what’s covered:

01:15 From Product Hunt & AngelList to Fixing European Venture
02:30 Why Klinger Made VC a Full-Time Play
06:10 Vlogging Hyper-Ambition: Behind-the-Scenes of Europe's Top Startups
09:30 The Cultural Gap: Work Ethic, Values & Systemic Signals
12:00 The Hidden Power of Performative Culture (and Its Risks)
14:22 What EU Inc. Actually Is: A Business-Led Policy Blueprint
18:30 Industry-Wide Buy-In: Why Everyone's Signing the EU Inc. Manifesto
24:15 Can VCs Stay Apolitical While Driving Change?
34:00 Reports Don’t Build Economies—People with Bias for Action Do
37:10 Action, Not Words: What Europe Really Needs Next