Businesses present manifesto for start-up success

Leading technology entrepreneurs and start-up community pioneers have presented EU leaders with their manifesto on how Europe needs to adapt for the digital age. The manifesto contains ideas for how decision makers can improve the climate for innovation and growth.

The Startup Europe Leaders Club have manifesto to Herman Van Rompuy, the President of the European Council. The Startup Europe Manifesto has been drawn up by the nine members of the Startup Leaders Club and draws on the combined experience of dozens of Europeans who have imagined, built and grown successful businesses. It contains 22 recommendations to the European Commission, EU member states and EU companies in the fields of education and skills, access to talent, access to capital, data protection and thought leadership.

In particular, the manifesto recommends that companies and member states to encourage university students to start a business prior to graduation; companies and EU governments should buy more from smaller businesses; and the Commission should consider removing the requirement for data providers to store information in any given country.

The document also suggests member states appoint a national chief digital officer and encourages national governments and the Commission to develop a ‘pan-European Start-up Visa’ to help business start-ups and job creation.

Neelie Kroes, Vice-President of the European Commission for the Digital Agenda said “I think these are excellent ideas. We need to give a voice to the entrepreneurs of Europe. I hope that all European leaders will take their suggestions to heart so that we can change mentalities about startups, entrepreneurs and global leadership.”

The Leaders Club believes that the 22 recommendations will give European businesses the best chance of future success, at the same time influencing and powering the growth in the EU.

More information on the manifesto can be found here.