Earlier quoted context omitted.
US perspective: EU looks like a great place to expand into once I've reached some critical size threshold. But I can't imagine starting a business there. In the US we have effectively limitless capital, tons of tech talent, and many fewer regulations. Just about everything I'd want to do in a startup appears illegal or otherwise infeasible in the EU because of the morass of data and AI and energy regulations.
> Just about everything I'd want to do in a startup appears illegal or otherwise infeasible in the EU because of the morass of data and AI and energy regulations. Sounds like you're doing some shady, disgusting bullshit or you're exaggerating the regulations. I hope it's the latter.
building a simple business in south east asia is drastically easier. there are effectively no privacy laws, no class action lawsuits (a big US problem not EU), no gdpr, energy is cheaper, no punitive labour courts, much looser zoning laws. almost no restrictions on international trade, no withholding taxes, no major issues with transfer pricing, no capital gains taxes, relaxed packaging laws. of course, there are different challenges.
When you go from an open market to EU mode it is insanely stressful having to suddenly deal with these enormous regulatory regimes that simply dont exist anywhere else, and to figure out how to deal with them. this stress is an energy cost, which becomes a capital cost, which makes it much more difficult for small businesses to be created. I also find supranational regulatory regimes difficult to understand, unlike other parts of the world where each country has its own law and thats it. I think its generally a good thing for the people who live there though!
when i am driving around in ASEAN i don't look at my speed. in EU i am anxiously making sure i am 1km/h below the limit to avoid a fine in the mail.