When attending a startup event in Europe, always offer a "verbal cookie" when collecting information from others

For example, if I plan to ask someone what their startup does, I need to give them the chance to accept a verbal cookie first to let them know I plan to collect personal information from them

Remember, GDPR isn't only on the internet. It applies in real life too.

Getting some stuff done today (yes, I have the proper work permit to do 2 hours of work on a Sunday)

Working on a Sunday violates European Labor Laws

Amazing that people will get on this app and confess to breaking the law

Meeting with a European founder

His business is brand new (started in 2016) and already has a half-dozen paying customers

Incredible growth

I ask him his MRR

"Sorry, but disclosing that information would violate GDPR," he tells me.

Brilliant response.

That question was a test - and he passed.

I immediately invested the statutory maximum of 20.000€ into his startup

With a lot of hustle and a little bit of luck, by 2050 my investment will hopefully be worth upwards of 35.000€

Just spent 3 weeks filling out 750 pages of compliance documents to make a 5.000€ angel investment into a tech startup

The American mind could never comprehend this

Building startups in America just doesn't work

Every founder I know who moved to the US wasted thousands of hours sitting in traffic

Meanwhile, European founders take advantage of convenient public transit and walkable communities, saving tons of time

No wonder Europe is winning

Reading a compelling textbook about regulation this morning

Definitely going to bring several of these brilliant ideas to the European startup commission!

Regulation is the new AI

Obsessed with this beautiful landing page one of my portfolio companies just launched

Absolutely FLOORED by the turnout at the AI Europe event today

Well over 1 person showed up in droves to learn about the future of AI and how Europe is leading the charge into the future (with smart regulation and compliance as a guiding force)

Go EU 🇪🇺

Avoid building startups here

- High taxes
- Out of control regulation
- Unstable political environment
- Devalued currency

The next generation will build their companies elsewhere!

Luckily, we made layoffs illegal in Europe years ago

The EU continues to dominate 🇪🇺

Met with an American startup in SF

"We are going to move fast and break things," the founder said

I nearly choked on the detachable death trap lid that plastic American water bottles have for some reason

Then I quickly ended the meeting and alerted authorities of their intent to cause widespread property damage by "breaking" things

I stopped a crime in progress

Sometimes being a VC isn't about investing; it's about saving the world from a reckless criminal

Using AI to search for files violates GDPR

Thank God this would take 400+ years to build in Europe

Invested in a European startup's seed round 7 years ago

Realized I hadn't heard from them in 3 years

Emailed the founder and asked for an update

"Disclosing financial performance of our company would violate GDPR," they said (I can't disclose their gender).

Wow.

Seeing how they value data and privacy made me realize I invested in the right team.

I'll back off for now and let them do their thing. In 20 or 30 years, I have a feeling my investment will get a huge 1.5x-2x markup when they raise a Series A.

Just spoke with dozens of VCs

They all agreed: AI is over

No one is putting money into AI startups anymore

I asked what the next big thing is

They all answered in unison:

Regulation.

And the hot spot for the best regulations? Europe.

Meanwhile, America is getting left behind

Making employees go to an office violates GDPR

Attended a European Hacker event last night

Asked a founder what he's working on

But then I caught myself

I had just violated GDPR by soliciting sensitive information from a third party without proper consent and pre-approval

I promptly departed the event and turned myself into the police

It was a grave mistake and I profusely apologize to the community. This will never happen again.

Attended a startup event in France tonight

The room was buzzing with dozens of energetic regulators sharing innovative ideas for new regulations and compliance procedures

I could just feel new, exciting regulations being passed to help guide startups on how to build in a compliant, safe manner

Bullish on Europe!

The EU continues to scale

Meanwhile, the US is stagnating at just 1 country

Try to catch up sometime, Americans

Does this robot have the proper work permit to do household chores?