This content was originally published on Borys’ LinkedIn profile. Borys kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that EU-Inc — a European alternative to the Delaware C-Corp — will become a priority project for the European Commission. While the announcement was accompanied by some light-hearted symbolism, its implications are anything but trivial.
For years, European founders and investors have been pushing for a standardized, pan-European company structure. The current reality forces many European investors to deploy capital through US legal vehicles, despite operating and building businesses in Europe. This is not a matter of preference but of practicality. The Delaware C-Corp has become the global default because it is fast, predictable, standardized, and easy to invest in — qualities that matter greatly to both founders and investors.
As a result, European startups with global ambitions often adopt US corporate structures early on, even when their teams, operations, and markets are primarily European. The moment a European legal structure offers the same simplicity — whether through SAFE instruments or equity — many investors are ready to switch and actively encourage founders to do the same.
However, EU-Inc is only the beginning. As a ‘28th regime,’ it would exist independently of national company laws while remaining tightly interconnected with local labor and tax systems. Making such a framework functional will require more than legislation alone.
Key components will still be needed, including:
- a dedicated judicial framework,
- harmonized accounting standards,
- and a supporting ecosystem of legal, financial, and operational service providers.
Delivering all of this will be extremely challenging. Yet optimism remains necessary, if only because Europe has little alternative. Reducing dependency on increasingly unreliable allies is becoming a strategic imperative — also in technology and capital markets.
Creating a standardized structure that investors are genuinely comfortable investing in is a strong first step. Whether Europe can follow through will define its competitiveness for decades to come.
Engineer turned entrepreneur turned investor, Borys is a founding Partner at SMOK Ventures, an early stage venture capital firm bridging Silicon Valley to Poland and the CEE region.
Formerly as an entrepreneur, co-founded Filmaster, a personalized recommendation startup acquired in 2015 by Samba TV. During his four years at Samba he built a team of 40 engineers in Warsaw and helped grow the company’s products onto the British and German markets.
Borys also co-founded ReaktorWarsaw startup hub, ReaktorX accelerator which helped 100+ first-time founders kickstart their startups, and Startup Poland, a leading think tank.
PJAIT graduate. Prior to founding his own projects, worked as a software engineer and team lead for both startups and large corporations in Poland, Germany and the United Kingdom.
Listed as one of 50 most creative Polish entrepreneurs by BRIEF. Mentors at Google for Startups, Founder Institute, Huge Thing.
Film buff. Basketball junkie.
