In this episode, Andreas Munk Holm speaks with Dom Hallas, Executive Director of the UK’s Startup Coalition, to explore how the organization is influencing policy at the intersection of startups, venture capital, and government. From immigration reform to capital access and regulatory red tape, Dom brings a candid view on what it takes to create real impact for founders across Europe.
They dive into the power of founder-first advocacy, the evolving lobbying landscape in Europe, and the urgent need for a united tech voice across the continent.
Here’s what’s covered:
01:10 Why Policy is a Competitive Sport
03:42 GDPR, Brussels & Lessons from Tech Regulation
05:12 What is the Startup Coalition & Who Funds It?
07:13 The Three Buckets: Talent, Capital, Regulation
11:20 Why Founders Need Their Own Voice in Politics
16:31 Making Advocacy Fun, Human & Effective
17:56 What Startups Can Learn from Farmers
21:30 Time Horizons & Playbooks in Policy Work
26:18 How the Coalition Sets its Agenda
31:46 A Crossroads for European Tech
35:46 The Current Policy Agenda: Talent, Finance & Reg
43:27 Funding the Underfunded: Inclusion as Policy
47:01 Regulation That Clears the Way for the Next Thing
🎧 Listen on Apple or Spotify — or queue it for later with chapters ready to go.
✍️ Show Notes
A Founder-Led Policy Movement
Dom Hallas shares his journey from politics and Bloomberg Philanthropies to leading the Startup Coalition. His mission? Make UK and European startup policy look and feel like the ecosystem it represents—fast, punchy, and entrepreneurial.
What is the Startup Coalition?
Founded in 2010 by Seedrs' Jeff Lynn and TechCrunch’s Mike Butcher, the Startup Coalition exists to solve the "who do you call?" problem for governments engaging startups. Today, it works across three buckets: talent (immigration & skills), capital (funding environment), and regulation.
The Capital Problem
From capital gains taxes to pension fund flows, the UK’s funding environment for startups is under pressure. Dom breaks down how the Coalition is pushing for reform and tackling structural challenges around late-stage capital, founder incentives, and underrepresented groups.
Talent as a National Priority
Whether through smarter visa systems or more competitive stock option schemes, Dom outlines what the UK and Europe must do to remain magnets for entrepreneurial talent in a global race for minds.
The Role of Regulation: Clear the Path, Don’t Pick Winners
From GDPR reform to AI regulation and procurement, the Coalition believes the role of policy should be to unblock markets—not dictate their winners.
Can Startups Learn from Farmers?
Andreas and Dom explore whether tech needs to get a little louder—and dirtier—to win more attention from policymakers. But they agree: the most successful playbooks mix trust-building, problem-solving, and a bit of healthy noise.
Europe Needs a Shared Voice
Dom calls for greater coordination across European tech policy organizations and highlights the Startup Coalition’s openness to supporting founders who want to launch new initiatives. From EU Inc. to pan-European summits, it’s time to think continental.
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