At the EUVC Summit, Will McQuillan of Frontline delivered a keynote that flipped the script on the increasingly popular narrative of Europe needing to "decouple" from the US. With data points, historical context, and a call to action, Will urged VCs and founders to resist isolationist instincts and double down on building global companies, despite rising geopolitical noise.
Rather than succumbing to isolationist trends, this talk urges the venture community to reclaim a global mindset, reminding us that the best companies are built across borders, not within them.
Whether you're in venture, policy, or portfolio support, this is your reminder that global ambition still matters—and it’s up to investors to make it possible.
Here’s what’s covered:
00:50 US Revenue Reliance: A warning or a reality check?
02:30 The Case Against Isolationism: Why Europe can’t afford to go it alone
04:15 Historical Proof of Collaboration: From deep-sea cables to the Large Hadron Collider
06:00 Policy vs Practice: Why builders must rise above political narratives
08:10 VC’s Role in the Globalization Equation: Making international scale possible again
📺 Watch the episode here or stream it on Spotify or Apple Podcasts—now with chapters for easy navigation 🎧
Europe vs the US? Think Bigger.
With many startups seeing a significant portion of their revenue from the US, the speaker cautions against retreating into a purely Europe-first mentality.
“The US is a huge market. When building global companies in Europe, we still need to be thinking internationally.”
While some might argue Europe is overly reliant on the US, the episode counters that transatlantic interdependence has been the bedrock of innovation for centuries, from the International Space Station to deep-sea communications cables laid over 150 years ago.
A Mindset Shift for Builders & Backers
This isn’t just a macroeconomic thought piece. The key takeaway is for VCs and ecosystem builders:
“It’s up to us as investors to help our companies get past the hurdles of a fragmented world—and continue building globally.”
Yes, globalization may be harder today. But that’s precisely why venture capital must do more than write checks—it must also open doors, challenge boundaries, and enable expansion.
Beyond Borders: A Rebuttal to the “Europe First” Narrative
Will warns against VC advisors pushing companies to stay hyper-local:
“The US is a massive market. If you're building a global company from Europe, you have to think internationally.”
While some may see this as a weakness—Europe’s reliance on US revenue—Will reframes it as a strength born from collaboration, not dependence.
History Lessons That Matter Now
From the International Space Station to the Large Hadron Collider, to transatlantic internet cables built over 150 years ago, Will makes the case that every major leap in modern infrastructure has been transatlantic—and that founders today shouldn’t forget that legacy.
“These milestones didn’t happen because of isolation. They happened because of cooperation.”
The Role of Investors: Enablers of Global Scale
In a world growing more fragmented, Will challenges VCs to do more than invest—he calls on them to lead.
“Yes, it's harder to build global companies today. But it’s our job to help founders overcome that. That’s how big, world-changing companies are born.”
Final Message: It’s Not Europe Versus the US
Don’t buy into the political polarization. Founders, investors, and engineers across both continents have always collaborated to move humanity forward.
“Media and politicians may frame it as Europe vs the US, but the reality is that progress depends on partnership.”
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🗓️ The VC Conferences You Can’t Miss
There are some events that just have to be on the calendar. Here’s our list, hit us up if you’re going, we’d love to meet!
The EU CVC Summit 2025 | 📆 26 - 28 August 2025 | 🇩🇰 Copenhagen, Denmark
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