A Cheeky Pint with serial entrepreneur Pieter Levels (@levelsio)

Summary

In this conversation, the speaker discusses Europe's regulatory challenges and the need for a more pro-business environment. They express concern over how bureaucratic barriers stifle innovation and entrepreneurial growth, particularly in comparison to the U.S. The discussion touches on Stripe’s evolving API and the importance of maintaining simplicity. The speaker also explores cultural attitudes toward success, wealth, and business in Europe versus America, emphasizing the need for a mindset shift. Looking ahead, they reflect on their journey with startups and investing while expressing contentment with their current lifestyle.

Takeaways

• 😀 Europe needs to simplify regulations to foster entrepreneurship and make starting businesses easier.
• 😀 European regulations are fragmented, making it difficult for startups to operate across multiple countries.
• 😀 There is a need for pro-business and pro-European policies, moving away from nationalism and embracing a unified, supportive environment for businesses.
• 😀 Europe's current regulatory environment stifles innovation and pushes talented individuals down, preventing them from reaching their potential.
• 😀 Europeans need to change their view on wealth creation and entrepreneurship, recognizing that getting rich often reflects one's value to society.
• 😀 There is a cultural difference in Europe, where entrepreneurship is not as highly respected as it is in the U.S., and this needs to change.
• 😀 Business success should not be seen as inherently negative; wealth is a tool for positive societal change.
• 😀 Stripe's API design had issues, especially after the COVID-19 period, making it more complex than it needed to be, but it has since improved.
• 😀 Maintaining simplicity in product design is crucial for keeping users engaged, especially when offering a service like Stripe's payment solutions.
• 😀 Starting with simple solutions (like a payment link) is preferred, with complex tools like workflow engines being introduced gradually as users scale up their needs.
• 😀 The speaker values flexibility in their career and personal life, enjoying travel and working on various projects, but is also starting to explore investing in startups.

Q & A

What is the primary issue affecting new businesses in Europe, according to the speaker?

The primary issue affecting new businesses in Europe is the regulatory burden, which makes it more difficult to start and run a business compared to places like the United States.

How does the speaker compare Europe to the United States in terms of business opportunities?

The speaker suggests that Europe has a lot of talented and ambitious people, but they face a ceiling in their career growth due to government regulations. In contrast, the United States is seen as offering easier opportunities to start and grow businesses.

What does the speaker think about the political landscape in Europe in relation to business?

The speaker describes a division between the political spectrum in Europe, with the left side being more regulation-focused and protective of people, while the right side is pro-business but also nationalist. The speaker argues that what Europe needs is a pro-business, federal Europe.

What is the 'Never waste a crisis' mentality the speaker mentions, and how does it relate to Europe?

The speaker refers to the 'Never waste a crisis' mentality in the context of Europe's current struggles. They suggest that Europe’s issues may lead to a turning point where people begin to realize the need for reform and change, something that wasn’t as widely acknowledged two years ago.

What cultural attitude does the speaker believe needs to change in Europe regarding business and wealth?

The speaker believes that the attitude in Europe toward business and wealth needs to change. They emphasize that getting rich is often a reflection of the value someone adds to society, and Europeans need to stop viewing business success and wealth as negative or greedy.

How does the speaker feel about Stripe’s development over time?

The speaker expresses that Stripe has been improving recently, particularly after some issues they faced post-Covid. They mention that the API had become more complicated, but now it seems to have regained its simplicity and focus, which they appreciate.

What does the speaker suggest about the role of simplicity in Stripe’s services?

The speaker stresses that Stripe should maintain its original simple approach, where users can easily integrate payment processing with minimal complexity. They highlight that most users don’t want to dive deep into API integration but simply want to make transactions work with minimal effort.

What is the speaker’s stance on the need for business features like Stripe’s workflow engine?

While the speaker acknowledges that advanced features like Stripe’s workflow engine are valuable for more complex business needs, they suggest that if someone is starting with such features, something has gone wrong. They emphasize that businesses should be exposed to advanced features gradually.

What does the speaker envision for their life in the next five years?

The speaker admits they are uncertain about the next five years but expresses interest in trying different things, including investing. They mention that they are currently enjoying life with their girlfriend, traveling, and meeting new people, and they hope to continue this lifestyle.

How does the speaker view their experience with investing, and how do they feel about it?

The speaker shares that they’ve started investing but feel somewhat uncomfortable or like a 'faker' each time they do. They mention having invested in Cursor and seem cautiously optimistic about it, recognizing that investing is a new area for them, but one they are open to exploring.