Those programs are mostly cargo culting and fail to address the essential aspects of an entrepreneurial environment. It's a way to seem like they're doing something rather than making the hard changes that would piss off some powerful special interests and rentiers.

One thing I hear about the startup environment in Europe is that investors are more conservative and risk-averse compared to those in the US. Would you elaborate on the "essential aspects of an entrepreneurial environment", and the hard changes that would need to be made to improve the situation?

Also curious to hear more about these powerful special interests and "rentiers" - any specific examples in mind?

Try becoming a freelancer opening a company in Spain. Orders of magnitude harder than in the US, so for many recent grads is not a viable option at all.

Different EU countries have different contexts. In Sweden it is very easy.

I think the point is not how easy is to start a company, but how easy is to get funds that you can spend without fear of failing.

> Europe is that investors are more conservative and risk-averse compared to those in the US.

I would think that is because the payouts are much lower. And with lower payouts, options are worth less to attract talent at below market (salary) rates.

China has demonstrated one way to do this