On Founding Share PLM GmbH and the EU INC Framework

Last week, I finally signed the formation of Share PLM GmbH at the notary.

On paper, it is just a signature. In reality, it marks the end of a long and demanding process.

We founded Share PLM GmbH as a foreign holding company, representing Share Enterprises, together with our local partner Thomas Winden.

Germany is precise.

Thorough.

Serious about rules.

Those qualities are often strengths.

But as a founder, you feel the weight of them very quickly.

The admin work was intense.

The legal language was complex.

And yes, the lawyers are expensive.

This isn’t a complaint but a reflection of reality: entrepreneurship rarely begins with freedom and almost always starts with friction.

Without A Local Partner, This Would Have Been Very, Very Difficult

I am very honest about this: without Thomas, this journey would have been significantly harder.

The amount of bureaucracy and local legal knowledge required is not trivial. Understanding how things really work in Germany, not just in theory but in practice, saved us time, money, and many unnecessary iterations with lawyers.

That is sobering.

Because I deeply believe in entrepreneurship as a force to create, to innovate, and to change the world for the better.

Yet the system still places heavy obstacles in front of those who want to start something new.

Founding a company is only the first hurdle.

After that come the long-term consequences, from the difficulty of getting a loan to buy a house to having to secure and fund your own pension.

Entrepreneurs often carry more risk and fewer protections, even though they contribute a lot to innovation and employment.

It’s a challenging path, and acknowledging that is part of the process.

The Power of Partnership in a Rapidly Changing World

As the world changes rapidly, I see facilitation and experience becoming premium capabilities.

With AI taking over many “doing” and administrative tasks, value shifts elsewhere.

It shifts to connection.

To advice.

To sense-making.

To facilitation.

All of it, increasingly, powered by AI.

This is exactly the kind of ecosystem I aim to create through Share Enterprises.

A network of lean companies, each led by empowered individuals.

This model is good for companies.

But it is also good for people.

I already see this dynamic with Thomas.

I bring energy, ideas, momentum.

He brings experience, reliability, and deep local trust.

I can already see that this combination resonates with customers.

The Need For EU Inc: Europe Needs to Make Entrepreneurship Easier

That said, I was still upset by how difficult the process was.

If Europe wants to compete globally, we need to lower the barriers to entrepreneurship. Especially for young people who want to create something meaningful.

And for foreigners who, like me, may not speak the language perfectly or know every local rule.

This is a competitiveness issue.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Emmanuel Macron spoke openly about this challenge. About the need to reduce bureaucracy, speed up company creation, and make Europe a place where innovation can move faster.

Having lived in Finland for two years, I experienced what simplicity at scale can look like. The pace was faster, the systems clearer, and the trust in digital processes tangible.

When I left the country, I only had to provide my ID number and, almost magically, bank accounts, insurances, and official registrations were deactivated automatically.

The same logic applies to entrepreneurship.

Finland has built systems that allow companies to be created quickly and efficiently, even by foreigners.

That experience opened my mind to what is possible when public infrastructure is designed with people in mind.

Why the EU INC Framework Gives Me Real Optimism

That is why I was genuinely encouraged to read about Ursula von der Leyen announcing progress toward an EU-wide startup framework, often referred to as the EU INC initiative.

The idea is simple and powerful: enable companies to be established across Europe within days, not months. EU INC promises to provide a single framework designed to reduce legal obstacles and bring greater consistency across Europe.

If implemented well, this could be transformative.

Entrepreneurship is one of the strongest forces we have in a world where ideas matter more than ever.

We are entering a moment where technology is widely accessible, AI amplifies individual capability, and small teams can create outsized impact in a very short time.

In that context, the focus should be on simplifying, supporting, and making it easier to build, so entrepreneurs can spend their energy on ideas, value creation, and impact rather than navigating unnecessary complexity.

With the world becoming more complex every day and speed and competitiveness more critical than ever, I remain optimistic that we are finally moving in the right direction.

Related reading: Reflections from the Share PLM Summit · The Future of Work with AI: Why Human Connection Matters More Than Ever

Keep reading: I published my first non-fiction book · Introducing Share The Nest: Connecting People in a Digital World