In 2025, as an entrepreneur focused on empowering women in tech, I found myself drawn to the ongoing debate surrounding the 28th Regime proposal in the EU. European founders have long been hindered by fragmented laws and regulatory burdens when scaling their companies across borders. The promise of a unified, voluntary framework like the 28th Regime has sparked both excitement and skepticism among business leaders like me. With the challenges I’ve encountered running startups and building a community of changemakers, I believe there’s no better time to assess what this initiative could offer. Let’s explore its implications for female entrepreneurs and why its legal design matters.
The Struggle of Scaling in Europe
Scaling a startup in Europe often feels like navigating a maze designed to test your patience. Despite the EU’s single market, national differences in corporate structures, tax compliance, and labor laws create bottlenecks. Picture this: you register a business in the Netherlands, where incorporation is straightforward. Then, you expand to Germany, where bureaucracy slows you down for months. By the time you think about reaching the French market, you’re tangled in VAT complexities and differing employment regulations.
These barriers disproportionately affect small businesses and female founders. Women, statistically more likely to bootstrap their ventures, have less initial funding to deal with the added legal and administrative costs of operating in multiple countries. According to the EU Startup Monitor, only 15% of European startups led by women successfully scale beyond their home country.
What Makes the 28th Regime Attractive?
The 28th Regime, also referred to as EU-INC, proposes a single, pan-European framework for company incorporation. Startups opting for this structure would benefit from having one centralized set of rules, a digital-first registration process, and streamlined access to capital and talent across EU member states.
For founders, this means fewer headaches with paperwork, predictable tax treatment, and no need to reinvent internal structures for compliance each time they expand. For those of us bootstrapping, this could free up precious resources, time and capital, to focus on growing our businesses rather than navigating unnecessary bureaucracy.
One of its highlights is the potential introduction of a unified stock option system (EU-ESOP), which would simplify offering equity to employees across borders. Female founders often rely on stock options as an incentive since high salaries for early hires are less feasible when resources are stretched thin.
But there’s a catch. Proper execution is critical. As Damian Boeselager, a member of the European Parliament, explained in a recent article, “If we get it wrong, founders simply won’t adopt it. They’ll continue incorporating outside the EU.” That brings us to the design dilemma: should the 28th Regime be adopted as a directive or a regulation?
Lessons Female Founders Can Draw From this Debate
The challenges surrounding EU-INC mirror those we face in running startups. Here are some key lessons:
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Simplicity is a Winning Strategy
Investors and markets favor models that eliminate complexity. If a scheme like the 28th Regime bogs founders down in loopholes or national variations, its utility disappears. For founders, this is also a reminder to simplify internal processes, workflows, and go-to-market strategies. -
Speed Matters
Legal certainty and speed are vital for growth. No startup can afford delays when trying to hit market opportunities. Entrepreneurs should advocate for infrastructure, bureaucratic systems, and financing tools that prioritize agility. -
Coalitions Drive Change
The EU-INC proposal gained traction because of active lobbying by founders and VCs who saw its potential. If women in tech want better representation in policies like this, more of us need to join these coalitions or build our own networks.
Common Mistakes Female Entrepreneurs Should Avoid
Running my own ventures and connecting with women building startups, I’ve noticed reoccurring pitfalls:
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Overlooking Legal Structures
Relying solely on local incorporation frameworks and not exploring options that could save future headaches is a common mistake. With the potential introduction of the 28th Regime, it’s worth keeping tabs on how these frameworks align with your business goals. -
Avoiding Advocacy Efforts
Many female founders feel uncomfortable engaging in public policy debates. But if you don’t advocate for structures that benefit people like you, who will? Your voice matters, especially now when large-scale changes like this proposal are being shaped. -
Undervaluing Community and Peer Support
Navigating cross-border operations is daunting. Build a network of women founders across Europe whom you can consult or collaborate with. For example, platforms that operate in the space for women founders, such as those created through Fe/male Switch, facilitate networking opportunities.
How Female Entrepreneurs Can Stay Ahead
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Educate Yourself
Stay updated on policy developments around the EU-INC framework. Knowledge is power when lobbying for better conditions or informing your strategic decisions. Sites like The Recursive regularly provide policy insights and updates. -
Prepare for Digital-First Changes
With the EU pushing for digital incorporation systems, now is the time to adopt technologies that can integrate with cross-border operations. -
Collaborate in Legal Design Drafting
If you have the chance, join focus groups or initiatives providing feedback to governments and lawmakers. Advocate for straightforward procedures, especially those benefiting bootstrapped and women-led ventures.
Insights from My Experience
When I look back at building Fe/male Switch, I realize how much easier scaling could have been with standardized rules. I spent countless hours and thousands of euros figuring out regional operations alone. Multiply that by 27 countries, and you see the problem. A voluntary 28th Regime could have redefined that experience, and I want this opportunity for future founders.
But we can’t forget that execution is key. If the EU-INC becomes overly complex or slow due to compromises between member states, it’ll lose all appeal. Founders will stick to Delaware C-corps or simply avoid expansion altogether.
This remains a critical window for every entrepreneur in Europe to voice what they need in such policies. Whether it’s flexibility, transparency, or speed, let your perspective as a founder shape the future of entrepreneurship in Europe.
As a female entrepreneur navigating Europe’s fragmented market, I’ve faced the frustrations every founder knows: long waits, high legal fees, and vague compliance rules. The 28th Regime offers an exciting possibility, one that could cut through these roadblocks if done right. What’s next is up to us. Will we shape this framework into something voluntary yet practical, or will we let it become another missed opportunity? Only time, and our collective efforts, will tell.
FAQ
1. What is the 28th Regime in the EU?
The 28th Regime, also called EU-INC, is a proposed voluntary, pan-European legal framework aimed at simplifying company incorporation and scaling across EU borders with unified rules. It is designed to overcome market fragmentation and regulatory inefficiency faced by startups. Learn more about the 28th Regime initiative
2. What benefits does the 28th Regime provide to female entrepreneurs?
For female entrepreneurs, the 28th Regime offers streamlined access to digital registration, predictable tax treatment, and potentially a unified stock option system, helping women-led startups reduce administrative burdens and focus on growth. Discover why it matters for women in tech
3. How does the 28th Regime address existing scaling challenges in the EU?
The regime proposes harmonized rules, a digital-first registration system, and centralized governance across all EU member states, eliminating complex and fragmented compliance systems that founders currently face. Explore scaling solutions under the 28th Regime
4. Why is proper legal design crucial for the success of the 28th Regime?
If poorly designed, the regime risks being rejected by founders. A harmonized legal framework that eliminates complexity and supports business growth is key to attracting startups and preventing them from incorporating outside the EU. Understand the importance of legal design
5. What are the main legal and administrative barriers addressed by this initiative?
Key barriers include corporate structure variations, tax compliance issues, labor law differences, and cross-border hiring challenges. These disproportionately affect startups trying to scale across the EU. Read the full analysis of regulatory barriers
6. What is the debate around adopting the 28th Regime as a Regulation versus a Directive?
A Regulation would create uniform rules across all EU member states and take immediate effect, while a Directive would require incorporation into national laws, potentially causing fragmentation and delays. Learn about this legal debate
7. How can female founders benefit from a unified stock option system under the 28th Regime?
The proposed EU-ESOP system simplifies equity distribution across borders, a significant advantage for female founders who rely on stock options to attract top talent in resource-constrained settings. Find out more about EU-ESOP
8. What are the challenges in implementing the 28th Regime?
Challenges include balancing member states’ sovereignty with the need for harmonization, and achieving speed and simplicity in its execution to appeal to founders. Explore key challenges discussed in Parliament
9. How can female entrepreneurs contribute to the development of the 28th Regime?
Female entrepreneurs can join advocacy coalitions, provide feedback via public consultations, and participate in focus groups shaping policies to ensure they address women-led business needs. Learn how to join stakeholder feedback efforts
10. Why does the EU struggle to compete with Silicon Valley in startup scaling?
The EU's fragmented legal and corporate environments impede cross-border scaling, limiting its ability to nurture startups that can expand as effectively as those in the U.S. Understand the competitive gap in the startup ecosystem
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
