The Supreme Court's likely decision to back Trump's dismissal of Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, a Democratic FTC commissioner, has sent waves through the entrepreneurial community. For startup founders, especially in Europe, this case may seem like distant U.S. politics, but its consequences are much closer to home than you might think.
When I started bootstrapping my ventures and later created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, my priority was building structures where trust, innovation, and expertise drive decision-making rather than political winds shifting directions. Slaughter's ousting is not just about reshaping U.S. federal agencies; it's a cautionary tale for all of us designing or navigating regulatory frameworks in our entrepreneurial journeys.
Let’s Break Down What Happened
Slaughter’s firing challenges a legal precedent set in 1935 (Humphrey’s Executor v. United States). That ruling protected independent agency members by allowing their removal only for specific causes like neglect or misconduct. The President couldn't arbitrarily fire them based on differing policies or personal preferences.
Now, Trump’s stance, if endorsed, could unleash broader executive control over these bodies. And while some argue that more accountability to the head of state aligns agencies with national priorities, it undeniably disrupts their independence. Justice Elena Kagan summarized it well during the proceedings when she questioned the dangers of allowing expertise to take a backseat to political loyalty.
Why Should European Entrepreneurs Care?
Even though the U.S. Supreme Court's decisions don’t directly govern Europe, they shape global regulatory processes. The precedent here could embolden similar moves in the EU and beyond, destabilizing key institutions like the European Central Bank or competition oversight bodies. Such disruptions could trickle down to regulatory policies that govern intellectual property, fintech startups, or cross-border tech exports, industries many of us operate in.
Consider this hypothetical. What if European regulators, under political pressure, fast-tracked certain technologies over others, not because of merit but because a governing party favored them? The principle protecting the independence of regulatory agencies is what ensures fair access to markets, predictability, and an even playing field for bootstrapped founders.
Lessons for European Female Entrepreneurs
Empirical data shows independent agencies play a vital role in economic stability and fairness. As someone who transitioned from working across multiple countries to running nonprofits and deeptech startups, I have experienced firsthand how structural uncertainty wreaks havoc on investment confidence. Here's what founders in Europe should take away regarding regulatory reliability:
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Assess Legal Frameworks Before Starting or Expanding: Understanding how regulatory agencies in a country operate can affect the stability of your operations. Countries with volatile or overly politicized agencies pose higher risks, especially if, or when, you need protection under those regulations.
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Diversify Operations Across Stable Markets: As I expanded CADChain's reach across Europe and beyond, finding markets with transparent and reliable governance became non-negotiable. If your product meets a roadblock in one region, you’ll need alternatives.
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Advocate for Strong Regulations: It might feel like just another political debate, but these regulations build the backbone of environments conducive to innovation, or sabotage them. Getting involved in advocacy, petitions, or even discussions within entrepreneurial communities can ripple upwards.
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Plan Contingencies for Policy Risks: The fallout of sudden regulatory changes can wipe out significant market opportunities. Build scenarios into strategy meetings that discuss disruptions caused by government instability.
How You Can Respond
Here’s a mini how-to guide for being proactive as the regulatory climate changes around you:
1. Keep Tabs on Major Global Developments
Tools like Google Alerts or specialized news apps can notify you when global legal shifts affect your sector. Tracking global news, even U.S.-centric ones like this Supreme Court case, gives early warnings of potential downstream effects. Information is power, always.
2. Join Local Business Networks
Industry-specific groups, such as the startup incubators I've collaborated with (e.g., Yes! Delft or Y-Combinator resources), are great forums to discuss imminent risks or pool solutions if broader concerns arise.
3. Build Partnerships with Advocacy Groups
Collaborative lobbying or petitioning through organizations that genuinely reflect startup voices enhances your influence. As I discovered working with the OECD’s Blockchain Policy Forum, corporates that come together amplify their representation and effectiveness.
4. Rethink your Growth Timeline
Delays caused by random regulatory changes can slow down product rollouts. Review your milestones to build flexibility without compromising goals. No one likes to slow down, but this doesn’t mean stopping, it’s about timing better.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Most of us run at full steam while bootstrap funding or scaling our ventures; however, skipping assessments of geopolitical or regulatory risks is shortsighted. Here’s what to steer clear of:
- Taking Shortcuts on Compliance: We’ve all heard horror stories where startups faced crippling fines because they undervalued regulatory intricacies.
- Ignoring Political Signals: These discussions may seem distant, but if a regulation change happens, reacting late or unprepared can completely derail your small business operations.
- Assuming Your Sector is Exempt: Intellectual property, AI, or fintech, regardless of how innovative, your business indirectly depends on stable governance.
Closing Thoughts for Entrepreneurs
Whether this Supreme Court decision creates ripple effects outside U.S. jurisdiction, it’s already a prompt for us to reevaluate how much fragility exists when power dynamics around independent decision-making bodies are disrupted. The effects aren't isolated, and entrepreneurs across borders must see events like these not as mere regulatory battles but as warnings of potential industry shifts.
Entrepreneurship is all about navigating uncertainty, but proactive planning often turns that uncertainty into opportunity. For European entrepreneurs, especially women navigating bootstrapped startups like I do, our focus must remain locked on sustainable, reliable environments for growth. If foundational governance weakens, we need strategies ready to adapt.
This case won’t stop me or other founders from continuing to innovate and push boundaries. But it does underline an important truth: the systems we operate in must thrive on merit, not political convenience. The long-term health of our businesses depends on it.
FAQ
1. Why did Trump fire Rebecca Kelly Slaughter from the FTC?
Donald Trump argued that Slaughter’s continued service on the commission conflicted with his administration's priorities, challenging the legal precedent protecting independent agency members from at-will presidential firing. Read more about Slaughter's removal
2. What is the significance of the Humphrey’s Executor v. United States precedent?
This 1935 Supreme Court ruling limits the president’s ability to remove members of independent agencies like the FTC, allowing removal only for cause such as inefficiency, neglect, or misconduct. Learn about Humphrey’s Executor
3. How does the Supreme Court's likely decision impact U.S. government agencies?
If the ruling overturns Humphrey’s Executor, it will significantly weaken agency independence, allowing the president to remove officials at will and consolidate executive control over regulatory bodies. Explore Supreme Court proceedings
4. What are the broader implications for global regulatory systems?
This potential shift in U.S. policy could influence global regulatory trends and embolden similar moves in other countries, destabilizing independent institutions worldwide. Understand the global impact
5. Why should European entrepreneurs pay attention to this case?
Independent regulatory bodies protect market fairness and innovation. If political pressure compromises these bodies, it could result in biased market access and regulatory unpredictability, affecting European businesses indirectly. Read about implications for European entrepreneurs
6. How does this ruling challenge agency independence?
The decision questions the established guidelines for protecting commissioners from political interference, which historically maintained expertise-driven governance over loyalty to political administrations. Learn about agency independence challenges
7. What warning did Justice Elena Kagan give regarding this decision?
Justice Kagan expressed concern that prioritizing political loyalty over expertise could endanger independent agencies and undermine the purpose of impartial governance. Explore Justice Kagan's viewpoint
8. How did this case evolve from lower courts to the Supreme Court?
Initially, lower courts ruled Trump’s firing of Slaughter unlawful, but the Supreme Court issued a stay allowing her removal while the case proceeds, emphasizing its conservative majority’s stance. Follow the case timeline
9. What is the “unitary executive theory,” and how does it relate to this case?
This legal theory supports strong presidential control over the executive branch, arguing the president should have full authority to remove independent agency officials, a key contention in this case. Discover the unitary executive theory
10. What can entrepreneurs do to prepare for regulatory changes?
Entrepreneurs should assess legal frameworks before expanding operations, diversify across stable markets, advocate for strong regulations, and plan contingencies for policy risks. Check proactive planning tips
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.
