vaic.at’s Founder at: ‘Developed, Copenhagen’

Bridging Policy and Practice: Reflections on ACT | The App Association’s “Developed: Copenhagen” Event

In June 2025, I had the privilege of joining ACT | The App Association in Copenhagen as both a roundtable speaker and a proud member of the Association. Hosted in the historic city-centre venue Matrikel 1 and co-hosted by CVX Ventures, “Developed: Copenhagen – Founders, Drinks & Policy” brought together a remarkable mix of Danish and international founders, investors, and ecosystem builders eager to cut through the regulatory noise and explore how Europe’s shifting policy landscape can become a strategic advantage for startups.

Setting the Stage: Why Policy Matters for Startups

Chelsea Thomas, ACT’s Executive Director, kicked off the evening by reminding us that our role isn’t merely to observe policy debates—but to help shape them. “These issues and their stories go directly to policymakers,” she said. “We don’t act as intermediaries—we facilitate the conversation.” Her invitation to share real-world challenges and success stories set a collaborative tone: we were here not just to listen, but to equip one another for the challenges ahead.

Highlighted Takeaways

Jesper Højberg Christensen: Autonomy, Energy, FOMO, Drones, the 28th Republic and Geopolitics

Jesper, a serial entrepreneur and advisor, led a thought-provoking discussion on Lesi & Dragi—his playful moniker for the broader “Lesi and Draghi” debates unfolding in EU capitals. He argued that a collective desire for autonomy—driven by energy security concerns, cyber-defence imperatives, and a shared focus on emerging “hybrid wars”—is uniting policymakers, investors, and startup founders alike. The result? A once-in-a-generation opportunity for European tech players to step into leadership roles by pioneering smart, sustainable energy systems and resilient digital infrastructure.

Jesper’s energy reminded everyone why FOMO can sometimes be a good thing. He teased us with an “operational piece” coming later in the month, then dove into three topics close to his heart:

1. Lesi & Dragi: Echoing Jesper’s points, but with a founder’s lens on regulatory fragmentation and how to hack around it.
2. 10 Drone Startups: Spotlighting ten European teams deploying UAVs for everything from precision agriculture to last-mile delivery—and the AI/DSA considerations they’re already wrestling with.
3. The 28th Republic & July 1: His rallying cry that, come July 1, we’ll see the EU truly take the helm of its own digital destiny—an anniversary worth celebrating (and preparing for).

Panel & Networking: From AI Act to Investor Expectations

The panel of ACT policy experts unpacked the AI Act, Digital Services Act (DSA), Digital Markets Act (DMA), and the EU’s new startup strategy. Highlights included:

• Compliance as Competitive Advantage: Investors now expect meaningful trust metrics—data-protection certifications, ethical AI roadmaps, open-market portability.
• Cross-Border Scale-Up: Practical tips for tackling national rule-books while targeting the single market.
• Building with Policy in Mind: How a small tweak in your product roadmap can turn a potential liability into a market differentiator.

Between deep dives and frank Q&As, there was plenty of time to mingle over Danish snacks and local craft beers—my favourite moment being an impromptu roundtable on policy and technology innovation.

vaic.at’s Perspective

At vaic.at, our mission is to elevate EU Talent Mobility to new heights with our innovative apps, mEUvy and Salary Insights. With nearly a decade of experience in EU recruitment and relocation services, we are uniquely positioned to bring these powerful tools to the App Store. However, we face several challenges, the most significant being the Digital Markets Act. We cannot emphasize enough the potential consequences of eroding trust in the mobile ecosystem for our services and mission. Additionally, we have spoken with numerous European (tech) entrepreneurs who share our concerns. It is truly inspiring to receive such unwavering support from visionary entrepreneurs in Denmark and those who traveled from various European countries, including Germany and the United Kingdom. Thank you for your continued support.

Shout-Outs

A huge thank-you to Bradley Simonich, Jonas Almeling, Giulia Cereseto, Alex Cooke, Chelsea Thomas and the entire ACT | The App Association team for organising this great event. Of course also a warm shout out fellow ACT member James Hanson and to all the amazing entrepreneurs who attended the event. Special thanks to Zenia Francker for your insights. And of course, thank you to Matrikel 1 for hosting us in such an inspiring space. Plus, and you’ve got to check him out, the amazing photographer: Dino Soldin.

It was a pleasure to connect with so many new faces—from founders wrestling with the irreversible changes to the Digital Market because of the DMA and GDPR-compliant data aviation, to investors scouting the next generation of EU scale-ups. I left Copenhagen energised, filled with fresh insights on how to navigate Europe’s evolving regulatory frontier—and confident that, together, we’ll continue turning policy challenges into growth opportunities.