# My Talk at Gründungsmesse Mittelhessen - Now on Video

The video from Paul Piper's Gründungsmesse Mittelhessen talk is out, covering German-US founder culture and what Europe can do to catch up.

 The recording from last year’s Gründungsmesse Mittelhessen in Giessen is finally out. Big thanks to TiG for organizing the event and making this available.
In the talk I get into something I think about a lot: the cultural gap between Germany and the US when it comes to founding companies. Why did I end up starting my company in the US? It’s not because Germany lacks talent or ideas - it’s about the environment around those ideas. Risk tolerance, access to capital, the social stigma around failure - it all adds up.
The second half is about what we can actually do to move the EU forward. It’s easy to complain about bureaucracy and risk aversion, but there are real levers we can pull. Better support structures for early-stage founders, a culture that celebrates the attempt not just the exit, and building more bridges between European talent and the global market.
If you were at the event, hope this brings back some good memories. If not, would love to hear what you think.