At ExpertHub, we are interested in exploring the dynamics of the AI startup ecosystem, particularly in Europe, where we source most of our solutions and where the talent potential is exceptional.

Struggle in the land of growing innovations?

As we build our platform around technologies, we want to incorporate the human touch to understand its authors. That is among the reasons our team attends more and more events, in pursuit of knowledge about different challenges and needs faced by the startups and professionals in the growing AI field.

This allows us to hear diverse opinions on the specificity of the struggle in this part of the world:

• Even though growing in innovation, Europe is still a workshop of tools constructed for the American market. Startups look for their clients overseas, facing more challenges in establishing commercial relations.

• Without strong local opportunities, many small entrepreneurs struggle to grow — even though they have the talent and ideas to succeed.

• In turn — it can lead to slowing down the general pace of new tech development within the European continent or to less efficient implementation of projects outside of it — negatively affected by differences between clients and solution providers.

What we aim to do is to be able to establish the union between solutions/talents and clients that are put in a difficult place in the described circumstances. But as a European startup ourselves, we also want a stronger local ecosystem, conducive to innovation growth.

The efforts taken by educational institutions, non-profit innovation hubs, governmental organizations, and even more straightforwardly political bodies demonstrate that there is a need for AI in Europe, too.

EU AI Act

Among the obstacles to the smooth implementation of any new technology are gaps in the legislation. When it comes to something as groundbreaking and transformative as AI — there is an urgent need to conceptualize its use.

The European Union aims to become a leader in this regard, having proposed and formally adopted an act called the ‘world’s first comprehensive AI regulation’ — the EU Artificial Intelligence Act.

The act was formally adopted in 2024, but the phased implementation began this year. In 2026, it will be fully implemented. It covers obligations for providers, deployers, and importers of AI.

From the AI user’s point of view, there is still a need to develop a framework other than the one for high-risk AI users, though, as those groups of users are addressed in detail by the act. The ubiquity of AI makes it necessary to cover also its commercial aspects legally.

Would you like to check out what the act contains and means for you and your business? For instance, AI startups working with biometric or health data may fall into the ‘high-risk’ category — requiring stricter compliance processes, documentation, and transparency obligations. Visit the EU’s official channels for more information.

Would you like to share your struggles as a Europe-based startup? Let’s talk! hello@joinexperthub.com or via LinkedIn.