Incomplete EU Single Market Is Tech Startups’ Biggest Hurdle — Andreas Idl (Cropster)

In this interview Andreas Idl, CEO and Co-Founder of Cropster, reflects on scaling a global SaaS company from Europe while navigating an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.

Cropster supports the global coffee industry, helping farmers and roasters reduce waste, improve quality, and save money – yet EU tech and digital rules often pull focus away from innovation and growth.

Andreas argues for thoughtful, harmonised regulation that strengthens the single market rather than fragmenting it. He shares how constant compliance cycles, unclear requirements, and premature regulation slow companies down – and why Europe risks losing ground if founders spend more time managing rules than building products.

This conversation is part of CCIA Europe’s #UnlockEUInnovation campaign, featuring European startup leaders explaining why regulatory simplification cannot wait – and what’s at stake if it doesn’t happen.