Sonali de Rycker, a general partner of Accel and one of the most influential venture capitalists in Europe, is optimistic about AI’s continental prospects. But she pays attention to the regulatory overrich that can interfere with the momentum.

In London this week, Techcrunch Strictlyvc De Ryquer was reflected in the position of Europe in the global AI race to balance optimism with realism. She told the people gathered for the event, “We have all sculptures.” “We have entrepreneurs, ambitions, schools, water, and talent.” She argued that everything lost was the ability to “release” the potential.

obstacle? The artificial intelligence law that is partially pioneered by Europe’s complex regulatory environment, but is controversial.

De Rycker admitted that regulations play a role in high risk sectors, especially in medical and finance. Nevertheless, she said she is worried that a wide range of AI Act’s wide range of reach and a fine of potential fines can interfere with innovation at the moment when a new company in Europe needs to repeat and grow.

“There is a true opportunity to solve what we can go fast and solve what we can do,” she said. “The problem is that we also face a headwind for regulation.”

The AI ​​Act, which imposes strict rules for applications that are considered “high risks”, from credit scores to medical images, have raised a timely manner among investors like De Ryquer. Although the goal of ethical AI and consumer protection can be praised, she is concerned that the net is so wide that it can be discouraged in early stages and entrepreneurship.

The emergency is amplified by moving geopolitical science. At present, with the Trump administration, de Licker believes this moment as the EU’s decisive support with Europe’s defense and economic autonomy.

“Now Europe is erased [for itself] In many ways, she said, “We must be self -sufficient. We must have sovereignty.”

This means to make the most of the potential of Europe. De Rycker points out the same efforts as “28th Regime”, a framework for creating a single rules for companies across the EU, which is critical to creating a more unified startup -friendly area. At present, the state of labor laws, licenses and corporate structures in the country, causes friction and delayed progress.

If we are truly one area, the power you can release will be incredible,” she said. “We will not talk like Europe is behind technology.”

In terms of De Rycker, Europe slowly follows not only innovation but also risks and experiments. Cities like Zurich, Munich, Paris and London have begun to create their own reinforced ecosystems thanks to their experienced founders.

Accel has invested in more than 70 cities across Europe and Israel, providing De Ryquer with a sculpture of the continent but a thriving first seat. Nevertheless, on Tuesday night, she mentioned in contrast with the United States about adoption. “We have a lot more tendency for our customers to experiment with the American AI,” she said. “They spend money on this kind of speculative early stage companies. The flywheel continues.”

Accel’s strategy reflects this reality. The company did not support major basic AI model companies such as Openai or Anthropic, but focused on the application class. “We feel very comfortable to the application class.” These basic models are capital -intensive and actually not like a venture support company. “

An example of promising betting is Synthesia, a video generation platform used for Enterprise Training, and Speak, a language learning app that has recently entered the $ 1 billion evaluation. De Rycker (A person who avoided questions about Accel’s report Another big name of AI), I think this is an early example of how AI can create a completely new behavior and business model.

“We are expanding the total address market that we have never seen,” she feels like the early days of mobile. DOORDASH and Uber were not just a mobilized website. They were a new paradigm. “

Ultimately, De Rycker sees this as a challenge and one generation opportunity. If Europe depends too much on regulations, there is a risk of preventing innovation that can help to compete around the world as well as AI as well as the entire technical spectrum.

“We are in the super cycle,” she said. “These cycles do not come often, and we can’t afford to have leather straps.”

As the designated academic uncertainty rises and the United States looks more and more inside, Europe has little choice, but it cannot be bet on itself. If it can be properly balanced, De Rycker thinks there is everything to lead it.

The attendees did not hesitate to ask what the EU founder could do to compete with the US. “I think they think [competitive]She quoted a company that Accel, including SuperCell and Spotify, said, “These founders are no different.”

You can have a full conversation with De Rycker.