
SME Profile: The Village
The Village is a startup that was founded in 2019 by three women – Aleksandra Kozera (a Harvard graduate who is passionate about socially responsible business), Agnieszka Luczak and Weronika Matejko-Skwarek. Its mission is to connect parents and their children aged 1-6 with local educational centers – called Villages – where the youngest can receive…

New Research: 93% of European Small Businesses Use Targeted Ads
Jan. 19, 2022 (BRUSSELS) — As the European Parliament considers proposals to ban targeted advertising, a new survey shows that 93% of European small business leaders have embraced data-driven advertising that enables advertisers to reach recipients based on products and services that interest them, 76% percent called targeted ads valuable and 34% say they are…

SME Profile: CASS Software
Cloud and Security Services (CASS), founded and led by Dawid Kikosicki and Adam Dymurski, both long-time enthusiasts about all things IT, was founded in August 2020 at the time of the pandemic. “The idea behind starting the company was one: to use our passion for IT to help companies become more digital and thus increase…

Covid-19 Widened Inequalities. Digital Tools Can Close the Gap
As well as its more obvious effects, one of the most noticeable aspects about the global pandemic was that it further widened existing divides. Women, low-income workers, the youngest and the poorest were hit extremely hard.
Issues

Trade
In today’s global digital economy, international data flows should be seamless while data should be secure and protected. This combination allows European companies – including the smallest and newest companies – to innovate responsibly, inexpensively and efficiently reach new customers, promote new and exciting products, and quickly share useful information across the globe.

Competition
Particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, small businesses increasingly rely on large technology platforms’ free and low-cost tools and services to support basic operations, including advertising and marketing at home and accessing new markets. If Europe’s “modern” digital framework restricts platforms’ scale, or ability to offer new and innovative services, small businesses will inevitably pay more…

Data Collection, Security, and Use
Data is the fuel that powers Europe’s fast-growing digital economy. Data helps companies understand how to identify and reach potential customers and potential employees, and also improves business efficiency and profitability. Companies that collect your data must treat it responsibly, but proposals to restrict data collection must appreciate that anonymous data and large data sets…

Privacy
Privacy is a fundamental right and a practical concern for consumers, including small business owners and their families. But burdensome privacy laws and different rules in each market severely limit small business growth opportunities. The DSA package and other privacy laws should place strict information management obligations on society’s biggest privacy risks – the companies…