.@langdock Co-CEO @DadaJudith on notarisation madness in Germany: "In my life as a VC, I've spent a lot of time at notarization." "The contract is read out loud in this strange speed mumbling that the notaries do." "It's a really weird experience." "You can get a power of attorney, and then you don't actually need to be sitting there. But you still need to go to the notary to get the POA." "I'm fiercely outspoken about notarisation duties making no sense whatsoever." "I think we need…

Patrick Collison@patrickcAug 29

Met a German founder this week and asked him if all the stories one reads about the challenges of startups in Germany are exaggerated. "No, they're understated." Proceeded to describe spending a full day having a 90-page investment contract read to him (mandatory under German law; § 13 BeurkG) by a notary that then charged €30,000. That was for his first company. His second company, needless to say, was not incorporated in Germany.