Dear hustlers, founders, operators and visionaries,
What if a single DM could change the trajectory of your life and ignite a movement across a continent? That’s exactly what happened to Kitty Mayo, CEO of Project Europe, who went from pondering a career in painting to building one of the most electric early-stage founder communities in Europe.
In this conversation, we step into the surreal early days of Project Europe: from a spontaneous call with Harry Stebbings to a viral launch while Kitty was halfway up a mountain with no Wi-Fi. This story is about purpose, agency, and reimagining what’s possible when young founders are given cultural permission to go all in. Kitty shares why Europe must learn to celebrate audacious ambition, and how she’s navigating the speed and pressure of building something that matters. Exclusively for our newsletter subscribers, Kitty has shared additional insights below.
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How to build Europe’s new startup powerhouse
What you will get out of this episode
In our conversation, Kitty shares:
How to recognize when you're standing at the edge of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
How to build an early-stage founder movement without following Silicon Valley's rulebook
Why earnestness beats hype when you're looking for world-changing founders
How to make friends who share your obsession and turn them into your unfair advantage
and much more!
Our main take away’s
Earnestness and obsession outweigh hype every time: Kitty emphasizes that the best founders aren't chasing status, they’re acting on an internal drive that’s often been present since childhood. They build from a place of long-term conviction, not trend-chasing.
Europe’s founders don’t need permission - until they do: One of Project Europe’s core insights is that young European founders often lack social and cultural permission to pursue big, risky ideas. Changing that narrative is just as important as funding the work.
