Summit | Dave Bailey (Founder Coach): Creating simplicity

Complexity is one of the biggest barriers to scaling, and AI may make it worse. As building new features gets easier, the temptation is to keep adding. Dave Bailey, CEO of Founder Coach, argues that scaling requires the opposite: subtraction. In this talk from the EUVC Summit & Awards Show 2026, he shares a practical framework for focusing on the goal that matters most, challenging plans that no longer serve it and removing the hidden priorities that create complexity. Dave coaches venture-backed CEOs from Seed to pre-IPO and previously co-founded and scaled multiple venture-backed companies, including Delivery Hero. Highlights Why simple scales and complex fails How bigger goals and shorter timelines create clarity Why AI can increase organisational complexity How hidden goals and fear keep weak plans alive Why raising the bar is a tool for subtraction Timestamps (01:15) Why simple scales and complex fails (03:00) Why AI makes complexity worse (03:40) Finding your simplifying goal (05:15) Why bigger goals create clarity (05:40) Compressing the timeline (07:00) Clean thinking vs dirty thinking (08:30) The hidden goal iceberg (10:35) Why fear keeps bad plans alive (10:50) Raising the bar through subtraction (11:45) The path to simplicity Want to simplify how you scale? Book a discovery call with Dave Bailey to identify the challenges holding your company back and explore how Founder Coach can help. https://www.eu.vc/products/dave-bailey-ceo-founder-coach