Paul Fehlinger

Paul Fehlinger is a global leader at the intersection of policy, technology, capital, and entrepreneurship. He serves as an Affiliate at Harvard University's Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, Director of Policy, Governance Innovation & Impact at Project Liberty Institute, and Senior Fellow at the Hertie School of Governance. As publisher of VC+POLICY, he advances the critical interface between venture capital, entrepreneurs, and policymaking.

His educational background includes a Master’s in International Relations from Sciences Po Paris—funded by a scholarship from the German National Merit Foundation (Studienstiftung)—and a BA in European Studies from Maastricht University. He is also an alumnus of the Newton Venture Program of London Business School, LocalGlobe VC, and HSBC Innovation Banking.

Fehlinger's research centers on venture capital's role in shaping technology policy, with deep expertise in artificial intelligence governance, data economy regulation, and innovation ecosystem dynamics. He investigates how entrepreneurial solutions can enable responsible AI deployment within regulated frameworks, emphasizing incentive alignment between investors, policymakers, and technologists. His work bridges theoretical policy frameworks with practical venture capital mechanisms to scale ethical technology adoption.

His 2023-2025 publications reveal a consistent focus on systemic challenges at the VC-policy nexus, particularly misaligned incentives in AI/data investments, the strategic necessity for VC firms to engage in policy advocacy, and platform-based solutions for scaling responsible innovation. These works collectively underscore regulatory technology (RegTech) as a critical enabler for high-performing digital economies.

His scientific recognition includes:

• Scholarship from German National Merit Foundation (Studienstiftung)

Fehlinger co-founded and led the Internet & Jurisdiction Policy Network (2011-2022), pioneering multistakeholder cooperation across 70 countries with endorsements from the G7, UN, and OECD. He currently spearheads Project Liberty Institute's USD 500 million initiative to reshape the data/AI economy, having co-launched the first global LP process on responsible AI investment engaging asset owners managing over USD 5 trillion.

He actively advises international bodies including the World Economic Forum, speaks at major global forums (UN, OECD, G7), and contributes to leading publications like The Economist and The New York Times. His current work focuses on creating institutional mechanisms that align venture capital incentives with societal outcomes in emerging technology domains.