The inquiry begins July 17, with a decision on whether to proceed with further investigation to be announced Sept. 11.
“Regulators are right to challenge these practices, as they can potentially stifle innovation and competition,” said Phil Brunkard, executive counselor at Info-Tech Research Group, UK. “Start-ups thrive on the creativity and vision of their founders and the unique ideas they bring to the table.
“Competition is essential for fostering creativity and innovation, and we should encourage start-ups to grow independently, allowing competition to develop naturally,” he said. “This ensures that investment is based on merit, rather than allowing dominant players to define the rules of competition on their own terms.”