Why European startup had to move to USA to fulfill its vision

I run my own company. I lived in Germany for 8 years. Now I live in Spain. In both countries I encounter many free-lancers and young entrepreneurs in numerous industries.<p>In both countries, with the right professional advice, I've had little trouble getting things going.<p>I just don't think the conventional wisdom that "In Europe it is hard to start a business" holds true.

Full disclosure: I just moved from the US to Stockholm.<p>Sounds more like the founders of a travel-related site got enamored with the travel lifestyle, culture, and all that goes with it in NYC. Much like a new CS grad thinks that the valley is the only possible place a startup can work, I imagine that the same holds for travel companies in NYC.<p>From what I've seen/learned so far (and a native Swede please correct me if I'm wrong) people here seem MUCH more likely to run a lifestyle type of business vs. one that chases VC funding.

From the article it sounds like this should be entitled:<p>"Why Swedish startup had to leave Sweden to fulfill its vision"<p>No offense intended to the US (I moved here from Europe and love it) but they probably could have been successful somewhere like London or Berlin, too.

Great for them, but these Swedes now have to give up a few things that make Sweden "such a great place to live", such as long period of maternity leave, affordable healthcare, low crime, etc.<p>America isn't for everybody, but it is for people who are hungry (metaphorically). Sweden isn't for everybody, but it is for people who want stability.<p>Does this mean Europe needs to "adapt" to be more like the US? In my opinion, no. Many people are very happy with their lifestyles in Europe. Especially Swedes, no doubt, who rank very high in the so called "Quality of Life" Index. [1]<p>p.s. Very cool app idea. finding someone who knows travel is much better than trying to sell travel advice. I know this from experience.<p>[1]- <a href="http://nationranking.wordpress.com/2011/03/06/2011-qli/" rel="nofollow">http://nationranking.wordpress.com/2011/03/06/2011-qli/</a>

"Sweden wasn’t a very hospitable place to do this. “Most early stage investors were not interested in investing in a Swedish company, due to local law, structure, and communication,” Sullivan says."<p>I would imagine high taxes and government regulation had something to do with this.

I'm confused. I thought you couldn't just pop over to the US and carry on with your startup there. How did they manage to do that?

so, follow the money?

In Italy is even worst. Local Laws are a jibberish with regulations from the roman empire and the Napoleon invasion ( not joking). Build an equity based company requires huge amount of work and capital. But the saddest part is that investors prefer "stock game" on real company investment. We are used to say that a young founder is the son of an old founder. It means that in Italy capital passes as legacy from father to son and never goes to the market, and often when it does is burnt.