[openplatypus]

Media coverage is definitely a factor, but the post has some gleaming issues.

> Take excessive regulations for instance, which gets mentioned all the time. If they were such a hindrance to startups, why would American startups succeed in Europe - like Airbnb in our case - and European startups not? We all face the same regulations

Nope, they don't. US companies in Europe generally don't care about EU regulations. Even if we skim over privacy, AirBnB succeeded in Europe despite there being laws preventing short lets in many municipalities.

[sksksk]

It's also a lot easier to invest in compliance when you've already got product-market-fit in the regulation light US.

[fallingknife]

US startups can devote 100% of their energy to getting their product and operations right. Then when they enter the European market they already have that part down when they start dealing with your governments. European startups attempting to compete don't have that luxury.

[mytailorisrich]

> US companies in Europe generally don't care about EU regulations.

They care as much or as little as European companies.

When you're trying to make it in business you should not spend too much time trying to comply with all possible regulations. Focus on growing the business and avoid serious and costly breaches.

I still remember a business course in university (in Europe) during which the lecturer told us: "By law you must file this whatever every year but the penalty for not doing so is cheaper than spending time doing it so don't bother". Very direct and frank but that's how it is.

[dariosalvi78]

also because American companies get into Europe when they are already somewhat established and can afford paying well staffed legal departments

[gizmo]

US startups also don't care about US regulations. AirBnB, Uber, Tesla, Coinbase and many others break the laws in the US they don't like. I'm not making the moral argument that breaking laws is always wrong. Instead I'm simply pointing out that breaking "bad laws" is culturally accepted in Silicon Valley but not in Europe. Silicon Valley startups do what it takes to win.

[exe34]

> Tesla's CEO bought the government and fired everybody who was investigating his companies!

I'm not sure why my comment was flagged, so I'll add the link to the evidence here: https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/uploadedfiles/2025.02....

My point is that in the US, you don't have to follow the law. If you're rich enough, you are the law.