The AI boom is pulling Europe’s hottest startups to the U.S.—whether they planned to move or not
European startups are increasingly moving to the U.S. due to a surge in demand for AI products. The U.S. captured a significant portion of global venture capital, prompting founders to expedite their expansion plans. Despite immigration challenges, the regulatory environment for AI in the U.S. is seen as favorable, attracting talent and investment.
- ▪AI firms captured 61% of global venture capital in 2025.
- ▪European venture funding reached $58 billion in 2025, a modest 9% gain year-over-year.
- ▪73% of European AI companies' lead investors are American by later growth stages.
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Carl Fritjofsson, who has run Stockholm, Sweden-based Creandum’s San Francisco office since 2016, says the timeline for European founders to cross the pond is compressing at a pace he’s never seen. Recommended Video “There is more demand in the U.S. today than there is in Europe,” he told Fortune. “Especially if you’re selling towards enterprises with some kind of AI-native product. That is pulling people to do the U.S. expansion faster than ever before.” The pull factor is real: AI firms captured 61% of global venture capital in 2025—and 80% to 81% of total global venture capital in the first quarter of 2026. The overwhelming majority of that demand lives on American enterprise procurement budgets. Receipts from Creandum’s own portfolio make the case.
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