More than 30 years ago, tech CEO Bernard Liautaud decided to list his company BusinessObjects on the Nasdaq, becoming the first European tech company to do so. That decision was visionary, recognising that Europe lacked the infrastructure to support a high-growth software IPO. It was also a red flag to Europe’s public markets that something was amiss.

Opinion
July 25, 2025
IPOs are not an act of patriotism
It's time to stop chastising European founders who choose to list in the US
5 min read
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Fergal Mullen is cofounder and partner at VC firm Highland Europe

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