Eseandre Mordi
● Patrick Collison, who co-founded Stripe, just pointed out something pretty striking: US software startups are crushing it compared to their European and UK counterparts — and the gap keeps getting bigger.
● Looking at Stripe's own data, American startups started pulling ahead noticeably around mid-2023. And here's the thing: it's not just about AI hype. Collison says US companies are simply faster at jumping on new tech — whether that's AI, stablecoins, or automation tools. The worry? Europe and the UK might miss the boat on this innovation wave, which could mean less investment, fewer top engineers, and struggling to compete down the line.
● Even when you take AI companies completely out of the picture, US startups still grow way faster. That tells you it's not just one technology — it's a whole mindset difference.
● The numbers back this up. Since 2020, Stripe's data shows US startup revenue shot up about 250%, while EU and UK startups managed around 150%. Companies that got in early on generative AI, fintech integrations, and cloud automation are basically eating everyone else's lunch.
● To catch up, experts say Europe needs smarter policies that encourage innovation — similar to how US regulators gave companies more room to experiment with AI and digital payments. Without that, European startups could keep losing ground and see venture capital money flow elsewhere.
● Collison compared it to the early internet days, when American companies raced ahead by adopting new tech first. He thinks we're seeing the same pattern now — a two-speed world where countries that move fast on AI and fintech capture most of the value, and everyone else falls behind.
Eseandre Mordi
