Klarna CEO says a European tech brain drain is ‘number one risk’ for company ahead of IPO
Published On Oct 3, 2024, 6:00 AM
Klarna's CEO, Sebastian Siemiatkowski, highlighted a significant concern regarding a potential talent exodus from Europe, which he views as the largest risk for the company's upcoming IPO. This issue primarily stems from restrictive employee stock option regulations in Europe that make it difficult for Klarna to compete with larger U.S. tech companies like Google and Apple in attracting top talent. Klarna reportedly offers significantly less equity compared to its competitors, which could hinder its ability to retain skilled employees as it prepares for its IPO.