The founders are Irish.
That's what i figured but it seems odd. Like, Jack Dorsey's from Missouri but Twitter and Square have just one HQ at SF.
You're talking about a country versus a state though. The Irish founders may have based the HQ in a city or a region different from the one they were originally from.
Taxes
It's not taxes, it's enough to have an entity there and transfer IP rights to that subsidiary. It's more a recognition of the importance of the EMEA market, and an aspiration (not yet reality) to tilt the company's center of gravity away from the US. Obviously the founders being Irish helps the narrative.
Why do they want to move the center of gravity from SF to Ireland though?
European customers are more skeptical of âAmericanâ companies. Itâs mostly a branding exercise. Fewer people at Stripe work in Ireland than Seattle, let alone the Bay Area.
May be to save taxes
Good guess but I don't think they need it to be the HQ for that.
Google is also âheadquarteredâ in Ireland. Itâs for tax purposes.