[Mankaninen]

I don't know the percentage B2B vs consumer-focused startups in EU or US so giving a few examples makes no real sense but Spotify, iZettle, Skype and Pirate bay are all of swedish origin. And business taxes in Sweden are among the low ones in OECD. Salary (after tax) is lower than in US but schools and health care is free so compared to US the living standard is not that bad, i.e. assuming the original poster assumption is correct, I don't think taxes is the explanation.

[samuell]

What I mean is that businesses, even small companies, will have a lot more money than any consumer, as any money being paid as wage is decimated to such a large degree.

Spotify, Skype etc are addressing an international market, so the exact situation in Sweden wouldn't affect that much, and also I don't know if e.g. Spotify is even really making that much money yet from customers.

[charlesdm]

Those companies however, pay no corporate and dividend withholding taxes. And the founders make their money from booking capital gains by selling the stock of a loss making entity.