The Hills Are Greener Over There

It's common knowledge that U.S. companies either move their headquarters or set up significant operations in Ireland to cut their U.S. taxes.

Dublin's infrastructure has now developed to the point that startups, most of which don't have a tax bill, are setting up shop for non-tax reasons.

Dublin looks a lot like home: a young and educated workforce, global business culture, population thirsting for new technology and Twitter and Facebook signs dotting the horizon. Labor and real estate are cheaper than in other European destination cities and, more than the familiar language or palatable food, the city's tech tenant roster makes Dublin feel comfortable to Silicon Valley transplants.

Like in any relationship, if one party keeps raising its demands and takes the other for granted, the other will first distance itself, then leave, and may never return. The founders of future Facebooks and Apples are watching how these enormously successful companies are treated in their home state and are arranging their affairs accordingly.

As places like Dublin roll out the welcome mat to startups, the ambitious entrepreneur is lured by a future in which she won't have to worry about high taxes, regulatory complexity, or moving her company. Erin Go Bragh!