In a notable reversal of the usual transatlantic flow, Berlin-based AI startup Langdock has relocated its legal parent company from the United States to Germany. The move, completed after a process that began in early 2026 and cost several million euros, replaces the previous US holding structure with a Societas Europaea (SE) registered in Germany.
Langdock, founded in 2023, provides an enterprise AI platform used by around 13,000 organisations. The company allows employees to access multiple AI models, connect them to workplace data and applications, and build AI agents to automate tasks. Its annual subscription revenue run rate reached $50 million (€42 million) in August, up from $1 million (€870,000) in October 2024.
Why leave the US?
Many European startups incorporate in the US to attract investors and benefit from the ecosystem of accelerators like Y Combinator. Langdock acknowledged that its US parent was initially a "vital step" for fundraising and networking. However, the company said its operations and customer data always remained in Germany, and the US entity had no employees, infrastructure, or access to production systems.
Despite that, customers' legal teams often had to assess whether the US parent created risks under US laws, such as the Cloud Act, which could allow American authorities to access data. By removing the US parent, Langdock says its European structure is now clearer for customers, particularly "in geopolitically uncertain times."
"We believe Europe is a strong place to build a global technology company, and we want to contribute to its sovereignty and competitiveness," a company representative told Euronews Business.
The company emphasised that about 80% of its ownership is held by founders and employees living in the EU. The new structure will not alter its plans to serve customers worldwide or raise money from international investors.
Ambitions to become a European hyperscaler
Langdock's long-term ambition is to build "a sovereign, full-stack AI platform that can compete with US hyperscalers over time." It plans to launch three new services by the end of the year and will use its own data centre in Germany to run open-source AI models and provide computing power. The company said it would start small and expand as customer demand grows.
Despite its rapid growth, Langdock remains far behind the US giants. Its $50 million annual revenue run rate compares with the $128.7 billion (€108 billion) generated by Amazon Web Services in 2025.
The move comes amid broader European discussions about building independent AI infrastructure and reducing reliance on US cloud providers. As France and Germany co-host a space summit and Germany addresses hybrid threats, the question of technological sovereignty is increasingly central to European policy.
Langdock's decision to bring its parent company under European law is a concrete step in that direction, even if the road to competing with US hyperscalers remains long.
