🐙 Why your location matters more than ever

Hey there, solopreneur!

Here's the thing about being an internet founder - everyone tells you "you can work from anywhere!"

But after building a business from the wrong city, losing friendships, and watching my mental health tank from location-induced isolation, I've learned a brutal truth:

Where you live shapes everything about your success.

And in 2025, with remote work finally settling into its post-pandemic reality, choosing your city matters more than ever.

TLDR: Your location is your biggest leverage point as a founder, but most of us are doing it completely wrong.

This isn't just another "best cities for digital nomads" piece. This is the raw, unfiltered guide I wish someone had written before I:

• Wasted years in a "tax haven" that killed my creativity

• Moved to a "perfect weather" city that had zero business network

• Learned the hard way that cheap rent usually comes with hidden costs

I’m moving later this year.

So naturally, I've spent lots of time pondering what to prioritize, analyzing exactly what makes certain cities perfect for internet founders (and why others slowly kill your dreams).

Today I wanna show you exactly what I've learned about finding your perfect founder city in 2025...

Never optimize for taxes first

Want to know the fastest way to hate your life as a founder? Chase the lowest tax rate.

Here's something wild - I've watched countless entrepreneurs move to "tax havens" only to watch their revenue tank because they're surrounded by people with scarcity mindsets who only talk about saving money.

The hard truth? Most tax havens attract people looking to preserve wealth, not create it. It's like joining a gym where everyone's focused on not losing muscle instead of getting stronger.

Before choosing a tax haven, ask yourself what you're giving up.

Is saving 15% in taxes worth losing access to high-value networks, creative energy, and growth opportunities?

Stay close to the action

Something that blew my mind last year: A single coffee meetup in a major tech hub led to more opportunities than 6 months of Zoom calls from my "optimized" remote location.

The density of ambitious people matters more than you think. When I moved from Berlin to Cyprus, my calendar went from weekly founder dinners to... scrolling Twitter alone in my apartment.

The amount of business deals, friendships, and deep connections I built from just 2-3 events last year was genuinely shocking. You can't replicate this energy on Zoom.

Research your industry's hotspots. Where are the major conferences happening? Where do the top builders in your space live? That's where you need to be.

Your in-person network is your net worth, especially in the age of AI.

Check your values alignment

Let me tell you something uncomfortable: Living in a place that doesn't respect entrepreneurs is like being in a toxic relationship.

I learned this the hard way in Germany.

Entrepreneurs there are seen as greedy and extractive. The only political conversations are about increasing taxation, without a single acknowledgment that high performers already contribute the vast majority of taxes.

Every family dinner turned into defending why I wasn't "getting a real job." Every government interaction felt like punishment for success. Every newspaper article about startups read like a crime report.

Here's my new rule: I'd rather pay higher taxes in a society that values what I do than feel like an outcast in a "tax-friendly" place.

Quick tip: Talk to 2-3 entrepreneurs already living in your target city. Ask them how society views builders. Their answers will tell you everything you need to know.

City size matters (lol)

I've lived both extremes - Berlin with its 3.7 million people and a small town in Cyprus where everyone knows everyone. Here's what I learned:

Cities under 500k people often lack the critical mass for a thriving founder ecosystem. Cities over 5 million can swallow your energy in pure logistics.

The sweet spot? 800k to 2 million people imo. This is where the magic happens. Big enough to have:

• Regular tech events

• Multiple founder communities

• Good infrastructure

• Cultural activities

But small enough that you can actually become a known player in your scene.

Food quality is non-negotiable

When you're purely traveling, you typically roll with whatever food is available - it's part of the adventure. But moving abroad permanently is different - and food quality becomes a serious consideration.

I discovered this stark reality when relocating from Germany to Cyprus.

In Germany, even discount supermarkets stocked organic options, and high-quality, low-chemical food was standard. After moving, sourcing clean food became an unexpected challenge that consumed TONS of time and energy.

This matters more than you think. Ever tried to run a company while dealing with brain fog from poor nutrition?

This is actually one of my biggest hesitations about moving to the US. Even with higher salaries and better business opportunities, their food standards are significantly lower than EU regulations.

My advice: Visit local grocery stores during your scouting trip. The quality and variety of food tells you everything about a city's health consciousness.

Air quality

Something most "best cities" lists won't tell you: Bad air quality will wreck your founder journey faster than any business challenge.

I've watched brilliant entrepreneurs move to Bangkok for the "startup scene," only to spend half their mental energy dealing with:

• Constant headaches

• Respiratory issues

• Low energy

• Brain fog

Check the AQI (Air Quality Index) of your target city. If it's consistently above 50, think twice. Your lungs (and your business) will thank you.

Walkability

The most underrated factor in founder productivity isn't your tech stack - it's whether you can walk to get your coffee.

Since moving to Cyprus, I miss one thing more than anything about European cities: being able to walk everywhere.

In Berlin, I naturally hit 15k steps daily just living my life. Now? Every trip is a car journey.

This might sound trivial, but think about it:

• Walking meetings become impossible

• Quick coffee catchups need planning

• Spontaneous exploration dies

• Daily movement plummets

This is why most US cities (except maybe NYC) and many Asian metropolises are off my list. The car dependency is real.

Climate check

Here's a hard truth I learned in Berlin: Just "dealing with" bad weather for half your life is a choice, not a necessity.

Weather affects your business more than you think. Those grey Berlin winters didn't just crush my spirit - they crushed my productivity, creativity, and motivation to network.

But here's the trap I've seen people fall into: Moving somewhere ONLY for the weather. Those "perfect beach paradise" cities often come with:

• Unstable internet

• Zero business infrastructure

• Seasonal ghost towns

Before making an extreme climate change (like Sweden to Mexico City), spend at least 2-3 months in your target climate. That perfect beach weather hits different when you're trying to meet deadlines.

Vibe-check the community

If you cringe at the Instagram reels and TikToks coming from your target city, that's a red flag.

I've personally started avoiding pure "nomad hotspots" like Thailand and Bali. Why? Because when everyone's just passing through, building lasting relationships becomes nearly impossible.

Do two things:

1. Check local expat Facebook groups - the questions people ask tell you everything about the community

2. Visit a local business event (even while on vacation) - the vibe will tell you if these are your people

Airport connectivity

Something nobody talks about: Bad flight connections can kill your business momentum.

In Cyprus, I learned this the hard way. Every business trip became a multi-day odyssey of:

• Multiple layovers

• Expensive transfers

• Time zone chaos

Here's the reality: Never expect people to visit you. You need to go where the opportunities are.

Capital cities usually win here. Having a major airport hub nearby isn't just convenience - it's business leverage.

Time zone alignment

Let me tell you something that killed my first remote business: Being 7 hours ahead of my main market.

Everyone talks about the freedom of working across time zones, but nobody mentions:

• Destroyed circadian rhythms

• Missed family moments

• Impossible client meetings

• Constant calendar tetris

Living in the wrong time zone means either:

• You live like a vampire

• Or your business suffers

There's no third option.

Putting it all together…

After all this research and personal experience, here's where I've landed for 2025:

My non-negotiables:

• City of 800k-2M people

• Strong founder ecosystem

• High food standards

• Clean air and walkability

• Maximum 3-hour time difference from main market

• Direct flights to major hubs

But here's the most important thing I've learned: No city is perfect. This really is just a game of tradeoffs.

Sometimes we get so caught up in optimizing every factor that we forget the most crucial part:

Building strong social connections is what makes any place truly feel like home.

Bonus tip: Throw your criteria into ChatGPT or Claude for city suggestions, but remember - the best city on paper might not be your best city in reality.

Final thought…

The worst thing you can do is keep moving from place to place without putting down roots. True success - both in business and life - comes from building something lasting.

Trust me on this one: Take the time to choose right. Your future self (and your business) will thank you.

But don’t be afraid to commit. Because paradoxically, commitment = freedom.

Ole's Bookmarks

Its insane how fast the developments of AI video are progressing. It still makes me wonder if we’ll see companies going down the other route because AI videos will get some trust issues imo.

Josh Waitzkin is the goat. One of the most inspiring people when it comes to mastering life. Has no social media as well. Based.

This is josh’s only book so far, but the Art of Training is coming out soon as well. Amazing book that helps you to become a better learner (the ultimate metaskill).

See you next week 🫡 

Ole