Indian CEO says he was ‘forced out’ of Sweden by ‘xenophobic’ immigration system after building startup

An Indian founder who built his agri-tech company in Sweden has announced he is leaving the country, saying he was pushed out by what he describes as a “hostile” and “xenophobic” immigration system.Abhijith Nag Balasubramanya, founder and CEO of Hydro Space Sweden AB, shared the news in a detailed LinkedIn post that has since circulated widely online. In it, he said he had sold the company and would be returning to India after being told he must leave Sweden by the end of the month."Today, I am officially stepping down as Founder and CEO of Hydro Space Sweden AB. I have sold the company as I am being forced to leave the country by the end of this month," Balasubramanya wrote."This isn't an exit by choice. It is an eviction by an incompetent and increasingly hostile state apparatus."

Clash with Sweden’s migration system

In his post, Balasubramanya said that while his company’s products were welcomed locally, he faced repeated obstacles from Sweden’s Migration Agency, Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket), which oversees residence and work permits.

He argued that Sweden’s reputation as a “startup-friendly” nation does not reflect the experience of foreign founders navigating immigration processes.

According to him, officials handling his case lacked business understanding, failed to provide clear guidance on documentation despite repeated requests, and changed the stated grounds for rejection multiple times.He described the broader system as marked by “gross incompetence, procedural cowardice and systemic hostility,” adding that he felt it had been “run to the ground by the system.”

Decision to return to India

Rather than pursue a legal challenge, Balasubramanya said he chose to step away."I do not have the energy or the desire to spend my capital fighting a legal battle against a system that is fundamentally broken and seemingly xenophobic," he wrote.

"Instead, I have decided to take a break and move back to my home country to work on my mental health that was destroyed by the Swedish migration agency. To the incompetent and arrogant case officer who took pride in destroying my livelihood: You haven't just failed me; you are failing Sweden's future to be food secure."Balasubramanya holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and two master’s degrees, one in international marketing and another in sustainable agriculture. He had positioned Hydro Space Sweden AB as part of Sweden’s push toward sustainable food production.His post has triggered debate online about Sweden’s immigration framework for entrepreneurs, particularly as European countries compete to attract foreign talent and startup founders. People on LinkedIn have offered support to Balasubramanya. One wrote, "The current political system and the atmosphere it has created is truly disturbing and disappointing. I wish Sweden to be a country where talented entrepeneurs feel welcome and encouraged. I´m deeply sorry to hear what you have experienced, and I wish you all the best and success in the future whatever you decide to do."Anoter user shared their own experience, "What a sad story to hear I found my self in a simillar situation. After working at hashtag#alfalaval the best company in the world when it comes to inclusion and integration of more then 250 nationalities I found my self bullied and mocked at a custtomer assignment working as a consultant. After 35 years of working in Sweden I find my self questioned and commented for my background from another country.

This have severilly affected my mental health and I have stil not recovered after 6 months. My heart and thoughts are with you and try to move on and not let this get to you like it did to me. I wish you the verry best for the future."