Adrian Locher, founder of the AI venture studio Merantix, deliberately chose Berlin over Zurich when building his company, seeing it as a better environment for an AI ecosystem. He was particularly drawn to the larger international talent pool, easier hiring conditions, and lower barriers to recruiting skilled workers from outside the EU.

At the time, Zurich felt too small and heavily dominated by large financial firms that were also competing for the same talent. Berlin, by contrast, offered more room for innovation in a less mature AI landscape. Locher also valued the city’s openness and strong startup culture, which helped attract international teams and supported Merantix’s growth into a major European AI hub.