Abhijith "Abhi" Nag Balasubramanya, founder of the Skelleftea-based microgreens company Hydro Space Sweden AB, is leaving Sweden after receiving a final decision from the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) denying his residence permit to continue operating the business.
In a viral LinkedIn post that has generated over 1300 reactions and 130 comments, Abhi stated, "I have sold the company as I am being forced to leave the country by the end of this month. This isn't an exit by choice. It is an eviction by an incompetent and increasingly hostile state apparatus."
"The current political climate has empowered a culture within these offices that treats international talent with open contempt rather than as a value-add to the economy"
© Abhijith Nag Balasubramanya
From basement unit to retail shelves
Abhi arrived in Skelleftea in November 2024 and installed a hydroponic unit in his apartment. By mid-2025, Hydro Space was supplying locally grown microgreens to ICA Kvantum Skelleftea, whose store management publicly framed the collaboration as aligned with sustainability goals and local supply resilience.
In earlier interviews with Swedish media, he described strong community support and positive customer feedback. The business had recently expanded its vertical shelving capacity and was preparing larger commercial harvests at the time the migration decision became final, with expansion plans that included scaling lettuce, herbs, and hydroponic strawberries year-round.
"I built a fully operational company within six months that provided local jobs and fresh produce that aids in making the North of Sweden food secure," Abhi says. "In return, I was met with a lack of transparency and a total absence of human decency from Migrationsverket. 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."
Permit rejection and official criteria
According to reporting by local newspaper, Norran, the Swedish Migration Agency cited three primary grounds in its assessment: insufficient entrepreneurial experience, inadequate language proficiency, and insufficient personal financial resources.
Abhi has disputed the agency's conclusions, stating that he had prior operational leadership experience in a family-run agricultural business in India and that he met the agency's English language requirements. He also stated that he invested substantial personal capital into building Hydro Space and never requested a single contribution from Sweden.
© Abhijith Nag Balasubramanya
Viral post escalates criticism
In his LinkedIn post, Abhi sharply criticized the process. "My experience with the Swedish Migration Agency wasn't just a bureaucratic hurdle; it was a masterclass in systemic dysfunction and unprofessionalism."
"I was handled by case officers with zero business acumen, incapable of understanding the financial structures or operational realities of a scaling startup. My officer ignored repeated emails and explicitly refused to provide guidance on required documentation, only to mock my situation when the decision was finalized."
He also framed his experience as a warning to investors and international founders considering Sweden. "Consider this a final warning. The reality of the Swedish 'startup-friendly' image is a facade." The post has drawn a wide range of responses, including expressions of support from fellow entrepreneurs and immigrants in Sweden, as well as comments defending rule-based immigration frameworks.
When contacted for comment, the Swedish Migration Agency's Press Officer, Jacob Sandstrom, replied with the following:
"We are able to comment on individual migration cases only if you have a power of attorney from the person concerned, giving us permission to do so. Without such consent, secrecy legislation prevents us from commenting on individual cases. Each application for a residence permit is assessed individually, based on the specific circumstances of the case. For this reason, we are also unable to make general statements about individual cases or outcomes."
Business continues under new ownership
After the final denial of residence, Abhi finalized the sale of Hydro Space to local investors. According to Norran, entrepreneur Walter Ronnblom is among the new owners, and operations are expected to continue, with the facility relocating to Burtrask. "There was a financing plan for Abhi's venture, but after the deportation, we decided to buy the operation and keep it running," Ronnblom told Norran. "I think the idea is right for the times."
Abhi stated that he was able to recover his invested capital but described the emotional toll as significant. "At the moment, they have destroyed me both mentally and financially, but I will definitely come out strong after I take my break to heal."
"To my customers in Skelleftea and the partners who supported us: thank you. I am proud of what we grew, even if I wasn't allowed to stay to see it flourish."
For more information:
Hydro Space
Abhijith "Abhi" Nag Balasubramanya
www.linkedin.com/in/abhijith-nag-balasubramanya
www.hydrospace.se
