Comments on: Europe, the other Silicon Valley… http://liftlab.com/think/laurent/2006/04/02/is-europe-the-place-to-be/ Thoughts on technology and society Sun, 07 Sep 2008 08:37:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.2.1 By: Laurent Haug’s blog » Blog Archive » SeedCamp http://liftlab.com/think/laurent/2006/04/02/is-europe-the-place-to-be/#comment-9748 Laurent Haug’s blog » Blog Archive » SeedCamp Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:09:58 +0000 http://liftlab.com/think/laurent/2006/04/02/is-europe-the-place-to-be/#comment-9748 [...] belief that Europe has all the tools to shine on the international scene (see my 2006 post titled Europe, the other Silicon Valley). I will be in london participating as a mentor on the Tuesday, Sept. 16th sessions. See you [...] […] belief that Europe has all the tools to shine on the international scene (see my 2006 post titled Europe, the other Silicon Valley). I will be in london participating as a mentor on the Tuesday, Sept. 16th sessions. See you […]

]]> By: Dannie Jost http://liftlab.com/think/laurent/2006/04/02/is-europe-the-place-to-be/#comment-205 Dannie Jost Tue, 11 Apr 2006 09:21:26 +0000 http://liftlab.com/think/laurent/2006/04/02/is-europe-the-place-to-be/#comment-205 indeed! this is not a thing about america vs. europe, but the europeans have all that it takes to make their economy sustainable, and it is not by copying what others have done that it will happen. <br /> <br /> europe is a great and diverse place to live, and the nature of business and enterpreneurship is evolving from capitalistic ideology to something that includes values and ethics. business is about people anyhow, not about money. still money is an essential resource in our society, so it is also part of the equation, but it is not the equation. indeed! this is not a thing about america vs. europe, but the europeans have all that it takes to make their economy sustainable, and it is not by copying what others have done that it will happen.

europe is a great and diverse place to live, and the nature of business and enterpreneurship is evolving from capitalistic ideology to something that includes values and ethics. business is about people anyhow, not about money. still money is an essential resource in our society, so it is also part of the equation, but it is not the equation.

]]> By: Dannie Jost http://liftlab.com/think/laurent/2006/04/02/is-europe-the-place-to-be/#comment-806 Dannie Jost Tue, 11 Apr 2006 09:21:26 +0000 http://liftlab.com/think/laurent/2006/04/02/is-europe-the-place-to-be/#comment-806 indeed! this is not a thing about america vs. europe, but the europeans have all that it takes to make their economy sustainable, and it is not by copying what others have done that it will happen. <br /> <br /> europe is a great and diverse place to live, and the nature of business and enterpreneurship is evolving from capitalistic ideology to something that includes values and ethics. business is about people anyhow, not about money. still money is an essential resource in our society, so it is also part of the equation, but it is not the equation. indeed! this is not a thing about america vs. europe, but the europeans have all that it takes to make their economy sustainable, and it is not by copying what others have done that it will happen.

europe is a great and diverse place to live, and the nature of business and enterpreneurship is evolving from capitalistic ideology to something that includes values and ethics. business is about people anyhow, not about money. still money is an essential resource in our society, so it is also part of the equation, but it is not the equation.

]]> By: Laurent http://liftlab.com/think/laurent/2006/04/02/is-europe-the-place-to-be/#comment-203 Laurent Mon, 10 Apr 2006 09:42:42 +0000 http://liftlab.com/think/laurent/2006/04/02/is-europe-the-place-to-be/#comment-203 Of course it’s not much, but as Jason Fried says you should always “celebrate small victories”... My point was that 4 swiss companies in the global news is completely new.<br /> Welcome back (what about a beer henry? where are you based? feel free to contact me!) Of course it’s not much, but as Jason Fried says you should always “celebrate small victories”… My point was that 4 swiss companies in the global news is completely new.
Welcome back (what about a beer henry? where are you based? feel free to contact me!)

]]> By: Laurent http://liftlab.com/think/laurent/2006/04/02/is-europe-the-place-to-be/#comment-804 Laurent Mon, 10 Apr 2006 09:42:42 +0000 http://liftlab.com/think/laurent/2006/04/02/is-europe-the-place-to-be/#comment-804 Of course it’s not much, but as Jason Fried says you should always “celebrate small victories”... My point was that 4 swiss companies in the global news is completely new.<br /> Welcome back (what about a beer henry? where are you based? feel free to contact me!) Of course it’s not much, but as Jason Fried says you should always “celebrate small victories”… My point was that 4 swiss companies in the global news is completely new.
Welcome back (what about a beer henry? where are you based? feel free to contact me!)

]]> By: Henri http://liftlab.com/think/laurent/2006/04/02/is-europe-the-place-to-be/#comment-200 Henri Fri, 07 Apr 2006 20:27:44 +0000 http://liftlab.com/think/laurent/2006/04/02/is-europe-the-place-to-be/#comment-200 You point out below that four swiss startups have been in the global news. That is great, and these startups are indeed promising.<br /> But let’s not get ahead of ourselves either: There are probably as many startups from the silicon valley making the global news every week! [ bay area population size is similar to that of switzerland ] <br /> <br /> So even if the local scene is improving, there is still a loooong way to go….<br /> <br /> But such posts certainly help the morale of people like me who are back in CH after spendinga few years in the silicon valley ;) You point out below that four swiss startups have been in the global news. That is great, and these startups are indeed promising.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves either: There are probably as many startups from the silicon valley making the global news every week! [ bay area population size is similar to that of switzerland ]

So even if the local scene is improving, there is still a loooong way to go….

But such posts certainly help the morale of people like me who are back in CH after spendinga few years in the silicon valley ;)

]]> By: Henri http://liftlab.com/think/laurent/2006/04/02/is-europe-the-place-to-be/#comment-801 Henri Fri, 07 Apr 2006 20:27:44 +0000 http://liftlab.com/think/laurent/2006/04/02/is-europe-the-place-to-be/#comment-801 You point out below that four swiss startups have been in the global news. That is great, and these startups are indeed promising.<br /> But let’s not get ahead of ourselves either: There are probably as many startups from the silicon valley making the global news every week! [ bay area population size is similar to that of switzerland ] <br /> <br /> So even if the local scene is improving, there is still a loooong way to go….<br /> <br /> But such posts certainly help the morale of people like me who are back in CH after spendinga few years in the silicon valley ;) You point out below that four swiss startups have been in the global news. That is great, and these startups are indeed promising.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves either: There are probably as many startups from the silicon valley making the global news every week! [ bay area population size is similar to that of switzerland ]

So even if the local scene is improving, there is still a loooong way to go….

But such posts certainly help the morale of people like me who are back in CH after spendinga few years in the silicon valley ;)

]]> By: Laurent http://liftlab.com/think/laurent/2006/04/02/is-europe-the-place-to-be/#comment-210 Laurent Tue, 04 Apr 2006 21:24:03 +0000 http://liftlab.com/think/laurent/2006/04/02/is-europe-the-place-to-be/#comment-210 I can’t really reflect on the US flexibility as I haven’t experienced it. But there are also a lot of legends about creating companies in Europe. I went through the process in Switzerland and it took me one week to setup my corporation. I thought it would take month, be complicated, etc… You simply hire an accountant, he fills the forms, you sign the papers in front of the notary and then you’re done. 7 days.<br /> <br /> Admin REALLY got simpler, and if you put the right people around you it’s really no hassle.<br /> <br /> I thought it would be a real pain, but the barrier was in my head, not in reality. That’s why I think it’s mostly a mentality/attitude thing. My observations is that most people who complain about the difficulty of creating a company actually NEVER went through the process themselves (I ain’t saying that for you Chris!)<br /> <br /> And who needs to activate phone lines with mobile phones anyway ;-) I can’t really reflect on the US flexibility as I haven’t experienced it. But there are also a lot of legends about creating companies in Europe. I went through the process in Switzerland and it took me one week to setup my corporation. I thought it would take month, be complicated, etc… You simply hire an accountant, he fills the forms, you sign the papers in front of the notary and then you’re done. 7 days.

Admin REALLY got simpler, and if you put the right people around you it’s really no hassle.

I thought it would be a real pain, but the barrier was in my head, not in reality. That’s why I think it’s mostly a mentality/attitude thing. My observations is that most people who complain about the difficulty of creating a company actually NEVER went through the process themselves (I ain’t saying that for you Chris!)

And who needs to activate phone lines with mobile phones anyway ;-)

]]> By: Laurent http://liftlab.com/think/laurent/2006/04/02/is-europe-the-place-to-be/#comment-811 Laurent Tue, 04 Apr 2006 21:24:03 +0000 http://liftlab.com/think/laurent/2006/04/02/is-europe-the-place-to-be/#comment-811 I can’t really reflect on the US flexibility as I haven’t experienced it. But there are also a lot of legends about creating companies in Europe. I went through the process in Switzerland and it took me one week to setup my corporation. I thought it would take month, be complicated, etc… You simply hire an accountant, he fills the forms, you sign the papers in front of the notary and then you’re done. 7 days.<br /> <br /> Admin REALLY got simpler, and if you put the right people around you it’s really no hassle.<br /> <br /> I thought it would be a real pain, but the barrier was in my head, not in reality. That’s why I think it’s mostly a mentality/attitude thing. My observations is that most people who complain about the difficulty of creating a company actually NEVER went through the process themselves (I ain’t saying that for you Chris!)<br /> <br /> And who needs to activate phone lines with mobile phones anyway ;-) I can’t really reflect on the US flexibility as I haven’t experienced it. But there are also a lot of legends about creating companies in Europe. I went through the process in Switzerland and it took me one week to setup my corporation. I thought it would take month, be complicated, etc… You simply hire an accountant, he fills the forms, you sign the papers in front of the notary and then you’re done. 7 days.

Admin REALLY got simpler, and if you put the right people around you it’s really no hassle.

I thought it would be a real pain, but the barrier was in my head, not in reality. That’s why I think it’s mostly a mentality/attitude thing. My observations is that most people who complain about the difficulty of creating a company actually NEVER went through the process themselves (I ain’t saying that for you Chris!)

And who needs to activate phone lines with mobile phones anyway ;-)

]]> By: Chris http://liftlab.com/think/laurent/2006/04/02/is-europe-the-place-to-be/#comment-211 Chris Tue, 04 Apr 2006 20:54:59 +0000 http://liftlab.com/think/laurent/2006/04/02/is-europe-the-place-to-be/#comment-211 I agree on the shake-up needed, but then there needs to be more than mere attitude changes. From personal experience, I know that the appartment rental resignation heads-up are too long, health insurances resignation heads-up are too long, the tax systems play havoc between countries, and other things like memberships at gyms and so on are hard to cancel for the end of the month in countries like F or D.<br /> <br /> Basically, when you want to be flexible, you’re still faced with a non-negligible cost in case of a fast transfer you want to do. You might say “hell, the startup will give you options to compensate”, but that might just end up to be a sunk cost. Europe needs an overall more flexible life framework for it to work straight away and provide the environment in which startups can be established rapidly and talent can join easily.<br /> <br /> Talking to other people, another factor is the set-up of businesses, which takes awfully long. We need change on that front as well. Why can’t you get phone lines activated the same day you request them? Why can’t you get all documents for your company in the same week? A streamline of that process is long overdue in Europe. I agree on the shake-up needed, but then there needs to be more than mere attitude changes. From personal experience, I know that the appartment rental resignation heads-up are too long, health insurances resignation heads-up are too long, the tax systems play havoc between countries, and other things like memberships at gyms and so on are hard to cancel for the end of the month in countries like F or D.

Basically, when you want to be flexible, you’re still faced with a non-negligible cost in case of a fast transfer you want to do. You might say “hell, the startup will give you options to compensate”, but that might just end up to be a sunk cost. Europe needs an overall more flexible life framework for it to work straight away and provide the environment in which startups can be established rapidly and talent can join easily.

Talking to other people, another factor is the set-up of businesses, which takes awfully long. We need change on that front as well. Why can’t you get phone lines activated the same day you request them? Why can’t you get all documents for your company in the same week? A streamline of that process is long overdue in Europe.

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