2 ms·

Zendesk was founded by three Danes. As far as I know initially based in Copenhagen, though at some point they opened offices in the US (don't know if they have

Zendesk was founded by three Danes. As far as I know initially based in Copenhagen, though at some point they opened offices in the US (don't know if they have presence in Denmark anymore, but it's not unlikely).

jernfrost 11y ago
Having worked for many Norwegian startups, I can tell you that is the norm. You always open an office in the US. That is where the bulk of your sales will be. The US is like 200 times bigger than a Nordic country, so the home market will always be small for any Nordic country. You got to think exports right away. Usually there will be a large sales organization in the US, and often later there might be R&D there as well since that offers access to particular talent etc. But I actually find that quite a lot of American seem willing to move to Norway to work, so it is not always needed. I guess many nordic companies might look American to outsiders because a lot of nordics have gone to business schools in the US, lived or worked there for a few years before etc. When people here are used to other business cultures I think it is usually American business culture they are used to.
- BuckRogers 11y ago
  Most of us would be willing to move anywhere in the EU, at least for a while. I lived and worked in France for some time. My family came from Germany and Switzerland 150 years ago, and my wife's great grandmother came from Spain only 100 years ago (she's Mexican and now also American). It's a really neat thing to be over there and feel that connection to an ancestral homeland that we still have family stories about. Close to where I grew up was a town called Swedesburg, they fly the Swedish flag there to this day. Lots of Germans and Swedes. One would think Europe would change immigration law to encourage people who would naturally have some affinity or ties to the region. But that doesn't seem to be a popular idea. I think my wife and I would be able to integrate anywhere over there, northern or southern Europe, with zeal. I've always gotten the vibe Europe prefers its former African and mideast colonies to immigrate north, rather than American hordes with their money and talents (which may be more offputting to the natives than a more desperate immigrant). Add in the novelty and fun of being in Europe and I'm sure you have no problem with getting people to come over.
vilhelm_s 11y ago
I guess they are still hiring for their Copenhagen office: https://www.zendesk.com/jobs/copenhagen/ https://www.zendesk.com/jobs/copenhagen/

jernfrost 11y ago

Having worked for many Norwegian startups, I can tell you that is the norm. You always open an office in the US. That is where the bulk of your sales will be. The US is like 200 times bigger than a Nordic country, so the home market will always be small for any Nordic country. You got to think exports right away. Usually there will be a large sales organization in the US, and often later there might be R&D there as well since that offers access to particular talent etc. But I actually find that quite a lot of American seem willing to move to Norway to work, so it is not always needed. I guess many nordic companies might look American to outsiders because a lot of nordics have gone to business schools in the US, lived or worked there for a few years before etc. When people here are used to other business cultures I think it is usually American business culture they are used to.

BuckRogers 11y ago
Most of us would be willing to move anywhere in the EU, at least for a while. I lived and worked in France for some time. My family came from Germany and Switzerland 150 years ago, and my wife's great grandmother came from Spain only 100 years ago (she's Mexican and now also American). It's a really neat thing to be over there and feel that connection to an ancestral homeland that we still have family stories about. Close to where I grew up was a town called Swedesburg, they fly the Swedish flag there to this day. Lots of Germans and Swedes. One would think Europe would change immigration law to encourage people who would naturally have some affinity or ties to the region. But that doesn't seem to be a popular idea. I think my wife and I would be able to integrate anywhere over there, northern or southern Europe, with zeal. I've always gotten the vibe Europe prefers its former African and mideast colonies to immigrate north, rather than American hordes with their money and talents (which may be more offputting to the natives than a more desperate immigrant). Add in the novelty and fun of being in Europe and I'm sure you have no problem with getting people to come over.

vilhelm_s 11y ago

I guess they are still hiring for their Copenhagen office: https://www.zendesk.com/jobs/copenhagen/ https://www.zendesk.com/jobs/copenhagen/