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FOLLOWUP: Thanks for all the responses. A couple clarifying points: --- Probably the biggest thing we're looking for is a pro-business, pro-immigrant, pro-te
by lzw 16y ago
FOLLOWUP:
Thanks for all the responses. A couple clarifying points:
--- Probably the biggest thing we're looking for is a pro-business, pro-immigrant, pro-technology set of government policies. We want to live in this location for several years and be able to work without the government thinking that we're some sort of threat by doing so (the position the US takes, for instance.)
--- We're also looking for good infrastructure. This doesn't mean we'd rule out a hut on a beach somewhere. A latrine toilet would be ok if we had good broadband.
--- I did just ask for "Startup culture" but by that I meant that there were people who were entrepreneurial in the area, and maybe there are enough people who are programmers to have a monthly developers meeting in an area of interest to us. The whole startup culture thing is a bonus, and my asking the question was to get a read on other parts of the world-- but startup culture isn't the number one criteria for our choice, but it will help us narrow down if we have multiple good candidates.
--- We're not likely to need Venture Capital. We've got the equivalent of an angel round in the bank already. So access to capital is not that important. This is a business that will self fund and if we need capital to accelerate growth, that's not so hard to raise anywhere when you're already profitable.
-- In looking at these answers and looking at all of the visa requirements, I'm struck by the number of countries that would be happy to have us stay there for 90 days but then would put us thru the ringer if we wanted to stay there 6 months or longer.
I wonder if there is any country that values bringing in great minds who want to build something.
- startuprules 16y agoUsing countries submitted in this discussion: Top penetration of broadband: 1. Netherlands 2. Norway 3. Germany 4. Hong Kong 5. Canada 6. Israel 7. UK http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_number_of_broadband_Internet_users http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_number_of_... Best countries for small business based on regulatory climate 1. Singapore 2. Hong Kong 3. UK 4. Canada 5. Norway http://money.cnn.com/2008/09/10/smallbusiness/best_countries_for_small_biz.smb/ http://money.cnn.com/2008/09/10/smallbusiness/best_countries... Lowest corporate tax rates 1. Hong Kong 2. Russia 3. Chile 4. Singapore 5. Poland http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_rates_around_the_world http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_rates_around_the_world Countries with the least debt (asked by the OP below) 1. Singapore 2. Chile 3. Poland 4. India 5. China Top quality programmers (oDesk) 1. Hong Kong 2. Israel 3. Finland 4. Poland 5. France 6. Chile http://www.odesk.com/community/oconomy/outsourcing_countries_by_quality http://www.odesk.com/community/oconomy/outsourcing_countries...
- lzw 16y agoThanks for that. Seems Hong Kong is doing well on those lists, with Singapore close behind and Chile making a (possibly) surprise appearance. I appreciate the research. I'm still working my way thru the response to the original question.
- startuprules 16y agoNo problem. I am looking to establish a foreign beachhead myself. If you ever pick one, and go through with your decision, I hope you would post your experience here. EDIT: I found a better link here for ease of business: http://www.doingbusiness.org/economyrankings/ http://www.doingbusiness.org/economyrankings/ as well as tax rates: http://www.doingbusiness.org/ExploreTopics/PayingTaxes/Details.aspx?economyid=43 http://www.doingbusiness.org/ExploreTopics/PayingTaxes/Detai...
- ohashi 16y agoMaybe checkout the Oresund region (Copenhagen and southern sweden). Lived there for the last 2 years, they are really pushing for startups. Immigration isn't too bad if you've got cash to finance a company (at least in Sweden). Lots of startup resources in the area as well (many incubators, some venture capital/angels, some top universities for tech and business).
- ido 16y agoWe want to live in this location for several years and be able to work without the government thinking that we're some sort of threat by doing so I'd like to know the answer to that too, as my search indicates that pretty much every first world country has fairly strict immigration rules.