4 ms·

Worth to note that it's not Europe that is the problem, it's Italy. I absolutely love that country for many things, but business/economical-wise it is really sc

by Tomek_ 16y ago

Worth to note that it's not Europe that is the problem, it's Italy. I absolutely love that country for many things, but business/economical-wise it is really screwed, and latests news that come from there, about national debt and such, draw rather catastrophic image of their nearest future.

jules 16y ago
While it may be easier to get funded in other European countries, not as easy as in the US right?
- Tomek_ 16y ago
  In short: yes.
swombat 16y ago
On the contrary, I think you'll find raising money is equally difficult in, say, London. I know some well-connected people, with a track record of previous successful businesses and exits and connections throughout the VC/angel community who still struggle to raise seed funding for pre-revenue ideas (even some which are showing traction). Compare that to the Valley, where it seems that the main test of whether you can raise money is to put a mirror in front of your mouth and check that some water vapor condenses on the mirror (if there is no water vapor, the entrepreneur is dead. do not fund)...
- davidw 16y ago
  At least you can create a company (a Ltd) in the UK easily. It's at least one order of magnitude more expensive in Italy.
riffraff 16y ago
OT, but what latest news about debt?
- Tomek_ 16y ago
  Just checked and actually the latest news are not that bad: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7756acd4-1cdf-11e0-8c86-00144feab49a.html http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7756acd4-1cdf-11e0-8c86-00144feab4... http://www.advisorone.com/article/spain-italy-sell-bonds-strong-demand http://www.advisorone.com/article/spain-italy-sell-bonds-str... But debt of 120% of GDP is still scary.
  - riffraff 16y ago
    it is, but it's been around that area for a loooong time :)
antirez 16y ago
actually I think in France, Germany, and the other top countries in europe are just a bit better in this regard, but they are still very very far from US. Still in Germany or France there is a market for online advertising that is something like five times bigger the one in Italy, so for sure starting an online business there is simpler. However there is clearly not this explosion of european startups, regardless the fact that the inhabitants and wealth of europe is comparable to the one of the US. So clearly europe have a problem with innovation and technological startups. > and latests news that come from there, about national debt and such, draw rather catastrophic image of their nearest future. This news is always the same as in the latest 50 years ;) Honestly I doubt that something bad will happen, at least in short time, as in Italy there is a solid net of small business, and a lot of money in the banks.
- davidw 16y ago
  > europe have a problem with innovation and technological startups. My guess is it's not so much a problem with innovation, as with the startup portion of the equation. Lots of people do interesting, cool, creative things in Europe, they're just not always as good at turning those things into businesses.

by Tomek_ 16y ago

jules 16y ago

While it may be easier to get funded in other European countries, not as easy as in the US right?

Tomek_ 16y ago
In short: yes.

swombat 16y ago

On the contrary, I think you'll find raising money is equally difficult in, say, London. I know some well-connected people, with a track record of previous successful businesses and exits and connections throughout the VC/angel community who still struggle to raise seed funding for pre-revenue ideas (even some which are showing traction). Compare that to the Valley, where it seems that the main test of whether you can raise money is to put a mirror in front of your mouth and check that some water vapor condenses on the mirror (if there is no water vapor, the entrepreneur is dead. do not fund)...

davidw 16y ago
At least you can create a company (a Ltd) in the UK easily. It's at least one order of magnitude more expensive in Italy.

riffraff 16y ago

OT, but what latest news about debt?

Tomek_ 16y ago
Just checked and actually the latest news are not that bad: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7756acd4-1cdf-11e0-8c86-00144feab49a.html http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7756acd4-1cdf-11e0-8c86-00144feab4... http://www.advisorone.com/article/spain-italy-sell-bonds-strong-demand http://www.advisorone.com/article/spain-italy-sell-bonds-str... But debt of 120% of GDP is still scary.
- riffraff 16y ago
  it is, but it's been around that area for a loooong time :)

antirez 16y ago

actually I think in France, Germany, and the other top countries in europe are just a bit better in this regard, but they are still very very far from US. Still in Germany or France there is a market for online advertising that is something like five times bigger the one in Italy, so for sure starting an online business there is simpler. However there is clearly not this explosion of european startups, regardless the fact that the inhabitants and wealth of europe is comparable to the one of the US. So clearly europe have a problem with innovation and technological startups. > and latests news that come from there, about national debt and such, draw rather catastrophic image of their nearest future. This news is always the same as in the latest 50 years ;) Honestly I doubt that something bad will happen, at least in short time, as in Italy there is a solid net of small business, and a lot of money in the banks.

davidw 16y ago
> europe have a problem with innovation and technological startups. My guess is it's not so much a problem with innovation, as with the startup portion of the equation. Lots of people do interesting, cool, creative things in Europe, they're just not always as good at turning those things into businesses.