5 ms·

Consider, also, that most entrepreneurs in tech are foreigners (or children of), Vivek Wadwha had an interesting article on that. But those that stand out: Larr

Consider, also, that most entrepreneurs in tech are foreigners (or children of), Vivek Wadwha had an interesting article on that. But those that stand out: Larry+Sergei. If "The Russian" comes to the U.S. to make an investment is because the U.S. has done a really really good job in terms of policy to make it easy and convenient for foreign investors to bring money to the U.S. now they (gov) need to do the same for talent/entrepreneurs.

jolhoeft 16y ago
A while back as I was meandering through my history readings, I noticed that most of the philosophers, sages, and artists of ancient Athens weren't from Athens. I didn't actually follow that up with a study to confirm it, but I can't help but wonder if there is some deep truth hidden here.
- aditya 16y ago
  No deep truth, if you're ambitious and determined enough go leave your home and everything and everybody you know, you're not going to arrive in a foreign land and sit on your ass - the drive will keep pushing you to achieve great things... otherwise you could just have stayed at home and eaten your mom's potatoes for the rest of your life, right?!
deleted 16y ago
[deleted]
_delirium 16y ago
Digging up Vivek Wadwha's article, he found that 25% of U.S. tech entrepreneurs were immigrants, which is certainly higher than their share of the population (about 10% of U.S. residents are foreign-born), but not really "most". The numbers were higher for the Bay Area, though, at about 50%; but then the number of total immigrants in the Bay Area is also higher (33% of Californians are foreign-born).
- Joakal 16y ago
  Possibly a sign of different upbringings? Can be parental, culture, education, standard of living, etc.
  - narag 16y ago
    It seems to me that the case is exactly the opposite: the talent appears randomly, so the only way to concentrate it is migration.
    - beagle3 16y ago
      > the talent appears randomly That's a pretty strong statement, but even if we take it as an axiom, I think that it isn't migration that concentrates it -- people migrate from everywhere to everywhere all the time. I think it has more to do with having gone through some hardship, and (selection bias) having done so successfully, makes people better at taking risks. There's a statistic that says that a huge number (ten percent or so) of immigrants immigrate again to a 3rd country. Someone who never immigrated would think "all that trouble, again?". Someone who [successfully] has thinks "Well, that wasn't so hard, we can try that again".
      - ssebro 16y ago
        I think you missed the point- he meant that the fact that you were able to immigrate probably means that you're not the average person. He's right- immigration is much easier if you're rich, smart or both. Also, I'm offended by your last sentence. You've obviously not immigrated to america recently. I have, and it wasn't easy, nor was it cheap.
        beagle3 16y ago
        As a matter of fact, I did. It's not easy, it's far from cheap, but having gone through all of that, another move -- at least to an English speaking country -- is comparatively trivial to what I've thought about it before. And if you take offence at random remarks by strangers on the internet, you should have a long talk with yourself.

jolhoeft 16y ago

A while back as I was meandering through my history readings, I noticed that most of the philosophers, sages, and artists of ancient Athens weren't from Athens. I didn't actually follow that up with a study to confirm it, but I can't help but wonder if there is some deep truth hidden here.

aditya 16y ago
No deep truth, if you're ambitious and determined enough go leave your home and everything and everybody you know, you're not going to arrive in a foreign land and sit on your ass - the drive will keep pushing you to achieve great things... otherwise you could just have stayed at home and eaten your mom's potatoes for the rest of your life, right?!

deleted 16y ago

[deleted]

_delirium 16y ago

Digging up Vivek Wadwha's article, he found that 25% of U.S. tech entrepreneurs were immigrants, which is certainly higher than their share of the population (about 10% of U.S. residents are foreign-born), but not really "most". The numbers were higher for the Bay Area, though, at about 50%; but then the number of total immigrants in the Bay Area is also higher (33% of Californians are foreign-born).

Joakal 16y ago
Possibly a sign of different upbringings? Can be parental, culture, education, standard of living, etc.
- narag 16y ago
  It seems to me that the case is exactly the opposite: the talent appears randomly, so the only way to concentrate it is migration.
  - beagle3 16y ago
    > the talent appears randomly That's a pretty strong statement, but even if we take it as an axiom, I think that it isn't migration that concentrates it -- people migrate from everywhere to everywhere all the time. I think it has more to do with having gone through some hardship, and (selection bias) having done so successfully, makes people better at taking risks. There's a statistic that says that a huge number (ten percent or so) of immigrants immigrate again to a 3rd country. Someone who never immigrated would think "all that trouble, again?". Someone who [successfully] has thinks "Well, that wasn't so hard, we can try that again".
    - ssebro 16y ago
      I think you missed the point- he meant that the fact that you were able to immigrate probably means that you're not the average person. He's right- immigration is much easier if you're rich, smart or both. Also, I'm offended by your last sentence. You've obviously not immigrated to america recently. I have, and it wasn't easy, nor was it cheap.
      - beagle3 16y ago
        As a matter of fact, I did. It's not easy, it's far from cheap, but having gone through all of that, another move -- at least to an English speaking country -- is comparatively trivial to what I've thought about it before. And if you take offence at random remarks by strangers on the internet, you should have a long talk with yourself.