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From someone who hasn't interacted with the startup world much yet: what are some problems companies in Europe would have to deal with? What liberties are exclu

From someone who hasn't interacted with the startup world much yet: what are some problems companies in Europe would have to deal with? What liberties are exclusive to the US? I'd imagine lots of complications of running a US-based company within Europe. I can't imagine moving to the US, and I'm sure that lots of smart people in the EU are in the same camp. At the same time, I'd be very interested in providing high value to and being part of a company with the velocity and dynamics of a start-up -- I just wouldn't move to the US to pursue the opportunity, as in: I'd not even consider it below ridiculous/unrealistic pay.

dmitriid 4y ago
> what are some problems companies in Europe would have to deal with? What liberties are exclusive to the US? 1. Market US: a rather unified single English-speaking market of 300 million people. EU: 27 different markets in the EU + half a dozen markets in countries freely associated with the EU (e.g. Norway and Switzerland) in different languages, cultures and expectations 2. Money US: unlimited unchecked runaway money. All the "unicorns" we keep hearing about can easily lose hundreds of millions and even billions dollars a year for decades, and still considered a success EU: less money, and you are expected to actually turn a profit at some point
- danijelb 4y ago
  I don't think that the 27+ EU markets are a problem. I'm not even sure if there are 27+ different markets in the EU in the context of startups/tech, because if there were then each country would have their own isolated tech ecosystem which is not the case. Most EU countries are dominated by US tech companies. If different cultures and languages are not a problem for US startups in spreading to Europe I fail to see why it would be a problem for EU companies
  - oblio 4y ago
    You're missing the bigger picture. US startups <<grow>> in the US, the huge single market with a single language, then once they're big and can tackle the bureaucracy in order to get to the huge chunks of cash also available in Europe, they <<move>> into the EU. A not-so-huge startup by US standards can have hundreds of millions of dollars very early in its life, allowing it to switch to international expansion, while most of the equivalent EU startup would probably raise tens of millions by the same stage, if they're lucky.
- jason0597 4y ago
  > half a dozen markets in countries freely associated with the EU (e.g. Norway and Switzerland) in different languages, cultures and expectations Well, it isn't half a dozen, it's more like 3 countries (Iceland, Switzerland and Norway). 4 if you count Liechtenstein with its population of 38k people.
  - gpderetta 4y ago
    Well there is also Monaco, Andorra, San Marino and of course Vatican City with its population of 800!
    - dmitriid 4y ago
      Well, we can also count the UK now :)
- sbacic 4y ago
  > EU: 27 different markets in the EU + half a dozen markets in countries freely associated with the EU (e.g. Norway and Switzerland) in different languages, cultures and expectations That's understating the issue. There are only 5 (!) EU member states with a population higher than that of the NYC metropolitan area and _none_ with that kind of population concentration or purchasing power.
dgellow 4y ago
> I can't imagine moving to the US, and I'm sure that lots of smart people in the EU are in the same camp. At the same time, I'd be very interested in providing high value to and being part of a company with the velocity and dynamics of a start-up. I personally do this via contracting. I’m in Europe and work for people in the US. I’m currently working with two companies, both are very early stage startups, it’s very dynamic, everything has to be built from scratch and I feel I have lot of influence over products and devices which is something I enjoy. And I still have all benefits from Western European countries. Not sure how things will evolve if they start to focus on hiring employees and move to a more standard company structure but so far things are going well.
- dgellow 4y ago
  I meant “services”, not “devices”… My autocorrect is a bit too zealous…

dmitriid 4y ago

> what are some problems companies in Europe would have to deal with? What liberties are exclusive to the US? 1. Market US: a rather unified single English-speaking market of 300 million people. EU: 27 different markets in the EU + half a dozen markets in countries freely associated with the EU (e.g. Norway and Switzerland) in different languages, cultures and expectations 2. Money US: unlimited unchecked runaway money. All the "unicorns" we keep hearing about can easily lose hundreds of millions and even billions dollars a year for decades, and still considered a success EU: less money, and you are expected to actually turn a profit at some point

danijelb 4y ago
I don't think that the 27+ EU markets are a problem. I'm not even sure if there are 27+ different markets in the EU in the context of startups/tech, because if there were then each country would have their own isolated tech ecosystem which is not the case. Most EU countries are dominated by US tech companies. If different cultures and languages are not a problem for US startups in spreading to Europe I fail to see why it would be a problem for EU companies
- oblio 4y ago
  You're missing the bigger picture. US startups <<grow>> in the US, the huge single market with a single language, then once they're big and can tackle the bureaucracy in order to get to the huge chunks of cash also available in Europe, they <<move>> into the EU. A not-so-huge startup by US standards can have hundreds of millions of dollars very early in its life, allowing it to switch to international expansion, while most of the equivalent EU startup would probably raise tens of millions by the same stage, if they're lucky.
jason0597 4y ago
> half a dozen markets in countries freely associated with the EU (e.g. Norway and Switzerland) in different languages, cultures and expectations Well, it isn't half a dozen, it's more like 3 countries (Iceland, Switzerland and Norway). 4 if you count Liechtenstein with its population of 38k people.
- gpderetta 4y ago
  Well there is also Monaco, Andorra, San Marino and of course Vatican City with its population of 800!
  - dmitriid 4y ago
    Well, we can also count the UK now :)
sbacic 4y ago
> EU: 27 different markets in the EU + half a dozen markets in countries freely associated with the EU (e.g. Norway and Switzerland) in different languages, cultures and expectations That's understating the issue. There are only 5 (!) EU member states with a population higher than that of the NYC metropolitan area and _none_ with that kind of population concentration or purchasing power.

dgellow 4y ago

> I can't imagine moving to the US, and I'm sure that lots of smart people in the EU are in the same camp. At the same time, I'd be very interested in providing high value to and being part of a company with the velocity and dynamics of a start-up. I personally do this via contracting. I’m in Europe and work for people in the US. I’m currently working with two companies, both are very early stage startups, it’s very dynamic, everything has to be built from scratch and I feel I have lot of influence over products and devices which is something I enjoy. And I still have all benefits from Western European countries. Not sure how things will evolve if they start to focus on hiring employees and move to a more standard company structure but so far things are going well.

dgellow 4y ago
I meant “services”, not “devices”… My autocorrect is a bit too zealous…