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I've lived most of my 24 years in Norway, but the lack of a proper startup eco-system (successful entrepreneurs, VCs and companies etc.) motivates me to move to

I've lived most of my 24 years in Norway, but the lack of a proper startup eco-system (successful entrepreneurs, VCs and companies etc.) motivates me to move to Silicon Valley in a few years. Am I stupid, or just adventurous? :p

gindevine 15y ago
I have the opposite opinion. I've never experienced the system first-hand myself, but I know of a few who have. To me, it seems that as long as you have a business idea and actually check if it's possible to maintain, there's a lot of governmental and non-governmental organizations who'll support you financially. I think Silicon Valley would be harder to start in, if not only for the (seemingly) fierce competition for VCs' money and because you might have to pay for the health insurance of your employees.
- deleted 15y ago
  [deleted]
amac 15y ago
At one time, I had similar thoughts e.g you have to move to another place (usually a large city) to be successful in business. Then, I figured out that by whatever billionaire list or financial metric you choose to look at e.g Forbes, FT - nearly all entrepreneurs started out in the city/country they were born in. Travel is obviously good to broaden your experiences in life, but it appears that starting your business in the place you're from is more often the best way to succeed.
- andreash 15y ago
  what do you think is the reason for this? My goals is not to become a billionaire, but to build something great, and have fun while doing it. I believe the chances for that are bigger in Silicon Valley than Norway. If I fail, I'll move back and enjoy the wealth and rain.
  - amac 15y ago
    Yes, if you want to build something in technology (software more precisely) then Silicon Valley is the best place to do this. It has to be said you can build a technology company in Norway; Opera is proof that you can build software, Tandberg is proof you can do hardware. A story that may be of interest; I used to work for a company called Aker Solutions here in Scotland, which is Norwegian as you probably know. The owner of the company, Kjell Inge Rokke, played to your strengths in Norway right. You are a maritime nation; read oil, gas and seafood. So despite no college education, he went on to work in your country's main industries and now is one of the richest persons in the world. Looking forward, hydrocarbons are harder than ever to find. You'd imagine that geologists and the oil companies they work for will need amazing software. Importantly, they will be able and willing to pay for it.
gahahaha 15y ago
Living in Norway has its benefits even for startups: (from HN a while back) "In Norway, Start-ups Say Ja to Socialism" http://www.inc.com/magazine/20110201/in-norway-start-ups-say-ja-to-socialism.html http://www.inc.com/magazine/20110201/in-norway-start-ups-say... But looking out at a foggy and dreary Oslo right now, I'd say the time to be adventurous is when you are 24. Time to go.

gindevine 15y ago

I have the opposite opinion. I've never experienced the system first-hand myself, but I know of a few who have. To me, it seems that as long as you have a business idea and actually check if it's possible to maintain, there's a lot of governmental and non-governmental organizations who'll support you financially. I think Silicon Valley would be harder to start in, if not only for the (seemingly) fierce competition for VCs' money and because you might have to pay for the health insurance of your employees.

deleted 15y ago
[deleted]

amac 15y ago

At one time, I had similar thoughts e.g you have to move to another place (usually a large city) to be successful in business. Then, I figured out that by whatever billionaire list or financial metric you choose to look at e.g Forbes, FT - nearly all entrepreneurs started out in the city/country they were born in. Travel is obviously good to broaden your experiences in life, but it appears that starting your business in the place you're from is more often the best way to succeed.

andreash 15y ago
what do you think is the reason for this? My goals is not to become a billionaire, but to build something great, and have fun while doing it. I believe the chances for that are bigger in Silicon Valley than Norway. If I fail, I'll move back and enjoy the wealth and rain.
- amac 15y ago
  Yes, if you want to build something in technology (software more precisely) then Silicon Valley is the best place to do this. It has to be said you can build a technology company in Norway; Opera is proof that you can build software, Tandberg is proof you can do hardware. A story that may be of interest; I used to work for a company called Aker Solutions here in Scotland, which is Norwegian as you probably know. The owner of the company, Kjell Inge Rokke, played to your strengths in Norway right. You are a maritime nation; read oil, gas and seafood. So despite no college education, he went on to work in your country's main industries and now is one of the richest persons in the world. Looking forward, hydrocarbons are harder than ever to find. You'd imagine that geologists and the oil companies they work for will need amazing software. Importantly, they will be able and willing to pay for it.

gahahaha 15y ago

Living in Norway has its benefits even for startups: (from HN a while back) "In Norway, Start-ups Say Ja to Socialism" http://www.inc.com/magazine/20110201/in-norway-start-ups-say-ja-to-socialism.html http://www.inc.com/magazine/20110201/in-norway-start-ups-say... But looking out at a foggy and dreary Oslo right now, I'd say the time to be adventurous is when you are 24. Time to go.