3 ms·
I find that attitude strange, like risk-averse. It sounds like a hobby, not like a startup company. Such a venture (Kleingewerbe) is effectively a sole propriet
by ant6n 3y ago
I find that attitude strange, like risk-averse. It sounds like a hobby, not like a startup company. Such a venture (Kleingewerbe) is effectively a sole proprietorship, meaning no separation of liability, probably no employees, no capital thus no shares and no private investing, and also very limited possibility to get public funding.
It matches my perception that people in Berlin will come together to start some brick and mortar business without big growth potential and call it a "startup". Yes they did "start up" a company, but if you choose the English rather than German word that people associate with silicon-valley style tech startup to describe your venture, I think you should have a business model that aims for growth, not just a be a collection of young people to start a company. I guess it shows that in risk-averse Germany, traditionally young people become employed rather than start their own companies. So even if it's not a startup in the VC sense, the young entrepreneurs still call it that because it is risky and modern from their point of view.
- martin_a 3y agoWhy do you need public funding and risk, though? Business culture in Germany is very different than e.g. in the US. So called "Mittelstand" is what the German economy is build on. These are stable companies, often lead by families in the nth generation, concentrating on making good products. Most of these companies are the result of somebody (or some friends) being good at something, starting in his shed and scaling that operation up over time. Aiming for that unicorn/public funding/VC money is just plain stupid. At least it's rich people money that's usually getting burned there.
- ant6n 3y ago>> Most of these companies are the result of somebody (or some friends) being good at something, starting in his shed and scaling that operation up over time. You’re using the wrong tense here. Germany used to be a bit more innovative, the „Mittelstand“ is a leftover of that. Innovation and impact require risk.
- FirmwareBurner 3y ago>These are stable companies, often lead by families in the nth generation, concentrating on making good products. Most of these companies are the result of somebody (or some friends) being good at something, starting in his shed and scaling that operation up over time. ...on inherited wealth from WW2 salve labor and war profiteering[1]. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WX5zOdMprc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WX5zOdMprc
- martin_a 3y agoSome of them, yes.