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ASK HN: Do I have to be in America to make success?

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ASK HN: Do I have to be in America to make success?

#1

Post by ahmedaly »

Well.. Around 5 yrs ago, I had an idea for making a statrup.. I worked on it.. and developed it.. and I got thousands of users.. who were using my website..

I am from Egypt, and I had an American friend who supported the website.. by paying for it's hosting and all other related fees...

Around a year ago, I totally stopped working on it, and even it's shut down now.. My main problem was getting into America..

Whatever, I want to re-start this startup again.. but of course it's kind of impossible for a young Arab Muslim to travel to America (This is the truth regardless what you hear in your American media).. so I wonder.. is it possible to make a successful American startup, even if you are not in America? And is it possible to get acquired later by an American enterprise?

What gave me some hope again.. that recently an Arabian social network was acquired by Yahoo!.. which is maktoob.com website.. and that refreshed my dreams for making something successful..

What do you think? It's very frustrating to be stopped.. just based on your religion!

Re: ASK HN: Do I have to be in America to make success?

#2

Post by csomar »

Stop your frustration and forget about the world hating you because you are an "Arabic Muslim". US don't love you because you are a "poor", "third-world" citizen. Proof? Get $1 million and you'll access the states. Any country, really!

So the first thing is: It's not about who you are. It's about how much money you have.

You said your startup is a website (probably a kind of SaaS). If it's successful why not charge your users. Get paid via FastSpring (they take a fee, but deliver money to your card, bank, paypal... and manage your subscription). You don't need access to the USA. You only need to form a company in Egypt, declare your revenue, pay your taxes, pay hosting with your card (provided by Fast Spring). Hire programmers in Egypt (they are cheap) and get yourself off the ground.

Your main problem is getting into the US. But why do you want to get their? You actually don't, it actually add expenses and Visa problems. And with only thousands of users, you can live like a Prince in Egypt.

Re: ASK HN: Do I have to be in America to make success?

#6

Post by ahmedaly »

kranner wrote: post #4

Why do you have to move to America to develop a product that provides value to people everywhere, including Americans? Do that, and I'm pretty sure those American investors will find you.

This is exactly the question... would I have a chance to get a funding opportunity?

Re: ASK HN: Do I have to be in America to make success?

#7

Post by donohoe »

First, as someone who is not originally an American, it is tough to get into America legally regardless of your religion or country of origin.

The USCIS, formerly called the BSCIS, formally called the INS is tough to go through for everyone. You need to understand that this is not becuase of your religion or whatever - its becuase you are not American like the rest of the world (be it Irish, French, SOuth African, Egyptian etc...)

They are equally unhelpful and incompetent to people of all nations.

Re: ASK HN: Do I have to be in America to make success?

#8

Post by kranner »

ahmedaly wrote: post #6
kranner wrote: post #4

Why do you have to move to America to develop a product that provides value to people everywhere, including Americans? Do that, and I'm pretty sure those American investors will find you.

This is exactly the question... would I have a chance to get a funding opportunity?

Well, couldn't you find Egyptian investors to fund you?

Re: ASK HN: Do I have to be in America to make success?

#9

Post by Towle_ »

... it's kind of impossible for a young Arab Muslim to travel to America (This is the truth regardless what you hear in your American media)

Nonsense. I personally live in an area with a large immigrant Muslim population, both from the Middle East and from Africa. (This is the truth regardless of what you hear in your Egyptian media.)

Re: ASK HN: Do I have to be in America to make success?

#10

Post by ahmedaly »

donohoe wrote: post #7

First, as someone who is not originally an American, it is tough to get into America legally regardless of your religion or country of origin. The USCIS, formerly called the BSCIS, formally called the INS is tough to go through for everyone. You need to understand that this is not becuase of your religion or whatever - its becuase you are not American like the rest of the world (be it Irish, French, SOuth African, Eg…

Sorry for making a comment off-topic..but you are wrong! Just for your information, all Europeans can enter U.S. without a visa, through the visa waiver program... which is not available option for Arab Muslims.

I am talking about entering America, regardless the purpose of travel!

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