Live data from Hacker News

Ryan Carson responds to Paul Graham on startup hubs

carsonified.com

1–10 of 53 posts

Re: Ryan Carson responds to Paul Graham on startup hubs

#4
Carson's arguments aren't very strong. However, I do wonder how a small team based in europe could move to Silicon Valley with no money and legally be allowed to work in the country.

I'm interested in hearing how YC works out the visa situation for teams based outside of the USA. We have had to pass on a number of awesome applicants because of visa problems. However, we do have a couple indispensible hackers based in Europe, and had to set up a (somewhat) complicated system of small european based companies so that we can bring them over to work for 3-5 months at a time.

Re: Ryan Carson responds to Paul Graham on startup hubs

#5
"There's way too much pressure in the web app industry to be the next $100 million dollar company. Screw that."

Well, that basically has to be your attitude if you can't rely upon angel support, meeting deal-makers, or follow-on capital.

So you'll do just as well... as long as you turn a profit quickly, you're not interested in being acquired before that, and you're not shooting for a large market? Not terribly inspiring.

Re: Ryan Carson responds to Paul Graham on startup hubs

#6
Ryan raises some decent points, but I have to side with Paul on this one. If you want to -maximize- your startup's chance for success, moving out to SV (or other big hubs) would be the most logical choice. This doesn't mean your startup won't have a shot elsewhere, but he's just calling it as he sees it. What yields the best results is typically what people want to hear when it comes to getting advice.

Re: Ryan Carson responds to Paul Graham on startup hubs

#9
post #7

London and Paris will never become competitive startup hubs for the most simplest and most important reason, the climate! Everybody loves sun and beaches!

Er... what beach do people in Palo Alto go to? Santa Cruz? Pacifica? The beaches in the Bay Area are FREEZING COLD.

The beaches near Boston, whilst disgusting, are actually much warmer and beach-like in the summer than the beaches in NorCal ever are.

Re: Ryan Carson responds to Paul Graham on startup hubs

#10
post #2

You need to understand Carson's position on this matter...He is trying to build up Europe as a startup hub, then someone walks in and tells his audience that there is a better startup hub. Ouch!!

Well, still, his argument isn't that London / Europe today are just as good as Silicon Valley, his argument seems to be to stop telling people Silicon Valley is better because they'll go there and Europe won't be able to catch up... in effect, that Europe CAN be as effective as Silicon Valley if nurtured. But that simply agrees with pg's argument that today, Silicon Valley is a better destination.
Post reply on HN