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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!!
I think Ryan and PG have a different idea of what startups are. PG said in response to a question at FOWA that he was talking about startups designed for acquisition by the likes of Google. Acquisition is much easier where there are big established companies to network with. Ryan on the other hand seems to be talking about bootstrapping and building to last, which doesn't depend on the benefits of SV as much.
PG doesn't view something like dropsend as a startup per se. To him that's just a small business with a chance at being successful. Ryan sees Dropsend from a founders point of view: a significant success, but not something that's going to be acquired by Google for $xxM.
They're arguing from two different positions about two different things.
Carson cares more about developing new Silicon Valleys.
They're both right, but as an entrepreneur, I know who I should be listening to.
"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 inspi…
Starting businesses that don't have this objective is how we got into the bubble mess of dot-com in the first place.
If this isn't your objective, you should find something else to work on.
pg cares more about the immediate success of the entrepreneur. Carson cares more about developing new Silicon Valleys. They're both right, but as an entrepreneur, I know who I should be listening to.
Carson is trying to become a pg of Europe.
Take both in measured amounts.
London and Paris will never become competitive startup hubs for the most simplest and most important reason, the climate! Everybody loves sun and beaches!
London and Paris will never become competitive startup hubs for the most simplest and most important reason, the climate! Everybody loves sun and beaches!
How can we get to that critical level of support here in Europe if we always have people saying everyone should move to Silicon Valley? I was more concerned with saying something true than saying something that would encourage startups in a particular region. I agree entirely that saying startups will do equally well anywhere would encourage startups in Europe. If Carson in turn agrees that this statement, though enc…
"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 inspi…
>as long as you turn a profit quickly Starting businesses that don't have this objective is how we got into the bubble mess of dot-com in the first place. If this isn't your objective, you should find something else to work on.