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Why I Gave Up My Front-Row Seat in Silicon Valley

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Re: Why I Gave Up My Front-Row Seat in Silicon Valley

#41

Post by qwerta »

eaurouge wrote: post #34
atmosx wrote: post #29

I feel like this post opens more questions than it tries to answer: * Ultimately, why he didn't like SV? * Was there a specific reason for choosing Tel Aviv, over say Berlin or Sydney? (Girlfriend? Is he an Israeli citizen?) Some quotes are correct only if you frame them, for example: if you’ re passionate enough about your project, you can make it happen anywhere - Care to try in Greece, Nigeria, Syria? Also, I didn…

Some quotes are correct only if you frame them, for example: if you’ re passionate enough about your project, you can make it happen anywhere - Care to try in Greece, Nigeria, Syria? I know there's a war in Syria at the moment. But what's going on in Greece and Nigeria?

Greece is ok for startups. Connection is fast, living expenses cheap an always sunny. Strikes and protests are well policed and easy to avoid. Biggest problem here are taxes.

Re: Why I Gave Up My Front-Row Seat in Silicon Valley

#42

Post by entreprenewer »

brianmcdonough wrote: post #12

Silicon Valley is a beautiful area as is Tel Aviv and Singapore, but none of these places is going to change who you are or the decisions you make. Working long hours is not a function of where you live. It's a choice. I checked out the website for the company OP mentioned selling. The about page is not filled in with content, leading me to a conclusion that it's not really a fully thought through idea, let alone a c…

I should also mention that the editors of the article cut what I felt was an important part - how I fell in love with the country, found that my social and family life was better here (In Israel), and how it was all about personal reasons for me - not professional...

I wish they'd left that bit in, but what can I do? ;)

Re: Why I Gave Up My Front-Row Seat in Silicon Valley

#43

Post by cyphunk »

wyclif wrote: post #32
supersystem wrote: post #3

I'm not sure Singapore and Israel are the best choices when it comes to escape the bubble and focus on what's really important.

I love Israel, have spent a lot of time there (not working), but my understanding is that it's tough for a gentile and WASP like me to get a resident visa.

It's 99% impossible for you to get a resident visa.

Actually, everyone should know this... what you can get in Israel is a highly skilled work visa but this is limited to max 5 years, in any size of blocks for the course of your entire life. Meaning you can work for 5 years and then they will just kick you out. (I know from first hand experience).

Re: Why I Gave Up My Front-Row Seat in Silicon Valley

#44

Post by cyphunk »

derwiki wrote: post #4

Is Israel generally considered (Silicon Valley)--? I always thought it was NYC.

Israel used to be #2, next to Silicon Valley, in VC fund per capita... but that was 5 years ago. It's now 3 or 4. I'm speaking from memory of some recent gartner reports on VC funding globally.

Re: Why I Gave Up My Front-Row Seat in Silicon Valley

#45

Post by cyphunk »

Israel has potential but the state will do everything it can to keep non-jews from coming or working there. Yes, if you are highly skilled you can get up to 5 years of working visas but after that you will get kicked out, with no exceptions. I know this because it happened to me.

You will never have the option to get any sort of permanent residency in Israel (unless you are jewish). The game is rigged so that to get permanent residency you have to have lived for at least 10 years on any non-tourist visa. So in theory you could study there for 5 years, then work there and max out your 5 years working visa options... but they will make certain to kick you out just before. I have had friends that could not complete their phd's because if they were to be given another years student visa they could then apply for permanent residency.

Also, btw, unlike many other countries your work visa in Israel will be tied to one company. To work at any other company you will have to apply for another visa. This does not sound like much but it makes it difficult to move between companies.

Re: Why I Gave Up My Front-Row Seat in Silicon Valley

#46

Post by hartator »

cyphunk wrote: post #45

Israel has potential but the state will do everything it can to keep non-jews from coming or working there. Yes, if you are highly skilled you can get up to 5 years of working visas but after that you will get kicked out, with no exceptions. I know this because it happened to me. You will never have the option to get any sort of permanent residency in Israel (unless you are jewish). The game is rigged so that to get…

I though something similar about Israel. It seems a great country when you are jewish, but when you are not, it seems that the silicon valley will be more open-minded.

Re: Why I Gave Up My Front-Row Seat in Silicon Valley

#47

Post by klipt »

cyphunk wrote: post #45

Israel has potential but the state will do everything it can to keep non-jews from coming or working there. Yes, if you are highly skilled you can get up to 5 years of working visas but after that you will get kicked out, with no exceptions. I know this because it happened to me. You will never have the option to get any sort of permanent residency in Israel (unless you are jewish). The game is rigged so that to get…

> unlike many other countries your work visa in Israel will be tied to one company.

To be fair, this is true of the US too - in fact it's even tied to a particular location. To work at a different location within the same company requires a visa amendment (basically reapplication): http://www.murthy.com/2012/09/07/h1b-amendment-requirement-f...

Re: Why I Gave Up My Front-Row Seat in Silicon Valley

#48

Post by entreprenewer »

cyphunk wrote: post #45

Israel has potential but the state will do everything it can to keep non-jews from coming or working there. Yes, if you are highly skilled you can get up to 5 years of working visas but after that you will get kicked out, with no exceptions. I know this because it happened to me. You will never have the option to get any sort of permanent residency in Israel (unless you are jewish). The game is rigged so that to get…

It is hard to immigrate to Israel, that's the consequence of a democracy that must for survival's sake remain Jewish in majority.

There's an easy solution, though. Marry an Israeli. He or she doesn't have to be Jewish, either. There are millions of Muslim, Christian, Bahai, and even Buddhist Israeli passport holders.

Re: Why I Gave Up My Front-Row Seat in Silicon Valley

#50

Post by entreprenewer »

cyphunk wrote: post #44
derwiki wrote: post #4

Is Israel generally considered (Silicon Valley)--? I always thought it was NYC.

Israel used to be #2, next to Silicon Valley, in VC fund per capita... but that was 5 years ago. It's now 3 or 4. I'm speaking from memory of some recent gartner reports on VC funding globally.

VC money has dropped as the predominance of super-angels has arisen. Read: Series A Crunch.

Israel still has a strong hold on spot #2 in terms of talented workforce, number of exits, number of companies started, overall access to capital, etc etc. Many VC firms have offices only in Silicon Valley and Tel Aviv, with no mention of New York. Pretty cool!

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