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Why Does Sweden Have So Many Startups?

theatlantic.com

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Re: Why Does Sweden Have So Many Startups?

#151

Post by z3t4 »

Kiro wrote: post #126
scrdhrt wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a former tech recruiter in Stockholm I can assure you that they do. These devs, however, usually do not have a degree from university/college, and are either juniors and/or self taught. If you look at the university/college educated devs the story is different, but not by that much. Entry level median salary for devs without higher education from the year I left recruitment (2013/2014) was 28000 USD per year. Add…

I would still be very surprised if any developer in Stockholm is paid $25k a year as OP says. That's less than 17k SEK a month. I also don't think your numbers are valid anymore. The demand on developers is completely crazy in Stockholm right now. Even with minimum prior experience you shouldn't settle for anything less than 25k a month.

Stockholm wages are much higher but you also pay more when you buy an apartment.

Re: Why Does Sweden Have So Many Startups?

#152

Post by ivm »

beagle3 wrote: post #100
ThomPete wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If that was the case then all Scandinavian countries would be doing as well, they aren't. It's much more complex than that.

I have visited Denmark and Sweden, and the most obvious change when you cross the border is that Danes rarely smile walking down the street (or talking to you), whereas Swedes look generally happy. It is likely a cultural thing, as young (4-6 year old) Danes on the street do some happy, unlike their older siblings and parents; I am aware that this contradicts surveys that conclude Danes are the happiest people and Sw…

But why do you need to look happy when you are happy? Asking as an Eastern European.

Re: Why Does Sweden Have So Many Startups?

#153

Post by choperius »

johankmagnusson wrote: post #96

I've considered launching a start-up of my own here in Sweden so I've given the pros and cons some thought, and it is virtually risk free. To summarise, compared with other countries, we may have even more of the upside but the downside is capped at a very anxiety free level. These are a few of the reasons: - highly skilled labour is cheap in absolute terms and the cost to performance ratio for such workers is probab…

Supercell, >10B valuation, is Finnish.

Re: Why Does Sweden Have So Many Startups?

#154

Post by erikbye »

KozmoNau7 wrote: post #149
erikbye wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, my political views aligned with some 0.2% of this year's turnout (parliamentary election).

Which makes your descriptions of the Scandinavian countries extremely biased at best, and not indicative of what's actually going on.

Everyone's biased, but descriptions matching those above are commonly observed here regardless of political views. They are in fact common to the point of triteness.

If I were to talk about what's actually going on and explain why Norway fosters less tech innovation than Sweden it would have to be in a different form than comments. But I wanted to point out that the explanation might have to do with things unrelated to regulations, taxes, and safety nets.

Are Finns drunker than Norwegians? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_alcohol_c...

Is this bias?

Re: Why Does Sweden Have So Many Startups?

#155

Post by ThomPete »

beagle3 wrote: post #100
ThomPete wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If that was the case then all Scandinavian countries would be doing as well, they aren't. It's much more complex than that.

I have visited Denmark and Sweden, and the most obvious change when you cross the border is that Danes rarely smile walking down the street (or talking to you), whereas Swedes look generally happy. It is likely a cultural thing, as young (4-6 year old) Danes on the street do some happy, unlike their older siblings and parents; I am aware that this contradicts surveys that conclude Danes are the happiest people and Sw…

My theory (as a Dane) is that Danish people get votes the happiest people because they are complacent.

Re: Why Does Sweden Have So Many Startups?

#156

Post by KozmoNau7 »

erikbye wrote: post #154
KozmoNau7 wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which makes your descriptions of the Scandinavian countries extremely biased at best, and not indicative of what's actually going on.

Everyone's biased, but descriptions matching those above are commonly observed here regardless of political views. They are in fact common to the point of triteness. If I were to talk about what's actually going on and explain why Norway fosters less tech innovation than Sweden it would have to be in a different form than comments. But I wanted to point out that the explanation might have to do with things unrelated…

Just for a starter, "Danes are even more content than Norwegians with having even less, giving almost everything back to the state" is blatantly and utterly false. The effective tax rate in Denmark is not particularly remarkable among OECD countries.

This misconception, as well as call to "all Norwegians know this", and your use of the term "politically correct" as a pejorative makes it clear that you have a political agenda, an axe to grind with the social democracy practiced in the Scandinavian countries.

Re: Why Does Sweden Have So Many Startups?

#157

Post by jk2323 »

Loic wrote: post #69

The most important quote: "Sweden’s impressive start-up record can also be attributed to some broader aspects of how the country is set up. Its social safety net, for instance, helps entrepreneurs feel safe to take risks. In Sweden, university is free, and students can get loans for living expenses, which allows anyone to pursue higher education. Health care is free too, and childcare is heavily subsidized. None of t…

"In most of the rest of Europe (DK, DE, FR from my own experience), if you want the engineer path with good money, you need to get hired by a big company."

This is true. Unfortunately this has likely very little to do with your skills. To get hired by a big company there are three options:

1. You have family connections 2. Your professor in the university has connections 3. You work for a start up that get's acquired by a big company.

Exceptions confirm the rule. Also this may not be the case for companies like McKinsey or BCG.

I once applied for a job Germany at BASF. Job location would be Asia. Based on my resume I was very well suited for the job. I filled out the shitty SAP application interface. They really got back to me. "We received your application. Please also upload your 'letters of recommendation' (something that is provided to you in writing for every job you had in Germany)". I emailed them that I got my PhD in the US and worked in the US and that I don't have this but that I am happy to provide references. They emailed: " If you don't have letters of recommendation then we don't need you. We deleted you application!" This was a multinational company.

Re: Why Does Sweden Have So Many Startups?

#158

Post by danek »

Jommi wrote: post #144
Loic wrote: post #69

The most important quote: "Sweden’s impressive start-up record can also be attributed to some broader aspects of how the country is set up. Its social safety net, for instance, helps entrepreneurs feel safe to take risks. In Sweden, university is free, and students can get loans for living expenses, which allows anyone to pursue higher education. Health care is free too, and childcare is heavily subsidized. None of t…

The article's point is not very strong, from personal experience (Finland, experience in Nordic startup "ecosystem"). Like you said, working at a Startup in the Nordics is considered risky, which doesn't make sense at all. Like the article underlines, Nordics countries have a insane social safety net, that even if your company fails, you're no where near as fucked as if the same thing happened in the US for example.…

Counterpoint: I wouldn’t think of starting a startup in the US but I would seriously consider it in Sweden. Healthcare is one of the issues for me.

Maybe it’s not right to say it’s the reason for Sweden’s success but it could be an enabling factor.

Re: Why Does Sweden Have So Many Startups?

#159

Post by jk2323 »

mlevental wrote: post #109
flexie wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Other Scandinavian countries are also doing quite well, way beyond what their size would suggest. But also well beyond other countries with developed welfare systems, such as France. I think these discussions always miss one key factor: Language. If you don't speak English quite well at an early age (already at 10-13 years old) you are much less likely to get into software development at an early age. If you don't ge…

>If you don't speak English quite well at an early age (already at 10-13 years old) you are much less likely to get into software development at an early age. china and russia beg to differ?

Why would this matter? There are more than enough books in the local languages about programming.

Formerly it may have mattered if you can afford a computer. But prices have come down so far that this is not an issue anymore. Hey, you could use a Raspberry with a keyboard and attach it to a TV to learn how to program.

Re: Why Does Sweden Have So Many Startups?

#160

Post by ThomPete »

KozmoNau7 wrote: post #156
erikbye wrote: post #154

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Everyone's biased, but descriptions matching those above are commonly observed here regardless of political views. They are in fact common to the point of triteness. If I were to talk about what's actually going on and explain why Norway fosters less tech innovation than Sweden it would have to be in a different form than comments. But I wanted to point out that the explanation might have to do with things unrelated…

Just for a starter, "Danes are even more content than Norwegians with having even less, giving almost everything back to the state" is blatantly and utterly false. The effective tax rate in Denmark is not particularly remarkable among OECD countries. This misconception, as well as call to "all Norwegians know this", and your use of the term "politically correct" as a pejorative makes it clear that you have a politica…

Danish tax rate is one of the highest in the world if not the highest in the world. On top of that you have 25% VAT and on cars, you are up to around 200% (recently lowered)

Denmark is indeed remarkable.

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