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A Visa for founders, engineers and investors willing to join France

visa.lafrenchtech.com

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Re: A Visa for founders, engineers and investors willing to join France

#31

Post by paraboul »

nkkollaw wrote: post #23
paraboul wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Like not speaking the local language of any country : won't work in the long term.

I disagree. Not every country is the same. I was in Berlin, and I was never spoken to in German (since I don't really look German), and I would ask the person if they spoke English just to be polite before I started speaking to them, and they would almost get offended. Actually, I hardly heard any German being spoken. On the contrary, in Warsaw I had problems getting basic directions in English even if I asked young…

I'm actually a French who lived 5 years in Berlin.

I can tell you that not speaking german was really a burden (again in the long term).

Everyone below 40 speaks english, but as soon as you have to deal with the administration, or just even the doctor, it really was a PITA.

Also, Even the tech support (e.g. for Internet) wasn't allowed to speaks English on phone.

I'm pretty sure the same "issues" apply to any country.

Re: A Visa for founders, engineers and investors willing to join France

#32

Post by bru »

bogomipz wrote: post #4

Does anyone know how big of an impediment is not knowing French? EDIT: I should have articulated my question better by saying "in the short term." I agree its foolish to not learn the local language if you plan on staying. But if the office language is French that is going to be almost a non-starter for someone who doesn't already speak it. It can be intimidating enough changing jobs in your native language. I know S…

Given France history (and bagage with England), many French people are very proud of their language. I believe that if one wants to really enjoy France, develop good friendships there, etc., one has to speak French. Or at least be learning it.

Re: A Visa for founders, engineers and investors willing to join France

#33

Post by tobltobs »

endymi0n wrote: post #12
bogomipz wrote: post #4

Does anyone know how big of an impediment is not knowing French? EDIT: I should have articulated my question better by saying "in the short term." I agree its foolish to not learn the local language if you plan on staying. But if the office language is French that is going to be almost a non-starter for someone who doesn't already speak it. It can be intimidating enough changing jobs in your native language. I know S…

Honnêtement, je pense que vous allez être bien sans parler un mot.

As fine as you can be if you can not talk to about 90% of the people around you.

Re: A Visa for founders, engineers and investors willing to join France

#34

Post by lawless123 »

jlangenauer wrote: post #5

Apropos of this, I was in Paris recently at a startup event, and was pleasantly shocked at the sheer number of startups and people I saw doing things. This is a good move by the French, and will help attract entrepreneurs away from other countries (particularly like those just across the channel currently inflicting generational economic damage on themselves.)

The timing can't be too much of a coincidence.

Re: A Visa for founders, engineers and investors willing to join France

#35

Post by VeejayRampay »

laurent123456 wrote: post #19
esquevin wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not that big a deal. French people in startups tend to speak english.

Won't it be a problem when looking for funds though? People who can fund startups tend to be a bit older and might not have a good level of English (or will simply be more likely to help the startup if they can communicate in French).

They will also be more impressed and glad that some foreigner is trying to create value in their country. I don't think language is really a barrier in this case.

Re: A Visa for founders, engineers and investors willing to join France

#36

Post by nkkollaw »

paraboul wrote: post #31
nkkollaw wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree. Not every country is the same. I was in Berlin, and I was never spoken to in German (since I don't really look German), and I would ask the person if they spoke English just to be polite before I started speaking to them, and they would almost get offended. Actually, I hardly heard any German being spoken. On the contrary, in Warsaw I had problems getting basic directions in English even if I asked young…

I'm actually a French who lived 5 years in Berlin. I can tell you that not speaking german was really a burden (again in the long term). Everyone below 40 speaks english, but as soon as you have to deal with the administration, or just even the doctor, it really was a PITA. Also, Even the tech support (e.g. for Internet) wasn't allowed to speaks English on phone. I'm pretty sure the same "issues" apply to any country…

Yes.

My point wasn't that it's not a problem in the long term, but that in some countries it's also a problem in the short term.

In Poland I really felt unwelcomed on many occasions. The fact that they're extremely nationalistic doesn't help, I guess. I was surprised that even 18-year-olds wouldn't speak English to me. I'm now learning Polish.

Re: A Visa for founders, engineers and investors willing to join France

#37

Post by jules »

nkkollaw wrote: post #23
paraboul wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Like not speaking the local language of any country : won't work in the long term.

I disagree. Not every country is the same. I was in Berlin, and I was never spoken to in German (since I don't really look German), and I would ask the person if they spoke English just to be polite before I started speaking to them, and they would almost get offended. Actually, I hardly heard any German being spoken. On the contrary, in Warsaw I had problems getting basic directions in English even if I asked young…

If you are happy to live in an expat bubble then it works, but if you want to connect with the locals it doesn't. Most friend groups won't change their language to english to include you.

Re: A Visa for founders, engineers and investors willing to join France

#38

Post by richthegeek »

nkkollaw wrote: post #23
paraboul wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Like not speaking the local language of any country : won't work in the long term.

I disagree. Not every country is the same. I was in Berlin, and I was never spoken to in German (since I don't really look German), and I would ask the person if they spoke English just to be polite before I started speaking to them, and they would almost get offended. Actually, I hardly heard any German being spoken. On the contrary, in Warsaw I had problems getting basic directions in English even if I asked young…

From dating a Polish girl, and meeting some of her relatives and friends in Poland, I'd say it's mostly a problem of confidence. Once they started talking there was rarely a problem (at least for non-rare words), but a lot of them didn't speak English to non-Poles often enough to feel like they actually could.

Re: A Visa for founders, engineers and investors willing to join France

#39

Post by toddsiegel »

spyspy wrote: post #30

Does anyone know if there similar opportunities for other European countries?

Portugal has a similar visa. http://www.portugalinvestorvisa.com/

My guess is other have too. Lisbon is supposedly becoming a hot tech hub. Regardless, it's a wonderful city.

Re: A Visa for founders, engineers and investors willing to join France

#40

Post by xiaoma »

paraboul wrote: post #14
bogomipz wrote: post #4

Does anyone know how big of an impediment is not knowing French? EDIT: I should have articulated my question better by saying "in the short term." I agree its foolish to not learn the local language if you plan on staying. But if the office language is French that is going to be almost a non-starter for someone who doesn't already speak it. It can be intimidating enough changing jobs in your native language. I know S…

Like not speaking the local language of any country : won't work in the long term.

I've met people who did well in Hong Kong for decades without learning the local language (Cantonese) and then haven't bothered to learn Mandarin since China took control 20 years ago.

It's pretty doable in Sweden, too. In Japan, Russia or Argentina, though, you'd be at an enormous disadvantage.

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