[inductive_magic]

From someone who hasn't interacted with the startup world much yet: what are some problems companies in Europe would have to deal with? What liberties are exclusive to the US? I'd imagine lots of complications of running a US-based company within Europe.

I can't imagine moving to the US, and I'm sure that lots of smart people in the EU are in the same camp. At the same time, I'd be very interested in providing high value to and being part of a company with the velocity and dynamics of a start-up -- I just wouldn't move to the US to pursue the opportunity, as in: I'd not even consider it below ridiculous/unrealistic pay.

[dmitriid]

> what are some problems companies in Europe would have to deal with? What liberties are exclusive to the US?

1. Market

US: a rather unified single English-speaking market of 300 million people.

EU: 27 different markets in the EU + half a dozen markets in countries freely associated with the EU (e.g. Norway and Switzerland) in different languages, cultures and expectations

2. Money

US: unlimited unchecked runaway money. All the "unicorns" we keep hearing about can easily lose hundreds of millions and even billions dollars a year for decades, and still considered a success

EU: less money, and you are expected to actually turn a profit at some point

[danijelb]

I don't think that the 27+ EU markets are a problem. I'm not even sure if there are 27+ different markets in the EU in the context of startups/tech, because if there were then each country would have their own isolated tech ecosystem which is not the case. Most EU countries are dominated by US tech companies.

If different cultures and languages are not a problem for US startups in spreading to Europe I fail to see why it would be a problem for EU companies

[oblio]

You're missing the bigger picture.

US startups <<grow>> in the US, the huge single market with a single language, then once they're big and can tackle the bureaucracy in order to get to the huge chunks of cash also available in Europe, they <<move>> into the EU.

A not-so-huge startup by US standards can have hundreds of millions of dollars very early in its life, allowing it to switch to international expansion, while most of the equivalent EU startup would probably raise tens of millions by the same stage, if they're lucky.

[sbacic]

> EU: 27 different markets in the EU + half a dozen markets in countries freely associated with the EU (e.g. Norway and Switzerland) in different languages, cultures and expectations

That's understating the issue. There are only 5 (!) EU member states with a population higher than that of the NYC metropolitan area and _none_ with that kind of population concentration or purchasing power.

[jason0597]

> half a dozen markets in countries freely associated with the EU (e.g. Norway and Switzerland) in different languages, cultures and expectations

Well, it isn't half a dozen, it's more like 3 countries (Iceland, Switzerland and Norway). 4 if you count Liechtenstein with its population of 38k people.

[gpderetta]

Well there is also Monaco, Andorra, San Marino and of course Vatican City with its population of 800!

[dmitriid]

Well, we can also count the UK now :)

[dgellow]

> I can't imagine moving to the US, and I'm sure that lots of smart people in the EU are in the same camp. At the same time, I'd be very interested in providing high value to and being part of a company with the velocity and dynamics of a start-up.

I personally do this via contracting. I’m in Europe and work for people in the US. I’m currently working with two companies, both are very early stage startups, it’s very dynamic, everything has to be built from scratch and I feel I have lot of influence over products and devices which is something I enjoy.

And I still have all benefits from Western European countries.

Not sure how things will evolve if they start to focus on hiring employees and move to a more standard company structure but so far things are going well.

[dgellow]

I meant “services”, not “devices”… My autocorrect is a bit too zealous…