| Note, I don't actually think Ireland is the ideal place, but I do think its a reasonably good place to do a startup. 1. Yes, I agree that it is not near as strong as the bay area, but with the likes of Startup Bootcamp, things are improving on this front. 2. The Python and Ruby Ireland user groups are probably the two most popular programming language user groups in Ireland. While that doesn't mean that they are good, it certainly raises the odds over people who don't attend user groups simply because it shows they are enthusiastic and wish to learn more. Doesn't say anything about overall numbers, however. 3. I disagree - I attended Startup Weekend Dublin the weekend before last and the startup scene (including successful entrepreneurs) is quite vibrant and alive in Dublin - and growing. Personally I was amazed that my group found not only mentors who knew the industry of our project very well, but also potential customers at the event itself and that through a small bit of emailing we got a phone call with another industry leader. 4. Outside of say Startup Bootcamp, I certainly agree with this point. 5. See my comments on Python/Ruby Ireland and Startup Weekend Dublin - I find the community of like-minded indivitduals to be quite vibrant and growing every day (when I started attending Python Ireland, an average meetup might have 4 or 5 attendees and I did not know anyone in the startup scene - now meetups have 30+ attendees and the conferences sell out and I know tons of people in the startup scene, including other hopeful entrepreneurs like myself, successful entrepreneurs, investors.. etc) |