Re:Calling Y Combinator - need for YC in other countries
by iamelgringo on Sunday March 30, 2008 @02:52PM
(#150328)
There was an article on the San Jose Mercury News last year that talked about the percentage of foreign-born founders of successful startups in the Valley was around 40-50%. If I find a link, I'll post it.
Anyway, they interviewed a number of foreign born founders, and the consensus was that it took so much risk to move to another country as an immigrant, the risk of founding a startup really seemed small in comparison.
Having grown up in Central America in the 80's myself, I'd also postulate that you're able to think outside the box a bit better as well. Why? Because to the immigrant, everything in a new country is so profoundly different to begin with, that you barely see the boxes that so many other native-born people are hung up on.
Anyway, they interviewed a number of foreign born founders, and the consensus was that it took so much risk to move to another country as an immigrant, the risk of founding a startup really seemed small in comparison.
Having grown up in Central America in the 80's myself, I'd also postulate that you're able to think outside the box a bit better as well. Why? Because to the immigrant, everything in a new country is so profoundly different to begin with, that you barely see the boxes that so many other native-born people are hung up on.