Re:Startup Visas Around the World
by throwaway4786 on Saturday January 25, 2020 @09:56PM
(#22150101)
I have a European startup visa.
If you at all can, stay in the US. Your startup valuation will be reduced by 80-90% compared to what you may expect in the US.
And don't think European grant money will magically make up the difference. It's a pain to apply for, a pain to administrate and claim, and you'll be competing with a cottage industry of professional grant proposal writers.
The one case it may make sense is if you have a very obvious and boring business model, and your business somehow saves the planet while delivering clean drinking water to Africa. This will make you investable and ensure you check the boxes the grant proposal reviewers are looking for.
Also the startup ecosystem is no where near evolved. There's no SAFE notes, employee stock options are totally broken, acquires are unheard of, etc etc.
To end my story, I lost interest in my startup because we couldn't raise money at a decent valuation, and my 2020 was going to be spent chasing small checks from various EU funding schemes.
If you at all can, stay in the US. Your startup valuation will be reduced by 80-90% compared to what you may expect in the US.
And don't think European grant money will magically make up the difference. It's a pain to apply for, a pain to administrate and claim, and you'll be competing with a cottage industry of professional grant proposal writers.
The one case it may make sense is if you have a very obvious and boring business model, and your business somehow saves the planet while delivering clean drinking water to Africa. This will make you investable and ensure you check the boxes the grant proposal reviewers are looking for.
Also the startup ecosystem is no where near evolved. There's no SAFE notes, employee stock options are totally broken, acquires are unheard of, etc etc.
To end my story, I lost interest in my startup because we couldn't raise money at a decent valuation, and my 2020 was going to be spent chasing small checks from various EU funding schemes.
I'd like to add one:
Location: Fukuoka, Japan
Name: Startup Visa
Type: Special startup visa for foreigners residing in Fukuoka who wish to start a business.
Duration: 1 year (Can be transitioned to Business Visa)
Website: https://www.city.fukuoka.lg.jp/keizai/r-support/business/sta...