I disagree. When reviewing resumes, I'm always impressed when I see candidates starting their own company. It shows ambition, and the will to wear multiple hats... something that startups are always looking for.

Quite the opposite, in my experience.

Any examples? In my experience it's been the complete opposite.

> That is entirely false.

In mainland Europe this is entirely true.

Even more, this has implications not only when searching for jobs or gigs, but also on the social/personal level: the stigmata and marginalization that comes with it it's incredible here.

I now lie about my previous failed startups.

US employer here (who all hires for some EU-based roles): I view failed entrepreneurs very positively, assuming the candidate can reflect reasonably on what went well and what went poorly.

PS: you probably mean stigma, not stigmata: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stigmata

Note to self: Never live in mainland Europe.

Maybe I'm viewing the world through rose tinted glasses, but it seems entrepreneurs are very respected in the US.

I think it varies quite a lot across countries. I don't think it would be a problem being a failed entrepreneur in the Netherlands.

I had two belly flops, two marginal and one boring startup under my belt before I took on the latest one. I have never met any stigma in the Netherlands, UK or Sweden. The last two are of course not mainland Europe, but anyway.