> 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.