Starting a company can be likened to a game of probability. Not
roll-your-dice and see what happens kind of probability but a game of
where actions YOU control maximize the likelihood of your startup
succeeding. So if you were to bet a young entrepreneur succeeding from
Silicon Valley versus one from the South of France – who would you
choose?
If you were being rational you’d be torn between the two. Here’s why
-Opportunity: So Europe is a few cycles in the entrepreneurial
ecosystem behind silicon valley, but if you are an opportunist that
should set off alarm bells. Imagine being part of the second wave of
entrepreneurs in silicon valley – vast opportunity, markets ripe for
disruption and internationalisation opportunities beyond belief. This
is Europe right now.
-Originality: Geographic separation leads to original insight, lack
of group-think and an international outlook. In a global internet,
killer design and original thinking separate the Skype’s from the
vonages of this world. So why haven’t we seen a Betfair, a Stardoll or
a Moo emerge in the valley? Sometimes cultural diversity can breed a
different type of thinking.
-Ambition: Its hard for a young entrepreneur to stand out from the
rest in the valley. So everyone starts companies, so what? You are
sitting there in Stockholm or Riga with a killer prototype for a
consumer internet service and your friends think your are crazy. What
would have happened if Niklas & Jaanus had taken the rejections from
investors literally, would Skype exist today? Would RJ and Felix, the
founders of last.fm been able to live in tents without believing in
the vision of last.fm? By starting up in Europe you’ve already marked
yourself as being different to your peers.
But, you state that the probability of succeeding is influenced by
being surrounded by those who have been there, can help you and have
done it before, so Silicon Valley still wins. Even if Europe has the
calibre of Serial Entrepreneurs who have given birth to companies such
as last.fm, netvibes, fon and Skype, geographical separation means
young entrepreneurs can’t feel that influence despite having huge
ambitions.
Seedcamp Europe is going to change that. By bringing together the top
young founders, together with some of Europe’s most successful
entrepreneurs & world class mentors the limit on the probability of
entrepreneurs succeeding is not where you are but how big are you
thinking.
As Niklas Zennstrom said, disruptive ideas which can yield mass
adoption come from simple propositions which 100 million people can
understand. Now imagine refining your disruptive ideas with the best
in the business. The only factor now influencing your probability of
success is whether you click apply.
Sumon is a 24-year old, Young Founder based in London & Seedcamp Board Member. If you are a Young Entrepreneur applying to Seedcamp get in touch . Sumon [at] seedcamp [dot] com