Is Europe's Silicon Valley a better choice than America's Silicon Valley? (tech jobs, neighborhood)

[Bayesian]

Originally Posted by SEAandATL

What about Tokyo? Wouldn't that be considered the other Silicon Valley?

No ,it's not.

Tokyo is more like NYC and DC combined.

[Seattle4321]

Where is Europe's Silicon Valley?

[Bayesian]

Originally Posted by Seattle4321

Where is Europe's Silicon Valley?

Seattle？

[phantompilot]

This thread is 16 months old and I've still never heard of a successful start up from Berlin.

How exactly are these representatives quantifying these collective actions of technological paid work? Then after this main initial question, accumulation of these resources to enact a solid standard for what are further Silicon Valleys happening everywhere in this galaxy. Is there equal alliance to start up or major companies? Only exclusively paying attention to computers? Airplanes, Cars, even Science or Architecture. At this point of my life, I am opting out for areas of mainland Europe or Asia with less suburban, avoiding geography isolation, foreign international exposure, plural rather than singular types outside of a monopoly.

[linus1220]

Been to Hamburg and Munich before. From what I know of the valley, I'd take Germany any day. Continental Europe is really neat in that it's largely urban, fairly cosmopolitan and often affluent but isn't anywhere near as stressful or congested as urban United States - infinitely more stable and calm. SF/Oakland metro is far more competitive for me than the valley.

[phantompilot]

Originally Posted by VADriver14

Berlin, the capital of Germany, is considered Europe's Silicon Valley with thousands of start-ups, hundreds of super cool night clubs and bars, parks, lakes, perfect public transportation, and high walkability score. German beer is $1USD per bottle. German sausage is the best in the world. Rent for 2-bedroom apartment in Berlin is around $1,200 Euro, equivalent to $1,350 USD. Rent in San Francisco and Silicon Valley for 2-bedroom apartment is $3,500 USD to $5,000 USD.

I believe Germany has a special program similar to "Green Card" for highly-skilled foreign professionals.

For the young American IT professionals who can't afford San Francisco or Silicon Valley, is Berlin a better choice? What's the catch?

There are so many "catches". Let's just walk thru this.

First think to yourself, no cheating and looking...what innovations or SaaS apps that anyone has ever heard of, have come from this hotbed of activity?

Second are you aware that its nearly impossible for a non-native speaker to succeed in German business? Foreign workers will always be viewed as second-tier and at a huge disadvantage in corporate politics/social circles.

Third...the equity practices that have made a lot of SV people millionaires do not really exist in Germany, with their confiscatory high taxes and low growth model. What Berlin hasn't got is the VC community that powers Silicon Valley. More than 3/4 ventures are not funded locally - a huge impediment to ever having an organic culture of innovation like SV.

Fourth, the quintessentially "Valley-ish" VC culture and business practices are very much at odds with Germany's labor laws and business regulations - totally aside from the economic end of it. Can you name a successful American company that shuts down for more than half of the summer? Or can you think of an amazing tech success story founded by a bunch of clock punchers who don't take work home with them?


So, overcome all these "objections", and then you're onto something - the NEXT Silicon Valley!

[ABQConvict]

Originally Posted by VADriver14

Thank you NOLA and Lukas for your insight about how the mortgage system works in Germany.

Another reason why more than half of German population are renters is Europeans, and especially Germans love to travel. They would rather spend money traveling the world, than buying big houses or big cars like Americans.

Europeans are not sacrificing home ownership in exchange for travel.

The cost of travel is a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of buying and maintaining a house. In many places, house and car prices are even a larger proportion of one's income than they are in the US, and travel is often much cheaper for Europeans.

[River City Rocky]

Originally Posted by phantompilot

There are so many "catches". Let's just walk thru this.

First think to yourself, no cheating and looking...what innovations or SaaS apps that anyone has ever heard of, have come from this hotbed of activity?

Second are you aware that its nearly impossible for a non-native speaker to succeed in German business? Foreign workers will always be viewed as second-tier and at a huge disadvantage in corporate politics/social circles.

Third...the equity practices that have made a lot of SV people millionaires do not really exist in Germany, with their confiscatory high taxes and low growth model. What Berlin hasn't got is the VC community that powers Silicon Valley. More than 3/4 ventures are not funded locally - a huge impediment to ever having an organic culture of innovation like SV.

Fourth, the quintessentially "Valley-ish" VC culture and business practices are very much at odds with Germany's labor laws and business regulations - totally aside from the economic end of it. Can you name a successful American company that shuts down for more than half of the summer? Or can you think of an amazing tech success story founded by a bunch of clock punchers who don't take work home with them?


So, overcome all these "objections", and then you're onto something - the NEXT Silicon Valley!

I'd rather enjoy my life than chase an illusion of wealth my whole life. Or worse just struggle to get by my whole life, which is what many Americans end up doing.

[ilovelondon]

London is the largest tech cluster in Europe