This was very fun to read and your image from the office where the meeting took place was stunning. Not sure about Issu; seems a little redundant. But then I felt that way about the Kindle at first, but then wanted one, especially with the content engine of Amazon behind it. What is your take on the Kindle, in terms of its, or similar devices, impact on the print industry? Just curious.
fredwilson
· 1 year ago
i have thought the kindle is silly, but i am beginning to rethink that given how many of my friends love it
vincentvw
· 1 year ago
About the advertising-businesses & growth. On the one hand, I would think that one exit-strategy is to be acquired by a global player who wants to gain a local foothold. Seems smart to me, especially if you're a local market-leader. On the other hand, European companies (in theory) are better positioned to exploit the fragmented nature of this continent, something that doesn't always work as well for their US counterparts. Historically, there are plenty of success-stories in that area too.
BerislavLopac
· 1 year ago
Fred, since you are in Europe, why don't you take a short trip to Croatia? We've also got a number of interesting startups, and the most beautiful sea in the world! ;)
fredwilson
· 1 year ago
I'd like to but it won't happen this trip. I'll be back for sure
Louis Berlan
· 1 year ago
I'd read about Issuu, it definitely looks interesting - especially if electronic paper makes it in a big way. There would be a market for an "iTunes Music Store" of "print" content, where books, newspapers, etc. were centralized, and where your daily paper could be downloaded like a podcast. I know it's the idea behind the Kindle, but they're not there yet...
Have you met with anybody in Paris? What do you think of the startup scene here?
fredwilson
· 1 year ago
I went to open coffee paris today and it was great
I met at least a dozen entrepreneurs
mathewgj
· 1 year ago
fred- have you seen pagegangster? from cph and similar to issuu?
Yay microlending! I've been a (small) lender on kiva.org for a while and it is amazingly cool to see the people to whom your $25 can make a real difference- though I also wish there was a way to get followup after the loan has been paid off.
Ethan Bauley
· 1 year ago
thanks for sharing fred, you're the man! really interesting...somehow i'm most interested in estonia now...
the internet would be worse off w/o u
- e
fredwilson
· 1 year ago
And you and all of us (or most of us)!
Ethan Bauley
· 1 year ago
ha, good point!
leigh
· 1 year ago
The half of my family that is Estonian said that it's the new Prague - not only the tech scene is thriving (which it is) but culturally, musically, it's been exploding in the last number years. It's still not overrun with tourists so probably worth the visit before everyone figures it out. Just don't ever visit there in the winter (I couldn't believe how dark it was - think about an hour of day when you could take a photo without a flash)
Ethan Bauley
· 1 year ago
i like the sound of that a lot...is there a city or two in particular?
fredwilson
· 1 year ago
Tallin is the main city in estonia (at least I think it is)
silpol
· 1 year ago
"It's still not overrun with tourists" - I don't insist but it might be interesting fact that everyday vodka-tourists loaded on ferries in Helsinki (and not only Helsinki when it comes to that) cross 80+ km gulf just for sake of ... ahem, tourism... may be your half-of-family left Tallinn way time ago ;)
leigh
· 1 year ago
Oh sorry i wasn't considering the drunk Finns as tourists - i see them more as part of the culture. :)
Arno Nel
· 1 year ago
testing disqus
Ada
· 1 year ago
Hey Fred, Thanks for this post! I have been living in Copenhagen for almost 2 years now, getting involved with the Venture scene there and it is really great to have your take on it. Best, Ada
tim vang
· 1 year ago
Hi Fred,
What a small world we live in!!
Last night one of my friends, who I haven't seen for quite some time, popped by for an espresso and a chat. He opens the conversation with the following:
"I only read one blog! This blog is written by a NYC VC that happens to have the same stereo as me (SONOS) - and guess what he wrote about today... "MYC4"!!!!"
I happen to be the Co-founder of MYC4, so I was of course happy to hear that our company made it to your blog...
Well I am honored to be the only blog your friend reads is this one
I like myc4 and plan to invest some money on the service this coming week
Fred
jensbest
· 1 year ago
Hi Tim, greetings from your "colleagues" in Berlin from www.betterplace.org. You doing a great stuff.
Best Regards
Jens Best
Morten Saxnaes
· 1 year ago
Hi Fred Thanks for an interesting read. I work for the Innovationcenter Denmark in Silicon Valley. We are a government agency that assists Danish startups in entering the US market, so your thoughts on the Scandinavian startup scene, is very interesting to me. You write that there isn't a big difference between the startup community in scandinavia and Silicon valley, so do you think the success rate for startups are the same? This might be a tough question to answer, but do you see a difference in the mentality of startup\founders in Scandinavia and the US, and between VCs in Scandinavia and the US?
Are you saying that startups in Scandinavia should stay in Scandinavia an try to get foothold on the European market before going for the US market?
All Comments
Have you met with anybody in Paris? What do you think of the startup scene here?
I met at least a dozen entrepreneurs
for example: http://www.pagegangster.com/p/QMs5E/
I will check it out
the internet would be worse off w/o u
- e
What a small world we live in!!
Last night one of my friends, who I haven't seen for quite some time, popped by for an espresso and a chat. He opens the conversation with the following:
"I only read one blog! This blog is written by a NYC VC that happens to have the same stereo as me (SONOS) - and guess what he wrote about today... "MYC4"!!!!"
I happen to be the Co-founder of MYC4, so I was of course happy to hear that our company made it to your blog...
I look forward to see you on www.MYC4.com
GREATings
Tim
I like myc4 and plan to invest some money on the service this coming week
Fred
Best Regards
Jens Best
Thanks for an interesting read. I work for the Innovationcenter Denmark in Silicon Valley. We are a government agency that assists Danish startups in entering the US market, so your thoughts on the Scandinavian startup scene, is very interesting to me. You write that there isn't a big difference between the startup community in scandinavia and Silicon valley, so do you think the success rate for startups are the same?
This might be a tough question to answer, but do you see a difference in the mentality of startup\founders in Scandinavia and the US, and between VCs in Scandinavia and the US?
Are you saying that startups in Scandinavia should stay in Scandinavia an try to get foothold on the European market before going for the US market?
www.innovationcenterdenmark.com
All the Best from Berlin