スペインの起業家も、資金を求めて海外へ(スペインでは起業家は資金難)
Los emprendedores (también) emigran
La crisis y la globalización empujan a buscar oportunidades fuera de España
Manuel Ángel Méndez Madrid 30 SEP 2012 - 01:00 CET
Entrepreneurs (also) migrate
The crisis and globalization push to seek opportunities outside Spain
Angel Manuel Mendez Madrid 30 SEP 2012 - 01:00 CET
Whether by necessity or opportunity, more entrepreneurs decide to go out to start a business. Doing it in Spain is not easy and, now, always obstacles such as bureaucratic, joins a crisis that will take long.
The Government recently approved a plan (not a law) to improve the situation. The measures include the streamlining of procedures to start a business, support for internationalization or improving taxation. However, the absence of realize them, not take effect until the first quarter of 2013. Many entrepreneurs, especially in sectors that know no borders, such as the Internet and new technologies, can not wait. Your bet is more drastic: to pack.
"We're seeing two different phenomena: first, those who start their business from scratch abroad, most universities after graduating from there, and another group that you created projects in Spain, but is now looking to go to the U.S., London or Berlin to expand market or because there are no funding. The crisis is accelerating these outputs, "says Javier Santiso, teacher and creator of the forum Esade Start-up Spain, which this week held its third edition under the symptomatic motto:" Should I stay or I go? ".
The 'start-ups' get more fundingU.S., UK and Germany
Adeyemi Ajao, co-founder of Tuenti, decided to go to San Francisco to mount Identified, a job search site. "I went for two reasons: there you have access to the best talent in the world and increased funding. Both things are simpler here than in Europe or Spain, "he explains.
The beginning, however, was not easy. Silicon Valley is home to the largest number of technology start-ups in the world per square meter, plus giants like Google, Facebook or Apple, the competition is brutal. Although 50% of companies are founded by foreigners, get into the circle takes time. "There is a lot of money, but it costs to get it. We met with 60 investors and all said no, "says Ajao, who finally managed $ 22.5 million investment and now has 60 employees two years after launch. Unusual figures in Spain.
Tips to make the leap
Going out, either from scratch or to internationalize an idea, requires careful planning, as entrepreneurs. We need:
Having financial muscle. Going to San Francisco, New York or London is expensive.
The decision may end the initial poor. Powerful unfunded startup, the jump is complicated.
The double seat works. Many Spanish companies are following the Israeli model: create a double seat, with an office in Spain where locating development and engineering teams, and another abroad, head of business development.
Demonstrate the feasibility of the idea. Before starting it is important to first generate some customers or users of the product in Spain. In the U.S. and the UK more easily invest in potential in Spain, but helps demonstrate feasibility.
Passion and obsession. Starting a new business is off or internationalize it work 24 × 7. The personal life suffers. Without full availability for work, play rethink priorities.
After nine months of development in Spain, Koldo García has also chosen to go to California to launch The Mad Video dedicated to creating interactive videos. Maintains a team of seven people here, but he's gone and customers seeking financing. "If your vision is to make a global product, you must leave. Also for investment capital you're in London, you have to go to London, if you look in the U.S., as well. It is very difficult to get from Spain, "he says. In his opinion, the conditions to undertake in our country have improved, but still fail many aspects, especially the absence of powerful investors to convert a local to global.
Miguel Díez Ferreira, founder of Red Karaoke, an application to sing from the mobile, tablet or TV, agrees about the lack of funding in Spain and beyond. "The crisis has created a sense of pessimism that makes entrepreneurs seek out optimism. In addition, many government agencies, such as Spain Tech Center or chambers of commerce, are fostering leave, even with aid. It's good, but it has a bad side: unprepared projects without funds are going out and fail, "he says.
Red Karaoke, with 15 employees and 5,000 paying subscribers opted to start in Spain and then jump to the U.S. and Japan. In San Francisco closed global agreements with equipment manufacturers and software like Google, LG or Samsung. Now jump to Miami, where the headquarters of the major labels. "Doing from Spain is impossible, you can only reach local agreements," says Ferreira.
The choice of destination and strategy vary case by case. Entrepreneurs who have stepped recommend launching soon in Spain, and users get quick jump to raise financing abroad. In the Internet sector and technology, San Francisco may not be the ideal place for the high costs. New York start-ups boils related media and finance; Los Angeles stands in audiovisual blunt Boston and Chicago, and London and Berlin are the two major European centers. "You have to be where your customers are," says Garcia.
Marcaide Iker, 30, opted for Boston. After completing his studies at MIT created peerTransfer, an online system to help students pay their tuition international without exorbitant bank fees. "I received funding and the company began to assemble in parallel between Boston and Valencia. I think the key is to create something around customers, solucionarles a real problem and go beyond where you think you have a greater chance of success, "he explains. The company has 55 employees and agreements with 200 universities.
More and more cases similar to Marcaide. "We wanted to create a company one hundred percent Spanish, with investors here, but could not be. Could not get financing. We went to the UK and the U.S. and close to two days and a 70% higher valuation, "says Rebecca Minguela, co-founder of Blink Booking, a mobile application for booking last minute hotels. With more than 30 employees in Madrid, but its market, from the beginning, is in Europe.
Other examples, as Olapic and Pixable (both based in New York), Kantox, (London and Barcelona), PasswordBank (Palo Alto) or Anboto (Palo Alto and Bilbao), all with Spanish founders, show the trend.
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