So I am in the US now. Doing a lot of talking and listening. I've now realised what makes silicon valley what it is, and it was explained to me from the same guy that writes the venturehacks blog and other genuinely succesful entrepreners (as in, exits in the tens and hundreds of millions - repetedly). The ones you don't know about as they shy from the limelight but run this place behind the scenes.
Government has nothing to do with it, culture does. But at the same time, you would be foolish to think government doesn't influence as it influences culture and more. Look into your history books from every major war on record: the persian wars to the French/american independence wars - it was because of high tax! I'll debrief with my reflections when I get back to Australia in mid April, but how do you build a culture? By changing expectations, building community, and having robust dialogue. If there is anything we can copy to drive the industry forward, it's the collaboration that occurs at this place. So keep up the discussions - but seriously chill. Theres no value when you make attacks, and opting out of the community is a loss for you as it is for everyone else. Sent from my iPhone On 18/03/2009, at 2:44 PM, Niki Scevak <[email protected]> wrote: > > Amen Mike! +1 to everything you have said. > > Having moved back from the US to Sydney and still being on similar > entrepreneurial lists the biggest difference I can see about Australia > is the obsession with the Government doing something to help them. The > US has exactly the opposite attitude: anything the Government does is > counted as a surprising bonus. The US tax and corporate laws are 10x > as complex as they need to be. But no one cares about the government > because of one simple reason: they have shit all to do with your > success. > > The fact that Australian venture firms need to take government money > (and they have for a while) is a sad indication of their track record > and not something that will make a shit of difference in 'saving tech > innovators'. > > On Mar 18, 9:48 pm, Mike Nicholls <[email protected]> wrote: >> OK accidentally hit send too early, back again. >> >> 4. Im tired of the time wasting bullshit regarding an Investment Fund >> raising $500 per person. Does anyone aside from me realise how >> crazy this >> idea is? The mechanics, the legals, the wasted energy, it would be >> like the >> politburo or some wacky version of socialism. The legals would >> consume the >> fund within two weeks. >> 5. Anyone also tired of relentless arguments about Code Ninjas and >> how >> programmers would feel about being called a Ninja? >> >> Numerous times in the last 3 months I have started to write replies >> to some >> of the crazy topics that are on this list and have stopped because >> even >> discussing them is a waste of time. >> >> I would like to suggest a refinement of the charter for this list. >> >> 1. No sarcastic topics about your view of the world or the >> Government or >> Venture Capitalists, no one cares. >> 2. Ask questions or advice - Please, this is what is valuable >> about the >> group >> 3. Lets try to keep a focus on business, not on politics >> 4. Lets focus on how we can improve your business, lets get into >> specifics about what actionable steps we can take to make things >> better for >> you personally, I and others on the list are happy to help with >> our >> experiences but I am so over the socialist sarcastic winging >> attitude on >> this list. >> >> I hope you will excuse this rant, but it has been coming for months. >> >> Thanks >> >> Mike Nicholls >> >> On Wed, Mar 18, 2009 at 9:25 PM, Mike Nicholls >> <[email protected]>wrote: >> >> >> >>> OK that's it. I am fucking over it. You would be socialist >>> entrepreneurs, I >>> feel like I am talking to my kids but here goes. >> >>> 1. I am sick of the bitching on this list about what every one >>> Government should do >>> 2. The world, the Government (ours or the US), Venture >>> Capitalists or >>> anyone else doesn't owe you a living or funding or a scheme to >>> make your >>> life easier >>> 3. Funding won't change your world, 95% of you are not suitable >>> for >>> professional investors, even on the remote chance you got >>> funding, I promise >>> you will for the most part regret the experience. >>> 4. >> >>> On Wed, Mar 18, 2009 at 9:08 PM, Geoff McQueen - Hiive Systems < >>> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>>> Wow. That's great. Now if only we were a car industry producing >>>> vehicles >>>> people don't want to buy in a market too small to achieve >>>> economies of scale >>>> owned by parent companies who'll repatriate $AU from taxpayers >>>> back to their >>>> own struggling head offices, we might actually have an industry >>>> strategy and >>>> some decent funding approaching the billions the car industry got >>>> handed out >>>> AFTER the productivity commission reported that it was a shocking >>>> waste. >> >>>> With a different perspective and some actual leadership , perhaps >>>> we could >>>> transition our economy ahead of the information revolution we're >>>> in the >>>> middle of... >> >>>> The more I hear about how this so-called Innovation department >>>> works, the >>>> more concerned I get for our industry which represents one of the >>>> few bright >>>> opportunities for our country. >> >>>> If you haven't already seen it, read >>>> http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/opinion/perspectives/backwards- >>>> ... >>>> . >> >>>> Geoff >> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: [email protected] [mailto: >>>> [email protected]] On Behalf Of bengrubb >>>> Sent: Wednesday, 18 March 2009 2:30 PM >>>> To: Silicon Beach Australia >>>> Subject: [SiliconBeach] Govt pledges $83M to save tech innovators >> >>>> THE Rudd government will inject up to $83 million into the local >>>> venture capital pipeline as a stop gap measure to try and prevent >>>> promising tech companies going under due to the global financial >>>> crisis. >> >>>> http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,,25205179-5013040,00.html >>>> ... > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Silicon Beach Australia mailing list. 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