DISQUS

ana maria llopis · 1 year ago

Loic
By the way , It is important that I say that I did find it interesting , I did do networking, I did learn things to take back to Spain and for me and our projects it was worth the 2 days. And to you and Geraldine even after infrastructure problems, Keep it up despite the USA polemic we need these events in Europe.
Regards
Ana Maria

Scobleizer · 1 year ago

I declined the interview because I did not have working video equipment. I only did one interview at LeWeb on video. Sorry if I didn't make that clear.

Scobleizer · 1 year ago

Also, I did not sit in the main room because I was sitting in the startup room because I wanted to focus on startups, not on people or companies that have made it. I have enough of those in my life -- I'm looking for the hot next thing and I found it in the startup room. That is why I came to Europe.

Next month I'll focus more on those who have made it as I visit Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum.

Loic Lemeur · 1 year ago

and thank you for all your time being the jury president of our startup
competition Robert, looking forward to debriefing with you in the bay area
to make it better next year

Scobleizer · 1 year ago

An example of the cool companies I saw at LeWeb is this one, CMUNE: http://friendfeed.com/e/0739b0da-11e1-45b0-9157...

Funny enough, that's a Chinese company that was at LeWeb to "check out the wine." Shot at the speaker room where @garyvee was giving an interview down the bar, too.

Loic Lemeur · 1 year ago

Thanks Robert, sorry then. I was honestly very surprised I think you would be amazed, learn so much and your readers would love it. Next year maybe.

Scobleizer · 1 year ago

To tell you the truth, I really am tired of conferences. I don't get good video at them, even when my equipment is working. I have 9,000 business cards so have enough people to interview (speaking of which, want to do an interview this week? I'm interviewing Tim O'Reilly so doing one with conference organizers might be fun). I just don't have the good, intimate, conversations that I'd like to have.

As for the Silicon Valley experiences you've had lately. I have been taking the time and slowing down and enjoying life more with family and friends and I've found that my blog's traffic is going down (I've been doing that after Om Malik had his heart attack and other bloggers have died). Lately I've been staying up late and working to get posts and videos up and traffic is going up again. So, we learn that getting posts up is more important to keeping our business operating than spending five hours at a dinner. That said, I had a wonderful dinner with Marc Canter at a top restaurant in Paris and I wasn't tempted to blog or Twitter once. Maybe you just invited the wrong guy? :-)

Loic Lemeur · 1 year ago

Robert :-) You were actually back in the US already as the dinner happened
the day of the US embassy event you cancelled to me! Michael was there and
Dave Maclure accepted to replace you.
Let's do a video with pleasure next week if you like, or just enjoy a glass
of wine together.

Loic Lemeur · 1 year ago

hey Robert forgot to say: american friends cancelling me last minute for
events at US Government representation in Paris is okay, it does not hurt
your image in Europe :) :) :)

Scobleizer · 1 year ago

That was my screwup because my wife organized the flights and I thought we were leaving later in the day. There was no way for me to make that event, unfortunately. Now I'm really bummed. I wish I had stayed another day. Oh well, all is good, I'm home and with my two sons and we'll do a video next week.

dave · 1 year ago

why do you guys have private conversations like this in public? it's not really that interesting for the rest of us

Lisha Sterling · 1 year ago

Some of us are voyeurs. I enjoyed reading the convo.

estei · 1 year ago

Yeah I like to follow these kinds of convo also.

Brings hope that we can bridge that euro to valley gap! :-)

geekstr · 1 year ago

I think it also shows that not all Americans are rude and "to-the-point". It all depends on what part of the country you come from. Being from the Midwest, I am successful and still have no need to be a "straight to the point" kind of guy. There are certainly times when you want to get to know someone better and an opportunity to get to know a counterpart from another country would definitely be one of those times.

Jose del Moral · 1 year ago

This is so interesting to hear Robert! Blogging and tweeting is killing part of the free time we should spend with real people we have closer. Maybe we are some type of junkies?

George Tziralis · 1 year ago

just turned that question into a market at askmarkets.com, "Will Michael attend LeWeb09?" http://ub0.cc/0t/0r log-in and trade!

Dan Thornton · 1 year ago

I don't think someone necessarily has to be likable to be worth inviting. I'm just jealous of the fantastic meal!

Scobleizer · 1 year ago

I've had a few meals with Loic and they are always fantastic. I always learn something and always have good experiences.

Nikos Anagnostou · 1 year ago

"I don't think someone necessarily has to be likable to be worth inviting" ditto

Carlos Alves Jorge · 1 year ago

Hi Loic,

It's great that LeWeb is still alive a few days after we all left the room...

I agree with most you say but Michael presence is always a plus even for his insights about the american panorama that he knows so well...

We, europeans, have lots to learn from Michael and from the american bloggers and entrepreneurs but, as you say, the other way should also apply...

What we may need to do is year after year prove him wrong at LeWeb having more and more successful companie emerging from the "old" continent...

dahowlett · 1 year ago

@loic - you did a great job on the things you could manage so don't let this get to you.

Whether Mike was being an ass or simply didn't 'get it' (I suspect the latter as he's never really understood EU IMO) doesn't really matter because most folk I know ignore such BS. I hear the back channel got snarky -- I reserved my comments for my blog: http://www.accmanpro.com/2008/12/11/leweb-le-wrap/

I'd personally be happy to see Mike back again. We all know what he's like ( as plenty of people know what I'm like, Steve, Hugh, Loren etc - all strong voices.)

Mike doesn't have celeb status in EU as he does in the US and 'we' don't put for that kind of BS anyway as you know from things I've said in the past. Fact is the Mike Arrington's of this world don't impress with that kind of behavior.

On a personal note, if I had arranged the kind of dinner you did for him and he asked the same of me, I'd have cancelled immediately. That's just bad manners. As I've said many times to other Americans: "You're a tourist in my country now. We play by different rules."

It is a sad fact that the US struggles with culture, seeming to have a guilt thing about the fact it doesn't have a 2-3,000 year history with all the artefacts that go with it. That should not matter but for some reason it seems to crop up every now and then.

As to the French 'thing' of lunch - I lived in Mayenne for 7+ years and loved every moment of it. I don't care for those who take the piss at La Belle France. So here's a wee vignette. While you all were at the TC party I spent most of the evening watching Lyon play football in a bar where everyone was from Marseilles. What a lovely bunch of guys. Here's the Flickr pic of the landlord: http://www.flickr.com/photos/81219346@N00/31013....

Loic - you bring something unique to the web and especially in EU. Don't let the bastards get to you.

nicolesimon · 1 year ago

Dennis, we even have a hard time getting Mike B to Europe to cover it for the European edition (excuse me - UK, Ireland and Europe), so not really surprising. ;)

I differ on the invitation. Loic does enjoy having this stuff, others dont. Mike should have turned down the invite or asked for a limited 'slot' but then spend full attention for it. It is not an easy world and tight connections and friendship are viewed differently all over the world and that is okay. It is about managing expectations.

nicolesimon · 1 year ago

But isn't that exactly the point why it is good to have him on stage? I met some people fuming over the 'simplified and wrong' view 'Americans' have when being on such stage - but that is exactly the message.

It is their goal to be written about on TC and meet Silicon Valey Entrepreneurs and VC for different reasons. So you have to meet them on equal terms and learn to understand - like you described - that they tick different. Which is why it is relevant to see them on stage, to watch how they act locally to finally understand that when you want to communicate and do business with them the equation is simple.

To give a German example - the amount of companies complaining about no coverage and no funding is huge. But if you ask them where even basic information about them is on their website in english, they stare at you and say "but they can get it translated" . They need to be hammered with the information "hello, good morning -while you are still sleeping hundred other companies are mouthfeeding somebody like Mike".

Mike is ignorant because he can and it saves him time which he needs to even try to stay ontop with his business. It is not that he had much time to spare to begin with. Robert is maybe a much better example - he always has had interest and he is just not as vocal about it as Mike but I assume he has the same message: Get out of the sandbox and play where the grownups play if you would like to be taken serious.

If you dont like it that is fine as well. But dont complain about being not part when you did not even try. The reason why I spend so much time in the states (word of colleagues, not mine, I dont travel that much) is to also inform about my point of view and call it a european point of view for starters. 'Americans' are not ignorant per se - how much does everybody here really know about the asian or south american or african scene? - they just need more information fed to them in a way they understand. :)

Scobleizer · 1 year ago

Yup, Nicole is right. I love European startups and have been to Europe four times since my 15-month-old son was born (plus Israel). I've had dozens of them on video and feature the best ones regularly. I'm trying out Popego right now, which is one I saw at LeWeb and Dopplr, which I saw last year, is featured today on my blog. Plus I was passing around business cards made by an Israeli startup.

jsmibert · 1 year ago

Nicole, What an engaging conversation.... I think you hit the nail on the head! It is ridiculous to expect that people all should value the same things. If you are speaking about revenues and growth... look to Silicon Valley. If you are interested in quality, branding and personal fulfillment, then perhaps 'Guy Savoy' is your bag. It is interesting to hear from those who show complete duality by criticizing one culture for not accepting, adopting or understanding theirs (as is their supposed practice). Does that not show the exact same ignorance?! I personally enjoy the extreme parts of both discussed cultures, and feel that without the extremes found in the American 'hardcore' personality or in the strong French 'value for quality' the world would be poorer for it.

I couldn't help but laugh at the above statements about Crunchbase! As a publicly edited database it only shows its viewers the companies which people find relevant. I am in marketing and I would perceive it as my job to get information about my company in places where it needs to be, not some third parties job to seek me out. If I am not relevant to people who I am trying to be noticed by... then I am doing something wrong.

I'm also with you on complaining! It is only when we want something from someone else that we criticize their lack of knowledge. Whether it be attention, respect or something more capitalistic. Having spent some time in Asia and watching people as they interact, I would argue that were some of us in need of something from the Japanese or Chinese we might be quick to call them equally as 'arrogant or ignorant'.... but that would then demonstrate our ignorance of them. I have partners, clients and friends in the US.... and the main reason it works, is that I try to be open minded and understand the culture. Otherwise I could be offended too.

I love what Loic and others are doing with LeWeb. I would say however, that if we want to play in an world wide arena we need to learn from the most successful. Historically we are so quick to take offense (even from those who are from EU) that we are our own worst enemies. I would love to see a conference where we can take the best from EU, Asia, America and the rest of the world.... and get what we want out of it! Im cool with just leaving the rest to someone with more time to blog than I find :)

Jose del Moral · 1 year ago

Firstly, I really think Mike was hilarious. As a showman, I really loved his act on the final session ;-)
Secondly, we really do have a problem in Europe. But I wouldn't blame it so much on our US counterparts. It is clear they ignore Europe, but I can understand why the do it. What we should do is join forces and try to copy what they are doing well on a European level.

What Loic, Gerladine and others are doing with Leweb is really great. But it only lasts 2 or 3 days. We should have something bigger and longer. I also wonder why there was a French minister and not a European minister on stage. Why? Because unfortunately the EU is a fiction, is not a real thing.

nicolesimon · 1 year ago

Hei I was happy to actually have more than you as the token spanish guy around. ;)) Nikos Anagnostou did say it best in his article http://tinyurl.com/69dpce:

"For me, as a European entrepreneur, this was a lesson taught. If Europe wants to make anything with its startups, then first needs to find a way to speak about them in a panEuropean fashion. Europe needs to create its own publicity machine for its startups, and needs to address Europeans first. Till then, it will be totally depended on the US and, probably, startups seeking success will have to follow Loic’s example."

alunjohn · 1 year ago

Loic

Next time you see Michael Arrington, you may want to remind him that a European (a Welshman in fact) has provided the venture capital for the most important Internet companies ever seen on the planet, including Google, Yahoo!, PayPal, ebay, Youtube and even Apple. His name is Michael Moritz and he was number 1 on the Forbes Midas List 2007 (#2 this year). Not bad for a European!

Scobleizer · 1 year ago

There's a lot more European influence in Silicon Valley than you might think. My mom is German, so I'm 50% European too.

Scott Maentz · 1 year ago

Do you consider yourself a "European American?"

Scobleizer · 1 year ago

I don't usually look at myself that way, but, yes, I guess I am.

Prolific Programmer · 1 year ago

I am a British-born, French/Lebanese/Persian chap working in Silicon Valley. There are a hell of a lot of Europeans around here.

nicolesimon · 1 year ago

Most of us reading this posting are in fact Europeans connected with silicon valley, the ties of good entrepreneurs and the businesses around it to and from Europe are huge.

Jan Horna · 1 year ago

Mike Arrington is like John McEnroe back in 80's. Some loved him, the rest hated him. But neither of these two facts is a reason for not inviting him again if the conference is to be a place for discussion.

Hey, he also runs Techcrunch.com, the most respected startup blog in the world :)

Scobleizer · 1 year ago

Mike has an uncanny ability to start a fight when on stage at conferences. He's done it every time I've seen him on stage. Why does he do that? Because he knows that drama focuses attention. Just look at us here, we're all talking about him and not about all the other great speakers at LeWeb. THAT is why Mike will keep getting invited to various conferences. We want to see what kind of blowup he'll cause next.

Jan Horna · 1 year ago

Robert, I agree and really enjoy watching streams and videos where Mike talks. Some people might take his opinions personally and that is exactly what is happing right now. It is not Mike's problem but their own instead.

Generally speaking, you Americans know how to do the show. We Europeans are more gentle and chamber :)

rafer · 1 year ago

The McEnroe comparison is perfect. It's about the getting attention first, winning second, and playing the game in a responsible way third.

Michael moderated the angel investor panel at SeedCamp Silicon Valley. Half the panel (Ariel Poler/Chris Sacca) made fun of him for how counterproductive his "killer instinct" was. MA's explicit point was keeping his staff paranoid so they'd work harder. That may work at media startups, but it doesn't at software/web_services companies. The response on the panel was "Hire wolves, not sheep."

The people that work with and for me are super-productive and enjoy their lives. They are all US-based. I learned a lot about how to co-exist better with smart, productive people while living in Holland and France 2001 to 2003. That's why I keep coming back and will move back to Europe now and again. Each group can improve the other, especially if the extreme elements are recognized as extreme.

Jan Horna · 1 year ago

Scott,

the MA's behaviour you describe sounds nothing but very aggresive to me. I know this is the purpose but still .. I believe you can reach goals while acting like a human, not animal.

And thanks for sharing the interesting experience!

Jeremy Chone · 1 year ago

Yes, agree, this is why TC is TC, because Mike is a Media master.

And, hey, a little entertainment never hurt anybody and it makes things so much more interesting (even if it takes focus away from quality content). I actually miss the Winer vs Arrington posts in TC, those were great entertainment as well.

Jose del Moral · 1 year ago

He's a great showman. I really did love the last session. He knows how to entertain people both online and offline. I just take him as a great clown, a hilarious one.

Sam Parker · 1 year ago

Up until I listened to Arrington talk about how Americans kill in business, I always thought that way.

It was his arrogance and abrasiveness in that final session that opened me up to the idea that that's not the only important thing in life... kicking everyone else's ass.

Funny, too, because I've been the @ss#o/& many times. I often ask people to "start with the end" when they want to tell me something. I'm not big on small talk.

It was your composure through all his heat and your talk of taking time to know each other that I found inspiring.

So maybe he needs to be there (with all that scary level of intelligence, understanding, and influence) but before he goes on stage, someone should remind him he's not the center of the universe.

(I watched from my desk while eating lunch. I'm an American.)

nicolesimon · 1 year ago

You discovered why many europeans stay "living in europe with an silicon valley mindset" as a best of both worlds idea. :) And there is a place for it.

Jan Horna · 1 year ago

What a great point Nicole!

Staying in Europe does not necessarily mean that you have ot act like an European. We just need to have our brains (or hearts) filled with the distilled survival essence coming from both sides of the Atlantic :)

Antonio Volpon · 1 year ago

You should invite Arrington, but what about a normal flight rather than a first-class one? :-)

David Hornik · 1 year ago

Loic --

I enjoyed spending time at Le Web. It is always great to hear what is going on outside of Silicon Valley and meet fantastic people.

I am certain that there are brilliant entrepreneurs throughout the world. We saw many fantastic European entrepreneurs on stage this past week. And I do not for a second want to argue Silicon Valley vs. Europe. But I do want to say that there is nothing more important in Silicon Valley than people and relationships. It may be a difference in style. But people have always come first. It is certainly the case that the style in Silicon Valley is a bit more frenetic than perhaps is the case in much of Europe, but that frenetic energy should not be confused with a lack of interest in relationships. The most successful entrepreneurs have always understood the importance of deep relationships, as do the VCs. I certainly appreciate our relationship and look forward to many meals (long or short) with you in the future.

Loic Lemeur · 1 year ago

thanks David, let's have dinner soon in the bay area then and get ready for
at least 3 hours :)
joke aside, your conference the lobby is one of the highlights of the year
and is exactly about taking the time to know each other, so you were not, by
any means, in my head when I wrote about the 5 mins coffee. Sure, you know
how to take the time.

nicolesimon · 1 year ago

It is very European to ask that question this way. Let me put it differently:
This is one high profile guest out of how many again? The times he is on stage - if you really cant stand him - is a good time for networking - how much time was that again?

But in any case it is just unprofessional to even ask you that. He of all people is one of the most relevant people in this scene and if he is - from your point of view - ignorant and a bastard then you need to do something to educate him. Running to mom (loic) like a small child because the other kid is outrunning you and you want Mom to stop the other kid because you dont like it is child play.

TC works fine without any european coverage. As long as there is no network, no reason to take europeans seriously, he does not have to even come here. It would show business intelligence to use this to spread the brand awareness and increase readership for them, but that is a different point.


There is a world outside of TC and out of the influence of Mike Arrington. But if you choose to play in that space he is a fact you simply cannot ignore. Business is business and fun is fun.

myriam · 1 year ago

Stand in the breach!

Guide Michelin would be a neat sponsor/partner for LeWeb '09 about terrestrial & virtual foods - take time vs fast ? ;-)

Some American/European bloggers they should invite would post (in)credible gourmets' critics :-)

I would love a Feed Me LeWeb!

moon · 1 year ago

Mike will do anything for page-views as will Kara, Le Web can do better

Loren Feldman · 1 year ago

Mike should come back to LeWeb. Just never take him to dinner again. Blogging between courses is appalling.

rossmay · 1 year ago

All this thread makes me want to do is move back to Europe

Loic Lemeur · 1 year ago

Loren, actually Michael did not bring his laptop, he was joking, but I think he went to the bathroom (which are very luxurious at Guy Savoy) and used his iphone from there, there was no live streaming from the bathroom so I have no evidence though

William Mougayar · 1 year ago

This whole episode of fireworks epitomizes the fact that we need to build better bridges between American and European entrepreneurial cultures, instead of shooting arrows at each others that magnify each other’s weaknesses.

Among several differences, the US does a great job at sensationalizing things, beating the drums, and thumping their chests- which the Europeans culturally do not start by doing.

Being at the center of TC, Michael could propose a solution or a hint of something instead of pinpointing the five hour lunch thing. It’s a bit superficial to pick on that, given that it was perceived by the community that it goes against Loic’s key goal of “I created LeWeb to help the European entrepreneurial scene. Europeans need to learn what makes Silicon Valley companies succeed and the American presence in Paris helps.” The jury is still out as to whether Michael’s comments offered a jolt in the arm of Europeans or if it will it backfire.

Europeans don’t make fun of American cuisine or U.S. chefs that aren’t world-class, and Americans shouldn’t poke at the heart of European culture. This approach could draw them apart instead of closer together. Take food, which started this “food fight”,-the U.S. will never have the gastronomic ecosystem that France enjoys, not just because there aren’t as many Chefs rising to that level, but because there aren’t enough customers demanding it, let alone understanding it. Coincidentally, we can point to 2 world-class US chefs,- Grant Achatz and Thomas Keller. In retrospect, they are the Vente-Privee and Meetic of the US, but 2 cases on either side do not an ecosystem make.

Back to building bridges, and crosspollination of ideas and cultures, that’s what I believe we need more of. Although the “art and cultures of the start-up” can be debated, can both cultures learn from each others? Paraphrasing Carlos Ghosn, he thinks that having culturally diverse people is Nissan-Renault’s edge. We know it works for global companies, but can this work by “making start-ups start-up better?”

Maybe have an award next year at LeWeb to find the best Euromerican start-ups? Or even one step further- plain “Born Global start-up”, if there is such a thing.

shareme · 1 year ago

Loic I think there are some miss understnadings here..

Lok at my comments on MA's techcrunch I high light one of them that venture capital and PE are still very much non internet geolocation focused things and thus Europe and rest of the world faces obstacles that Silicon Valley does not in terms of geolocation of capital an its procurement and that effect on startup growth.

The startup I was involved with in the winter and spring of this year was focused on making pe and captial more accessible via internet to remove those obstacles and thus I am well versed in that subject. as far challenges involved.

Anthony Papillion · 1 year ago

I didn't get to attend LeWeb but I hope to maybe next year. The one thing I did get from watching a bit of it on USTREAM was that it shows that you *do not* have to be in Silicon Valley for your startup to succeed and you *do not* have to be all about Web 2.0.

Personally, I've always seen a Silicon Valley location as both a blessing and a curse. You're blessed because you have some awesome local resources you can draw on and a vibrant community of other entrepreneurs to work with, but you're cursed because there is *so much* expected of Silicon Valley startups from both the money side (VC's and Angels) and the public.

Europe definitely has a different business culture than the US. When I was in Spain last year I was struck by how different it was. Things weren't at 'go go go' and not everything had to be 'about the deal'. Casual conversation was not seen as a waste of time. I've noticed the same thing in London and Paris and I'm sure it's true of most of the rest of Europe.

I believe that atmosphere allows startups the room they need to breath and their founders are stronger for it IMHO. Maybe they won't experience the explosive growth that a SV startup will (though some do) but I think their staying power is greater.

In the end, I agree with other commenters here: we need to stop the silly 'Europe vs USA' debates and focus on our common ground. There's a LOT that US startups can learn from their European counterparts and the same is true in reverse.

Arguing who has the best system builds walls.
Walls, stop innovation.

eurozone · 1 year ago

Every stage need a clown. Bring him back so ridicule his lack of basic humanity, so expose the fraud of his dysfunctional false identity and his bloated sense of significance derived by leeching value from TRUE innovators and parading them in form of his own site content. Bring him back after Techcrunch dies in 2009 because we decide for its end. Another typical American folly, Arroganton is not the captain of his fate that he thinks he is. The internet created him out of thin air and we will eliminate him just as quickly as the excrement he has become. 60% already say do not invite him. Democracy, right? That is the mighty American way.

RobertLoch · 1 year ago

I'd say Michael needs to come back for a tour of Europe and bringing as many Silicon Valley people as he can with him. Everytime I go to Silicon Valley I'm amazed at how the place is totally and utterly obsessed with tech to the point of forgeting that there is a world outside it, full of opportunity.

I'd accept that the tech and web startup scene in Europe lags way behind Silicon Valley.

BUT there is a massive difference between a scene or a sector lagging behind and the blanket statements being made about entrepreneurship.

Has the US seen more innovation that Europe in advertising, publishing, media, music, mobile and finance over the last decade? What about - automotive, design, fashion, architectual and hospitality? Tech yes, but there is a world outside of tech, and in that Europe and European entrepreneurship is definitely holding its own.

dccrowley · 1 year ago

Loic, I like what makes you tick. It may not be completely in tune with the valley wavelength but it's damn good. Treating Mike to slow food was an awesome idea :D

Lee Bryant · 1 year ago

well done Loic for braver post than usual. Sometimes you can be too nice ;-) I am sure most Americans feel embarrassed and ashamed about Arrington. At first I thought his Le Web post was a joke, parodying the archetypal stupid American in Paris, but then I realised he was for real. OMG!

TechCrunch is not journalism and whilst Arrington has a good position as a self-appointed kingmaker, he adds very little value. He is a product of a previous era and sounds more and more like a 1980s Wall Street douchebag every week. 'It's all about winning' as I am sure Lehman and AIG execs told themselves every day when they felt the dark emptiness of their lives. The current reification of startups and exhortations to work 24hrs a day and destroy their competition is a pre-crash culture, and of all the US A-listers it is Tim O'Reilly, with his idea of creating more value than you consume, who is closer to the mark than Arrington.

Americans are of course most welcome at European events, but we are not such backward tribes that their appearance alone is enough to make us cheer. Very few US celeb speakers at Le Web were challenged to give an actual talk with actual ideas (except Chris Anderson, who was great an Marissa who was professional and respectful). I found some of the fireside chats at Le Web obsequious and banal. That is one aspect of the event I think you really need to think about. We want ideas, insights and new thinking, not happy clappy "aren't you rich/cool!" chats with your friends.

You have a natural role as a European leader in this space, Loic, so please do not get too caught up with the seedier side of US business culture. We are witnessing a new era when the ideas behind the social web will really start to come to the fore of mainstream culture in Obama's US and elsewhere. The future belongs to us, not Arrington ;-)

PJ Brunet · 1 year ago

"I am sure most Americans feel embarrassed and ashamed about Arrington." Maybe, but Silicon Valley is just one tiny part of California. Most Americans have never visited California, most Californians have never visited Silicon Valley.

Only a few years ago TechCrunch, Web 2.0, Techmeme, none of that existed yet, although we started using the web in the early 90s. They are a very vocal group but very small when you look at the big picture.

dahowlett · 1 year ago

+1 v-spot on Lee

Faissal · 1 year ago

Hi all,
i was really shocked to see Mr Arrington arrogance on stage. But at the same time, we should give him credit for running engadget so well.
This is what we call in french 'La rançon de la gloire' + 'Cracher dans la soupe'.

Merci Loic.

Faissal · 1 year ago

sorry i meant TC ;)

PKafka · 1 year ago

You know who knows about Vent-Privee? My old boss Kevin Ryan. Go ask him! Or visit: http://www.gilt.com/

Yorgos.athens · 1 year ago

we all love each other. criticism is always acceptable. Mike is a boy who likes playing. that's it!

hopbell · 1 year ago

Thank you for making so much of Le Web available on video--I watched it all from my desk in North Hollywood. I thought the rancor in the last session got out of control and I was very uncomfortable watching. I personally am happy to know many, many Europeans,
-Ph/H

stagueve · 1 year ago

Comme je l'ai dit sur TC, toute cette histoire est juste pathétique.

Deux personnages charismatiques sur lesquels bon nombre de "jeunes entrepreneurs" prennent certainement exemple qui se chamaille comme des gamins...

Je ne vous félicite pas sur ce coup la...

stagueve · 1 year ago

Maybe it's just a private joke between LLM and Arrington... xD

Steven · 1 year ago

M.A is the God of LOOSERS!

Put TC on the trashcan!
Who are this guy who think he is so important?
He tries to take shares of mostly each companies he talk on his website.
As his readers, we give him too much power. But power in our mind, because outside our community nobody knows TC or M.A.

Today it's the crisis and talking about super companies with great design who never earn 1 cent or make breakeven after a few years it's bull....

It'll be good that he talk about "vente-privee" or "meetic". But, no it's so boring to talk about real company for this guy. He prefer to talk mostly about the loosers and just about the www that resume to USA. What? Old Europe? It's to far to talk, nothing interisting there! haha

I decided to stop reading TC and follow them on Twitter. You should do the same to make it "pshittt" like a balloon ;-)

BASTA!!

centuren · 1 year ago

I found the quality of TC posts to be so bad (and the pandering so obvious), that I installed Firefox's BlockSite addon (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/...) exclusively to put techcrunch.com in there. I read quite a few sites that link to blog posts, and I found myself wasting time daily by clicking on a link without first screening the url. Now the link just shows up as visited and unclickable.

With headline sensationalism such a widespread method in the blogging community, I recommend this method to encourage higher quality of content.

ana maria llopis · 1 year ago

Loic I hope this polemic ends up just being that and that we can have USA and Europe together again despite the differences diversity enriches discussion creativity and innovation.
Check voting process
Ana Maria from ideas4all.com Spain
I posted the following on MA blog
Criticism is always welcome in Europe, also good manners. I voted for MA to be back at le Web its healthy. Jet USA could be less Provincial.
Not knowing top European web projects is a sample.
Also VCs and Angels not investing at all in Europe is another one.
I also just posted in twitter
Votes now, 550 with 45% for a yes on Michael's return to le Web. Anyone can vote (and more than once??) not just those 1700 who were there .
I found it strange that I could vote twice , I was just checking, at least no "you already voted "sign popped up . Did not try for a third time

Loic Lemeur · 1 year ago

ana maria, no, Michael will never be invited again.

Me · 1 year ago

I have a question for you:

Should startups be invited next year?
We paid 1500€ just for tickets, there was no internet available, the judges played solitaire while "listening" to the presentations, not a single line of description on your website, not a single post about any of the startups around the internet, except for the winners.
We should have just gone there without presenting.
The winners were also no real startups, one existed for 5 years, the other one for 2 years. Choosing them because they were profitable is not a true criterium for startups! The winner also got 25 million funding a few years ago and already won the techcrunch 40!
Next time you can just invite successfull companies and make them competete against real startups.

Michael asked the right questions. If you were writing the european workers why lazy, why didn't you just tell that it's the same US and you didn't know before, because you weren't working there. And you evaded the tax question completely.

Ajit Jaokar · 1 year ago

Hi Loic, I dont know the details of the Le Web since did not attend. One of these days, I will .. but just thought of saying - keep up the good work. we definately need an european conference like Le Web! kind rgds Ajit

ana maria llopis · 1 year ago

no more

ana maria llopis · 1 year ago

May be I am missing something in addition to what I witnessed. We all commented it was very strong but did not think of a rupture
Regards
Ana Maria

Errant · 1 year ago

To be honest as a European entrepeneur I agree.

We need some snazz and glamour back - and we need to knuckle down with some positicve attitude.

Anyway, in terms of inviting him back. Not doing so give him back the high ground.. sorry. You are defined by your worthiest critics and the most negative press. Press for Le Web has been,. well.. controversial. Ignoring someone for beign a critic is not going to win favours.

Invite him back next year and bloody well show him that Europe does have something going for it (invite plenty of Germans - that always helps!).

Jon Myers · 1 year ago

Scoble, you working on behalf of the Chinese government promoting Internet companies?

Scobleizer · 1 year ago

Nope, but you really should visit and see what's going on there. It might shock you what they are doing.

Jon Myers · 1 year ago

I'm a Mandarin speaker, lived in both China and Taiwan and have seen what's going on first hand. I find the scale and speed of infrastructure projects shocking. In terms of Internet businesses I think there is a long way to go.

Jeremy Chone · 1 year ago

From Loic: "ana maria, no, Michael will never be invited again."

I am sure that there are 50% of readers that think that the whole thing is just a joke or tease between M.A. and L.L.M., and the other 50% think that it is serious.

I think I am in the first camp ;).... regardless, this is Entertainment at its best!!!!

Thao Ly · 1 year ago

Loic if you invited me, I'd bring over your favorite wine as a "Thanks for inviting me".

Rollo · 1 year ago

Loïc, en tant que traducteur (britannique) j'ai traduit un papier académique récemment, qui contenait la phrase suivante : "Les codes conversationnels diffèrent aussi selon les cultures : les Français ont plutôt l’habitude, par exemple, lorsqu’ils traitent une affaire, de commencer l’échange par quelques propos banaux ou amicaux. Cette habitude irrite les Américains qui ont le réflexe inverse : d’abord parler « des affaires » pour ensuite discuter aimablement."

toto · 1 year ago

I am Swiss and worked in the headquarter of a fortune 50 American company. What is the big difference between European and US employees?

Amercian employees spend a lot more time at work than European ones but.... (gentle remark) their time is more a "presence" time. Their productivity rate is usually lower. This is true in many industries.

That said: the fact that (1) social security is low in US and (2) that many people give hugh amount of money to companies without futures are the 2 keys that make people more willing to take the risk of entrepreneurship in the US.

James · 1 year ago

How many people are on the planet? Subtract one and that's how many people there are on Earth that are more interesting than Arrington. Invite one of them.

Loic Lemeur · 1 year ago

James exactly, LeWeb will live without him. Enough.

TDavid · 1 year ago

The current dustup aside, let me be the first to call BS on TC/Arrington not being at Le Web 2009. This will be ancient history a year from now.

oplayo_hm · 1 year ago

Well, I did neither vote YES nor NO - it is just a question if TC and M. A. is still that "important" in a year. And, yes we had a nice lunch today (in Germany only 1,5 hrs. ;), but we are now working (it is 1am on Sunday) to get the www.LeWeb-MIKI.com into a final magazine stage in the next few hours.
So, yes, some things and people are importat. Is M.A.? Time will tell (beyond his strange behaviour at LeWeb) ...

Nick Turk · 1 year ago

Michael Arrignton is an arrogant ******* and he treats people with not an ounce of respect. He shouldn't be invited anywhere

Paul · 1 year ago

"M. A. is still that important in a year"

dear oplyao_hm:

no one is "that" important i'm afraid

Chris Banach · 1 year ago

Loic, I'm with you, and there's a world beyond SV. I always keep in mind STEVE JOBBS' old saying: "What's the point of being the richest of the cemetery?". MA should meditate this and wise up a bit 'til he gets his probable soon-to-come first heart attack.

And trust me, there are US entrepreneurs who enjoy the good life and fancy meals as much as europeans do. Why do you think americans like German and Italian cars, not to mention Rolex, Cabernet Sauvignon and Louis Vuitton?

Especially here in Florida. I'm one of these 'laid-back' startup owners and so is my friend Ted Murphy. We both love to have fun beyond hard work, it's not incompatible. If the crisis tought us all something is you can't follow MA's motto: work 5 years 24/7 then retire. Even with 10M, you have no guarantee your future. Shit happens. Like money devaluation for one. Or bad investments. This logic is absurd as most wall street's golden boys will soon be homeless.

Anyway, Geraldine and you should say hello if you ever stop by Miami. We could go kitesurf someday or have some good cuban cuisine.

And you should relax, being half-french myself, I have to admit I've experienced the exact same strong cultural difference when I moved here 12 years ago. Americans in a bar poke your shoulder offering you a bear past 5 mins, like you're their new best friend, then zap you the next day. Europeans give their trust and friendship more sporadically and for that may even be considered snobish, but at least it's genuine and usually long lasting relationships.

Just my 2 cents/

Chris Banach · 1 year ago

meant a beer not a bear. funny lapsus though.

Chris Banach · 1 year ago

Another great french success you forgot to mention beyond meetic and ventesprivees is DAILYMOTION.

Loic Lemeur · 1 year ago

Chris, Dailymotion does not have more than a hundred million euros in revenues yet...

JEBworks · 1 year ago

Wow, what a tempest in a teapot! A culturally challenged American in Paris, what a concept.... Like the old saying you can a guy out of the country but you can't take the country out of the guy. I'm sure a great gourmet meal for these type A guys must be the height of boredom. Not surprising, if TC is your 24 hour occupation.....

Mark Essien · 1 year ago

It does not matter either way. It's about business, and business is measured in revenue and customer satisfaction, not in how much some reporter decides to report on it or not.

So the discussion is irrelevant to the business themselves, it's only relevant to the people who are going to be at the conference, or watch the conference.

kamal · 1 year ago

Marissa Meyer doesnt like jerks like Michael, she made it clear talking about jerks @ Stanford...
Michael has to know the difference between criticism and arrogant behaviour.
I get to read more of mashable these days...

Pamela · 1 year ago

Why are you bothering to poll people if you've already made up your mind?

A year is a long time, why not wait, perhaps in time a cooler head will have a better perspective. I agree with the commenter who noted that banning MA gives him the last laugh. No matter what, I do hope that you'll bless a more gracious soul with what must have been a glorious culinary experience next year.

MA is only the messenger of a success-at-all-cost mentality. You may not agree with the mentality, but banning the messenger cannot possibly help.

Loic Lemeur · 1 year ago

Pamela, as I said in my post, Michael will always be welcome at LeWeb.

jayvee f. · 1 year ago

startups (and yeah ANY business) work differently in all countries. i think mr. arrington should have been more respectful of his invitation as well as the cultural diversities within the living webspace of EU.

JoeDuck · 1 year ago

Loic unless I'm missing something here, rightly or wrongly, there is little chance Michael will come back to Le Web.

This post reads too defensively even though you are probably making an important point about "fairness", which is hardly a guidepost in the web world. I think too many people expect Mike and a few other key players in the USA to spend a lot of their time giving "fair and somewhat equal" treatment when the fact is there is simply too much to cover in that fashion. TechCrunch is freewheeling, not comprehensive. I'm not sure it is reasonable to expect Mike and a few others to more evenhandedly cover the entire European theater of Web 2.0. Rather I'd like to see us all work on better social media so TC coverage is not seen as such a 2.0 legitimacy litmus test.

wangjel · 1 year ago

hey we are that non profit association from south france who didn't had money to get to paris and our humble ask to please send us (just to meet and know each other) a ticket was not even answered.................but what ever. We offer free education, design and hosting to french people and we know how it is the situation in france.
We spend our time to show the possibilities to french people, and what Michael Arrington says about europe is true. Pessimistic negative money eater attitudes. About know each other? I hope you are joking. But anyway it is not possible to hide reality, and the reality of france about development...........................>>>>>just show me ten globaly popular french developed application, social network, software, hardware,................can you?
If not than understand what is it mean and don't hide behind "we are culture because here in france we have cloture not culture.

greatings from south france, and untill you eat your great food we continue to create free sites for small people, free with education and hosting to develop, and maybe we will never meet because we don't have money and nice clothes to get in paris and be cultural with you
Shayowo association

wangjel · 1 year ago

ah yes small detail, if you are so french, so developer! than let me tell you something. With a price of an airplane ticket business class we create and host hundred sites for hundred french small enterpires in south france in the mountains (so DO NO TAKE THE PLACE OF THE FRENCH WAARIOR)but no one of you have interrest naturaly about this (also french nature:nobody support our activity). I don't understand why we have to lie.

MoiraH · 1 year ago

I wasn't present but in the final session in Ustream, I wanted to scream 'Do you all know what inter cultural awareness is?' but couldn't type that fast in the chat as the comments flew. It makes and breaks projects, as you all know.

Yes, bring him back but what I would like is to be able to actually GO to LeWeb with my university students who ARE the future European entrepreneurs and we all live in Paris but it's WAY too expensive! Can we have a personal invite for next year, Loic?

Moira Hunter :-)

wangjel · 1 year ago

Moriah

he didn't care about your students don't worry, we are just too small for him. He is a great "enterprenueueueuerr"

Philipp · 1 year ago

Greetings from Germany.
It just makes no sense to bash each other. Especially you french guys shouldn't bash Loic.
Of course it's frustrating for you and your students that you didn't get any invites and the tickets are very expensive, but after all it's a conference, which costs a ton of money - and not a barcamp (bring your own speaker, chair, food).

Loic has to make a cut somewhere - otherwise the big industry players would be not interested in the conference at all.

But maybe next year (in order to support his "i do it for love" claim) he could sponsor some tickets to educational organizations or compelling startups that cannot afford the tickets. Maybe as some form of competition/ drawing.

Philipp · 1 year ago

Oh - and I absolutely second the argument that we need something like TC in Europe.
Those US guys always tell us, that we are way behind and they don't care about Europe.... in fact it's the other way round. Even the internet was invented in Europe (1989 at CERN). US guys are just better at selling their cake. Euro-founders are often not self-confident enough with their alpha/beta products, while the US guys sell a pre-alpha as the new hot stuff.

If you shout long enough that you have the hot product people (press) begins to repeat...

So Euros: Sell your cake! Be self-confident! Your product totally rocks (even if it breaks most of the times). Conquer the press!

b.t.w. techcrunch for europe: thenextweb

wangjel · 1 year ago

yes we understand,
so we keep cool and analyse,
1.there was a web conference in paris
2. we got inspired to share,
3. we didn't got there, (because of missing that love?)
4. it was like a concert without sound (no internet connection on a web conference)
5. few days later a french organiser who live in the US put up a poll on his blog to ask about an invitation of an other US guy to his "french" conference next year
6. I guess we can ask the question it was done with love?

yes with love of money and use(r) to generate content to make more love or money?

wangjel · 1 year ago

we see it very important to teach the people to use it, and about pessimistic negative attitudes?
It is difficult to find investor even to something practical, simple, usefull.

Mutimba · 1 year ago

Hi,

I am actually surprised the blogosphere has teamed up to attack Bob and Mike. My feeling is that they made their world and got a whole lot of followers and copycats.

Now is the time for Europe to simply remain mute and be grateful for the ideologies being propagated by Silicon Valley.

That should be the essence

Thanks,

MM

wangjel · 1 year ago

we work now two years and we didn't find one french investor who have at least a little french national responsabily for our own country to support our association, and we help people very very basic. We give them site, we teach them how it can be usefull for their small enterprises in a difficult econimical situation, and noo we are not supported. and the "industry" look over our head and fight with each other who is arrogant and who is not.

wangjel · 1 year ago

we are supporting more people with a fifty dollar dedicated server with a non profit association than any one of this industry guy with super conference about love

wangjel · 1 year ago

hey big french guy let me see you call me up to do something for your country,
0468725667

Dario Salvelli · 1 year ago

Dear Loic, i'am at Le Web as Official Bloggers. I think that big mistake is: is Le Web an european or international conference? The last panel, Gillmor Gang, is by only american bloggers, just a little casta. How can we talk about Europe scenario if they live in Usa? :-)
It was better the Europe Venture Capitalist discussions.

Mike Butcher · 1 year ago

@nicolesimon You did not "have a hard time getting Mike Butcher to cover Europe." I went to 12 European cities this year. And TechCrunch UK doesn't even *officially* cover Europe - I made that decision to improve my European knowledge. Sorry, you are just wrong.

kimbjo · 1 year ago

This is so funny.

Firstly Michael Arrington is not a "Silicon Valley A List". When has he ever built sold or successfully run a company? He's a Silicon Valley Douchebag.

Secondly, all these guys in California brag about how much productivity they have and how they work 365 days a year...then you realize that they all have blogs. How much of your work time does blogging take? How much of your work time does sitting on facebook take? How much of your work time does twitter take? Get real guys, nobody works 365 days a year, you're also vacationing for 5 weeks a year in Silicon Valley - the difference is you vacation at your desk on an online social newtork, and you blog about how lazy the europeans on.

Yetused · 1 year ago

Since when does a French conference speak for Europe? And since when is Michael Arrington "Silicon Valley"?

Rick Calvert · 1 year ago

Correct me if I am wrong Loic but you and Mike were and remain good friends correct?

As a fellow conference organizer I can assure you, you will never have the "right mix" of speakers according to some.

Dejan Bizinger · 1 year ago

Great article, Loic, one of the rare long articles I read in complete.

I also left a comment on TC. You and Michael are both having right to say what you want to say. I agree with your view of EU culture because I'm part of Europe. However, it doesn't mean that those who say some critics to Europeans shouldn't be invited next year. Usually, critics and debates are a good thing because eventually they make things better.

TechCrunch Sucks · 1 year ago

Why did you invite a journalist to comment on entrepreneurship?
That's like asking a fat man to give a talk on how to diet to bunch of fitness trainers.

wangjel · 1 year ago

to have the last shot on something already dead....................
this discussion is about a f*up conference and about some critics what is true. and it is difficult to accept for those rich idiots, who are lazy to learn just wanna f*around in five ***** as LouisXIV

wangjel · 1 year ago

and about europe....... yes of course we have problems, and those problems will be not solved until the people don't learn how to use the possibilities, and until most of the french do not understand a word in english and nobody translate and speak about what is happening on the other side of the world, french users will super proud and ignorant, and ignorant soooooooooo much you can not imagine from the US. users you know users, without users you have nothing, it can be brilliant what you do, but without users it is good for nothing, and in france the internet is google, skyblog, msnmessenger, youtube and dailymotion. these are the real problems of france so you can understand if a little provocation to have some competition is turning bad. then french they start to call the ghosts of "culture to hide their ignorance and lazyness.

the first and most important job to do in france is education and support to use the internet. Translate everything and show step by step. I know it is difficult to accept such a point of view, but compare your actual numbers of active users with the actual numbers of not users, and find a positive solution.

wangjel · 1 year ago

and accept that critic of michael because it is true

wangjel · 1 year ago

and you you ex french loic le mort better if you offer something else to your friends than paris and the french wine and go back in the US, or before you offer our country here do something real here and hide behind europien culture after.

Carlos Serrano-Morales · 1 year ago

Let's not miss the key point: obtaining funding in Europe is far more difficult than in the US, and in particular the Silicon Valley. It's a true statement backed by numbers. The biggest boost that enterpreneurs in Europe could get from this type of conferences is significantly more participation by risk taking European fund providers. Where is the angel investor culture in Europe? How do VC funds really manage the risk they take so that they can invest in more and bet on less success percentage?
It's not a question of enterpreneur culture. It's been said many times: a large percentage of the enterpreneurs in the Silicon Valley are European. It's not a question of individual investors: a significant number of European individual investors participate to the investment networks in the Bay Area.

It seems to be much more a question of risk taking culture and risk management appetite. We could use help to change that.

These personality clashes have only one calculated goal: create controversy, so that they get talked about. We are in the reputation world with 140 character exchanges to create them or destroy them. The easiest way to attract attention is to be controversial. Both Loic and Michael know it well.
Of course Michael should be invited and given space to talk, the same way Loic and co are invited and given space to talk in the other conferences. Controversy is at least entertaining.

But don't confuse those details with the real issues.

COP · 1 year ago

You Sir are a Douchebag. I was annoyed by your presence on stage during Marrisa's interview.

John Doe · 1 year ago

I think everyone knows Michael Arrington of TechCrunch can be a deucebag, so no worries ...

Sares · 1 year ago

michael should be ignored

wangjel · 1 year ago

europe ignore already too much, get competitive, yes get pissed of on arrogance, and work better, use it to become, better, stronger.................

FredImparatta · 1 year ago

Arrington is a sucker, but the lack of internet connection at Le Web is lame too. You should both just shut up.

Sam · 1 year ago

Reading this and also from other feedback I heard from people at LeWeb it annoys me a bit to have to realize that TechCrunch is so typically US-american in thinking that the US is so superior to everything else in the world. I will gladly unsubscribe from their RSS feed.

Speaking of 5 hour lunches: I like the culture here in Europe (Switzerland) of not just filling ourselves up with junk. But five ours is quite a long time for me to sit still I must admit ;-) Would have to get used to that if I were to move to France (which I guess I wouldn't do because of the language, sorry. English, German, Swiss-German, bits of Swahili, Chinese and C# are enough for me)

mini-d · 1 year ago

I have a great idea:

Invite M.A. to next flight. Send him on easyjet or any lowcost flight to france. Make him take a cab from the airport to a series of hotels around France, and take the rest of the guys (including me to 3 stars restaurants) and send him to eat shawarmas! (they're tasty and served in 3 minutes)

I know Mike will appreciate this time saver schedule.

Viktoria · 1 year ago

Wow, i am impressed by all that emotions here! And it was very entertaining to see the last panel... Come on, what do you expect if you put almost only Americans on stage to talk about the European startup scene? It is meant to be teasing and provoking. (Otherwise it just could have been an organizational failure.)

Why should anyone feel offended, if not by having a low self-esteem? Better than feeling dissed, we should go out there and show them, what we are capable of!
As Nicole said, they just gave us a great presentation of American behavior. So take it as a lesson to learn how to approach the American market, in order to conquer it!

The Americans themselves have so many trouble in going in the European market. Comparing, it should be much easier for us to go into the American one. Don't you think so?

Guillaume · 1 year ago

Loïc, et les autres,

je pense qu'il est essentiel d'inviter à nouveau ce cher Monsieur Arrigton la prochaine fois. En effet, même si ses propos sont plutôt décalés, maladroits voire indécents, TechCrunh représente une beaucoup de personne et joui d'une notoriété importante. Je pense qu'une méthode amicale, en discutant est nécessaire afin de convenir à une réflexion posée et raisonnable.
Ne soyons pas trop mesquins nous aussi, nous savons que ça présence apporte tout de même un "petit plus" et il faut essayer de prendre sa "remarque" comme telle et non comme reproche.

Enfin, je dis ça, faites-en ce que vous voulez, ce n'est qu'un conseil.

Bon courage pour la suite.

Vasco · 1 year ago

Bravo pour LeWeb, Loic!

Conseil Michael Arrignton à lire Geert Hofstede (www.geert-hofstede.com) après les choses seront plus claires pour lui. (Je pense!)

Kathlyn · 1 year ago

Does anyone know where I can find an easy-to-read (in English) summary and comparison of the differences in tax codes/structures relevant to online entrepreneurs in Europe (at least the most populous three nations) and the United States?

I am interested to learn more about which locations are best for entrepreneurs in this regard - as well as in terms of social security. In this regard, I most enjoyed hearing the French minister who visited LeWeb. She was a solid (if not showy) addition.

Further, I think the only people who can accurately comment on this US v. Europe matter are people who have lived and worked in both places. Then, going a step further, I'd most prefer to hear from people who can speak multiple languages (Loic, for example ,speaks French and English and thus has a better understanding of the French online media landscape as it compares to the American landscape).

Discussions about the different lunching habits of various cultures are fun, but these are surface-level issues a person discovers in her first week of working in a new place.

And, to be more opinionated, I found it lame the American panelists in the final presentation kept presenting Israel as an example of their knowledge abroad. I've been to Israel, the US and Europe. I certainly think Israel is an entirely unique country with an interesting set of circumstances, but an American would impress me a hellofa lot more if he could speak at length about startups in Jordan or Lebanon. The cultural and political ties between Israel and the US are too strong for it to be a unique place for an American to have knowledge of.

jeaneudes · 1 year ago

2 hours lunch in France versus 3 hours happy hours drink in US. That"s the only difference in socializing on the 2 continents!

alex · 1 year ago

5628 peeps on the poll ! that's enought .

Fred · 1 year ago

Yes Mike Arrington should be invited back because you do not want to invite only people who kiss butts and do not contribute to a lively debate.

Now, everybody had their opinion / explanation on the following topics that were mentioned during the Gillmor Gang panel:
-Silicon valley is the game, in Europe you cant play the game.
-Greater track in San Diego.
-Difference is: you dont know how to take time and have lunch.
-Europe looks up to US for leadership in Tech.
-In Silicon Valley, we're all at the same place (friendfeed example)
-Cultural difference in US advantage: less formal.
-Tax structure bad in Europe.
-Plus M Arrington post on the subject.
All these blurbs and now your lengthy post to try to explain why European (and Israelis) start-ups/entrepreneurs are not as "hot" as their US peers (except for a few exceptions)?!

Well the main reason is CUSTOMER BASE / MARKET SIZE.
America is a fabulous market with 340M consumers (US+Canada) speaking the same language within the same legal, cultural, fiscal framework. Whereas Europe is the sum of many small countries (markets) that are very different in terms of culture, tax, etc...
So when a successful European (either French, German, British...) entrepreneur does some PR, it only reaches as far as the borders of his tiny country. His marketing does not go beyond the borders because who in Germany understands a French ad???
In the US, when a company is successful, 340M people can get to know about it instantly.
Of course Ebay is bigger than Aucland, of course Skype was taken over as Mike Arrington delights to say. But the main explanation is not in what you guys were all talking about at the panel.

Put one single language and one single fiscal policy throughout Europe and 360M consumers will be reached out instantly each and every time a new company does good PR, good marketing, etc... Aucland would have been as big and successful as Ebay if they had enjoyed a 360M single-speaking consumer market.

With such prospect, VCs would flow in and a Silicon Valley bis would be created in the French Riviera :).
With that prospect, European entrepreneurship would skyrocket.
With that prospect, nobody would ever say that Silicon Valley is where the game is, nobody would talk about cultural differences/advantages. And nobody would say that Europeans take 2h lunch to network, because nobody would have time for it or would feel the need for it to grow one's own network because things would be so much easier just like in the Valley!

It is a true fact that US corporations are more successful and creative than European ones (Coke, 3M, McDonalds, Starbucks -regardless its difficulties-, Ebay, HP, Intel, Facebook, Google...) and Mike is right on that.

But again folks, the main explanation lies in market size.

PS: I am a French entrepreneur who relocated to NYC to embrace this fabulous 340M consumer market.