This document discusses how New York City has become a natural home for European entrepreneurs. It notes that many European founders are part of New York's tech ecosystem, coming from countries across Europe. These founders follow different paths to starting companies in NYC, such as founding in NYC, growing in Europe and then expanding to NYC, or opening a NYC office for a European-founded company. The document outlines reasons why NYC is appealing for European founders, such as access to talent, customers, investors, and quality of life. It concludes that the European entrepreneur community in NYC will continue growing rapidly.

1. New York: A Natural Home for European Entrepreneurs
Matt Turck
Managing Director
FirstMark Capital
August 27, 2014

2. About Me
Matt Turck
Twitter: @mattturck
Blog: www.mattturck.com
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3. When you think of Europeans in NYC, you may be thinking of this…
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4. …or this…
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5. …or this.
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6. Where you might think Europeans work in NYC
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7. True, but increasingly: this.
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8. Turns out there’s very little difference between an American geek…
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9. …and a European geek
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10. Europeans are a key part of NYC’s tech ecosystem
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Media
E-Commerce
Consumer
Hardware
Big Data
FinTech
Ad/Marketing
Health
Enterprise
Note: The above companies have at least one European co-founder and have either their HQ or their US HQ in NYC. NOT A FULL LIST!

11. Founders come from all over Europe
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United Kingdom
Ireland
Belgium
France
Estonia
Iceland
Spain
Sweden
Italy / Malta
Armenia
Netherlands
Poland
Norway
Portugal
Germany
Denmark
Note: The above companies have at least one European co-founder and have either their HQ or their US HQ in NYC. NOT A FULL LIST!

12. They come to NYC via different paths
1.Founded in NYC
2.Founded in Europe and grown in NYC
3.Founded and grown in Europe then grown in NYC
4.European company with NYC presence
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13. •Immediately recognizes potential of launching company in NYC
–European already living in NYC
–Moves to NYC pre-launch
•Builds, grows, and scales company in NYC
–Often works with NYC accelerators, incubators
•Example success stories
Path 1: Founded in NYC
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14. •Company founded in Europe
•Quickly realizes that needs to engage US market to grow and achieve scale
–Often pre-funding or series seed
•Opens NYC headquarters to lead US growth and scaling operations
•Example success stories
Path 2: Founded in Europe and grown in NYC
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15. •Company founded in Europe and begins to grow and scale
–Often has received series seed / A funding from European investors
•Gains traction in European market but recognizes that needs to directly target US to achieve full scale
•Opens NYC office to lead US effort
•Example success stories
Path 3: Founded and grown in Europe then grown in NYC
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16. •Company founded, grown, and scaled in Europe
•Opens NYC base for more efficient US customer base expansion
•Migrates mission-specific team and / or hires local talent
•Example success stories
Path 4: European company with NYC presence
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17. Many NYC VCs invest in or have backgrounds in European tech
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Investors with a European background
Matt Turck
FirstMark
Capital
Albert Wenger
Union Square
Ventures
Eric Hippeau
LererHippeau
Ventures
UrsCete
BDMI
John Borthwick
betaworks
Andrew Cleland
Comcast
Ventures
John Frankel
ffVenture
Capital

18. NYC VCs invest in Europe
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19. European VCs invest in NYC
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20. •Accelerators and incubators introduce European entrepreneurs to the NYC tech ecosystem
•Many events focused on European startups
–VentureOutItaly
–VentureOutUK
–Hackers & Hefeweizens
–Swiss Tech Night
–The French (tech) Connection
–Nordic High Tech & Design
–Startups & Meatballs
•TechstarsNYC success stories
Incubators and accelerators have been a launch pad for European startups in NYC
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21. •Several government organizations in place to support European startups
•Various initiatives to encourage international entrepreneurship
–World to NYC, Berlin to NYC, NYC Venture Fellows, NYC Next Idea
Government and community organizations provide a strong support network
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•Strong support network within the European NYC tech community
•Various meetupsand community organizations to connect and engage European entrepreneurs

22. NYC is a natural home for European startups
•Our Top 10 Countdown:
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23. Reason #10
•Better time zone difference (compared to Bay Area)
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24. Reason #9
•Shorter/cheaper flight
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25. Reason #8
•NYC has a tightly knit and highly supportive startup community
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Hardwired NYC
Data Driven NYC
NY Tech Meetup

26. Reason #7
•Plenty of talent (tech + design), comparatively less competition
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27. Reason #6
•B2B: NYC is home to many potential business customers (capital of finance, fashion, media, advertising, food, etc.)
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28. Reason #5
•B2C: as the densest, most populated city in the US, NYC provides an ideal diverse customer base for consumer-focused startups
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29. Reason #4
•Plenty of investors!
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30. Reason #3
•Hard to feel homesick
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31. Reason #2
•NYC is all around awesome
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32. Reason #1
•And, did we mention… great parties?!
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33. Here’s to the future…
•Rapid development over the past couple of years; only increasing in velocity
•Many exciting companies to follow and encourage: stake claim in the NYC tech ecosystem
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