It is amazing how different I feel, understand and conceptualize my surrounding after 2 years in Sweden. I thought the common sense of people in my field of interest, will be the same here in Greece as in Sweden, since the sciences and the technologies are the same and the education provided comes from the same books. But in my great sorrow, I see that Greeks think and act in there own and unique way.
Today, I read an article about new Swedish entrepreneurs in the IT industry. It is remarkable of how easy and straight forward is for Swedish people to become entrepreneurs. All they have to do is to innovate and create!! How else can someone create a business, if he doesn’t think of a NEW “Service” or “Product” (and creating it) that can fill gaps in the market targeted (INNOVATION) in order to become needed and earn the desired profit!! But, no… this does not happen in Greece… Greeks are taught that the best business is to make money by copying ideas that already exist in the market which brings a lot of money to the starters ( with out giving something new) and all that in a short period of time! Plus, trying to lie and steel in order to earn even more money!
“I am trying to think when was the last time i heard or saw an innovative product from Greece. Or a company based in an innovation… And if there was, where was the Greek Government helping it establish and grow?” I know and I am totally sure that a lot of my fellow Greeks are very intelligent and very creative in order to innovate and establish businesses out of brilliant ideas! But as I previously said… we are taught to thing of the short term profit and not the long term as well as not taking risks… (only taking loans in order to buy an expensive car, in order to make out with beautiful women).
The funniest thing I could ever hear was said to me yesterday in an interview with a recruiting company, here in Greece. The HR consultant, asked me what kind of position I would like to have. Therefore I answered, “I know that I am capable to work as an Electronics Engineer, Network and Computer engineer, System administrator… but I look forward in working in positions like Technical Analyst and IT project Manager”.Her responce was “You are extremely ambitious… !!” and she left me wondering whether I said something wrong … So I tried to explain her that, I am indeed an ambitious person, since I want the best for myself and that was the reason I studied so much! So she said… in Greece you don’t need to be ambitious, you only have to work as an entry level for at least 2 to 4 years being patient until you get permanent. Then you can choose your future…
With this type of logic, how a person, who doesn’t have to be ambitious, learn from the industry and make a carrier? how a person will evolve in his domain and eventually step up and start a company with out being ambitious? Is this why the dream of an educated Greek citizen is to become a public servant? Where is the ambition? where is the spirit of innovation-creation? The enjoyment of starting a business?
…or maybe I am too ambitious?
Greek Business Market: VC or not VC?
Published March 30, 2008 Business , Greece , Personal Comment Leave a CommentTags: Business plan, entrepreneurs, Greece, IT, VC
Since, we know that Greece is a small market and therefore the IT market is equally balanced with the size of the country, still a lot of new entrepreneurs keep seeking for funds and money from VC’s around Greece, with only a Business plan in there hands. And I wonder… is there such a big need of money in order to make your own start-up company in the field of IT? In my belief “No!!”, nor VC’s are needed in making your dream come true. IT is a field which includes an enormous amount of tools, resources and people which can easily help you with their knowledge, guidance and help to create of your end product, with out the intervenes of VC’s (which will force there opinion in your Dreamy Company or even control your company later on), and all that for free!! Additionally VC’s in Greece are not so intimidated to invest their money in just one great idea. They need actual proοf of the potential of your company and a demo of your product!!
Additionally, I have start to understand the way of how some Greek entrepreneurs think. They think Too BIG. They don’t want to spent all there money to there idea, like selling there car/motorbike or half the amount of money they have in there pockets, because “how they are going to have there girlfriends out?”. Therefore is better to take others money, rather than spent there own!! These past few days I have read so many stories of how Global companies started with actually only pocket money until they reached the level to attract VC’s. Why not you? Why not US? In my humble opinion, start-up companies must start to cooperate with each other, and for start “Keep the VC’s away” until they have something great to show so as to have the upper hand in a future negotiating fund.