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Nokia as “He Who Must Not Be Named” and the Helsinki Spring

Steve Blank

I was invited to Finland as part of Stanford’s Engineering Technology Venture Program partnership with Aalto University. Toxic Business Press and Contradictory Government Incentives. Many founders mentioned this as a reason not to incorporate or grow their companies in Finland. Note to Finland – lighten up.

Finland 331
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The Helsinki Spring

Steve Blank

I spent the month of September lecturing, and interacting with (literally) thousands of entrepreneurs in two emerging startup markets, Finland and Russia. This is the first of two posts about Finland and entrepreneurship. a government that’s trying to help, but gets in the way. 9-to-5 Venture Capital.

Finland 328
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The Helsinki Spring

ReadWriteStart

I spent the month of September lecturing, and interacting with (literally) thousands of entrepreneurs in two emerging startup markets, Finland and Russia. This is the first of two posts about Finland and entrepreneurship. A government that's trying to help, but gets in the way. 9-to-5 Venture Capital. 9-to-5 Venture Capital.

Finland 158
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Many Startups Stumble on International Cultures

Startup Professionals Musings

I was once asked by a top executive of a major software company why we were not selling more products in Finland. He did not seem to understand that Finland was not part of Scandinavia and that English is not too well understood by most people there (with the exception of the Swedish-speaking minority in Finland).

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Lessons Learned: The lean startup

Startup Lessons Learned

This is a philosophy that governs my daily life as well as my entrepreneurial activities. Very useful perspective - as a first-time CEO managing a small startup, these ideas are timely and thought-provoking. September 11, 2008 2:06 PM Editor said. Less is more. Leonardo Da Vinci noted that: "Simplicity is the ultimate in sophistication".

Lean 168
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A real Customer Advisory Board

Startup Lessons Learned

What we call “community management&# is actually governance. It is our obligation to govern well, but – as history has repeatedly shown – this is incredibly hard. What we call “community management&# is actually governance. It was absolutely worth it. Passionate online communities are real societies.

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International Cultures are Key Business Challenges

Startup Professionals Musings

I was once asked by a division manager of a major software company why we were not selling more products in Finland. He did not seem to understand that Finland was not part of Scandinavia and that English is not too well understood by most people there (with the exception of the Swedish speaking minority in Finland).

Brazil 121