HN Explorer

Our target is USA, but we have a chance to be in Startup Chile program. Help

2 points by ccarnino ↗ HN
$40k just to stay 6 months in Chile, then you can leave. They don't ask anything in return. They're trying to push the Chilean entrepreneurship. www.startupchile.org But our target is USA market, we want to move to the Bay area, but we don't have resources to do it. I'm asking my self. Can be good be in Startup Chile program, to take mentorship, money to bootstrap, networking and try to raise capital to move to the US after it? We're Italian. So, in your opinion, it's best to stay here 'cause in any case is not our target market, or move there, and work to have the resources to move next to US? Thanks

8 comments

[ 4.7 ms ] story [ 27.9 ms ] thread
personalcompute
I'm not sure I understand what you're asking, but targeting Americans and American culture without being familiar with it yourself is certainly going to be challenging. You may be able to get around this though by employing Americans, but I'm not so sure that would work out, either. I know there are many Indian startups with various degrees of success that are based entirely in India, so it may work out keeping your business in Chili. No matter what you decide though, be careful when writing anything that is client facing, in fact you may wish to hire someone similar to a publicist or a writer. (Not to be rude, but your writing has grammatical errors and the judgments native Americans will make against you for this will be detrimental to your business.)

Is there a specific reason why your startup cannot work in the Chilean (or Italian? Are you in Italy?) market?

ccarnino
I know, one thing that I've absolutely improve is my English skills. I'm Italian, and now we're based in Italy. Our product Challengein.com has as target the US.

We knows that is essential to be in US to understand better the US culture and create a better product. In fact this is our goal. Move in the Bay area.

But, we haven't the financial resources to live there for 3 months, searching a seed investment. Now we have this opportunity, where the Chilean government gift $40k seed investment to global entrepreneur, if you stay in Chile in a startup hub for 6 months, then you can leave. The deal is really hot, because the Chile doesn't take any equity or anything.

You have simply to stay there 6 months. Their objective is attracting worldwide entrepreneur to create the startup hub of the latin america in Santiago.

There'll be mentors, other startuppers and ventures capitals.

We're asking if can be good, go there, learn, get funded, then move to US with a stronger product.

Understood?

newyuppie
I think you are answering your own question here... You ask if it can be good to travel, learn, get funded, have a strong product, and finally move to the US? GO FOR IT!
newyuppie
I don't want to be rude either, but Chili is either the fruit of a plant from the genus Capsicum, or a tex-mex restaurant chain. Neither of those refers to the country Chile, which I presume is what you meant to say.
gexla
By the time you get to the six month point of living in Chili, whatever you have left of that $40K may not get you much more time in the bay area. Your best move might be to stay put while you work on getting to the point of being profitable.
ccarnino
Understand that and it can be the best move. We've granted the 1year visa.

Can be also interesting to get funded (just if we need it) with the objective to move to the Bay.

In fact one objective of Startup Chile is attract VCs and financial resources for the startup world.

trevelyan
I'm in the Start-Up Chile program right now. I don't understand the thinking behind this post, since there are no restrictions on what you do after the program. But if you have any specific questions feel free to contact me via email. And if you're just getting cold feet don't worry about it. The program is great, and congratulations on getting in!
ccarnino
Yes I've some doubt about the best move to do. Thanks for the availability, by now I've talked with different startups who get in in the first cycle.

Now I'm not in, I'm in the process of selection, but with good chances...