歐洲創業者入侵硅谷
????然而,其他人并不確定這是否足以成為區別。 ????斯坦福大學(Stanford University)在線學習副院長兼電氣工程教授貝恩德·吉羅德表示:“很難說這是否將成為歐洲的另一個前哨站。如果他們能夠招攬到一些充滿智慧的杰出人士,就能發展壯大。他們擁有獲得成功所需的資金,但光有錢并不能確保成功。” ????EIT ICT在2014年的預算達到3億歐元(合3.81億美元),但還沒有開始討論他們將如何在舊金山中心展開具體的投資。到目前為止,他們只是借來了4張桌子供歐洲的初創公司使用,但還沒明確究竟要如何選擇初創公司,或是讓哪些公司來使用這些桌子。 ????歐洲集團(European Group)首席執行官威廉·瓊克在會議上發言表示:“我們需要證明自己有著強大的生態體系,是合適的投資目標。” ????然而,這次會議的形式讓參與者們懷疑EIT ICT是否有能力跨越歐洲和硅谷的文化鴻溝。在發言和座談期間,大多數企業家坐在一邊聊天,嘈雜的聲音讓人們很難聽清發言人究竟在說什么。 ????與會者安妮·布魯因韋爾斯來自荷蘭初創公司Px Healthcare,特地前來展示該公司借助癌癥患者數據進行個性化治療的方案。她表示:“我們非常尷尬。我們認為歐洲要遠比今天這場活動給人的印象更加生機勃勃。我希望他們抱著開放的心態傾聽反饋意見。有了我們的參與,中心也許能產生很大的影響力。如果沒什么影響,這個中心可能會失敗,那會極大地浪費投資。” ????不過盡管人們對發言了無興趣,但在展示環節上他們還是充滿熱情。初創公司擁有幾分鐘時間來展示他們的商業理念,評委會則會予以反饋,這是真人秀節目“美國偶像”(American Idol)的形式。同“美國偶像”一樣,只要有人表現得十分精彩,與會者都會發出歡呼。 ????澳大利亞人格倫·畢爾比借此展示了他在瑞典新創的公司Quick Posture,這是一個幫助醫生診斷病人運動和姿勢問題的工具。他表示:“我喜歡舊金山的氣氛。這里讓人覺得一切皆有可能。這個孵化器一定能成功。” ????如果這個中心能夠松開領帶,卷起袖子大干一場,也許它真的會成功吧。(財富中文網) ????譯者:嚴匡正 |
????Yet, others aren’t quite sure of that will be enough of a distinction. ????“It’s hard to say if this is another European outpost,” said Bernd Girod, associate dean of online learning at Stanford University and who also teaches electrical engineering. “It could be big if they get some excellent smart people. They have the money to succeeded, but money is not all that success takes.” ????EIT ICT has a 2014 budget of $300 million Euros ($381 million), but won’t discuss its specific investment in the San Francisco hub. So far they have leased four desks for European start-ups to use but haven’t specified how they intend to choose the start-ups or who will fill the desks. ????“We need to show that we’re a strong ecosystem to invest in,” Willem Jonker, the CEO of the European group, said in his speech at the event. ????However, the event’s formality made attendees skeptical of EIT ICT Labs’ ability to bridge the cultural gap between Europe and Silicon Valley. During the speeches and panels, most of the entrepreneurs mingled at the bar where, their chatter making it difficult to hear the speakers. ????“We’re quite embarrassed,” said Dr. Anne Bruinvels who came to pitch her Dutch start-up Px Healthcare which uses cancer patients’ data to create personalized treatment plans. “We believe that Europe is far more dynamic than how it was represented today. I hope they are open to listening to feedback. With our input they could possibly create a lot of impact. Without it, it could fail and that would be a terrible waste of the investment.” ????Yet despite the lackluster enthusiasm for the speeches, the energy perked up during the pitching session. Start-ups were given a few minutes to present their business ideas to a board of judges who gave them feedback,American Idolstyle. And, like onAmerican Idol, attendees cheered whenever someone made a particularly good pitch. ????“I love the vibe in San Francisco,” said Glenn Bilby, an Australian based in Sweden who came to pitch his start-up, Quick Posture, a tool that lets doctors diagnosis a patient’s movement and posture problems. “It feels like anything is possible. This must succeed.” ????And perhaps, if the agency manages to lose the tie and roll up its sleeves, it will. |