One of my top former students, Fredi Fernandez, recently sent me a compelling email. After studying at UC Santa Barbara’s entrepreneurial program, he returned to Spain, excited to start a venture and make a positive impact on his homeland.
He founded Alpha Origins in 2011. Although he has helped a number of startups gain traction, he is now questioning if he should flee Spain, given the recent passage of the unprecedented Exit Tax, which seeks to tax potential, unrealized wealth.
Fredi’s email is worth reading, as it reinforces how lucky American entrepreneurs truly are. It is difficult to not be moved by his passionate desire for his country to share the entrepreneurial spirit that he experienced during his stay in California.
One could certainly argue that the US government could be more business friendly. However, when compared to the anti-startup environment prevalent in Spain, the relative degree to which entrepreneurship is an indelible aspect of American society is undeniable.
Geographically, the distance between Spain and the US is about 4,715 miles. However, from an entrepreneur’s viewpoint, the philosophical distance can be measured in light years
Imagine a country with a massive unemployment problem, recently over 24%, yet still with a great capacity to attract international talent, amazing weather and infrastructures. As a government, would you give incentives to build an entrepreneurial ecosystem or would you try to squeeze it?
If you were part of the current Spanish government, the very same government struggling with a huge unemployment problem, you might have a different answer. There have been many examples of Spain’s anti-entrepreneurial efforts, including forbidding Airbnb and Uber activities.
Even Google News decided to close in Spain due, to a new law designed to protect legacy businesses. We can understand how disruptive companies affect entire industries. Change hurts, disruption hurts and it’s not easy to keep everyone happy. Got it!
.
Read more: Spain Hits A New Low In Its Fight Against Entrepreneurship
He founded Alpha Origins in 2011. Although he has helped a number of startups gain traction, he is now questioning if he should flee Spain, given the recent passage of the unprecedented Exit Tax, which seeks to tax potential, unrealized wealth.
Fredi’s email is worth reading, as it reinforces how lucky American entrepreneurs truly are. It is difficult to not be moved by his passionate desire for his country to share the entrepreneurial spirit that he experienced during his stay in California.
One could certainly argue that the US government could be more business friendly. However, when compared to the anti-startup environment prevalent in Spain, the relative degree to which entrepreneurship is an indelible aspect of American society is undeniable.
Geographically, the distance between Spain and the US is about 4,715 miles. However, from an entrepreneur’s viewpoint, the philosophical distance can be measured in light years
Imagine a country with a massive unemployment problem, recently over 24%, yet still with a great capacity to attract international talent, amazing weather and infrastructures. As a government, would you give incentives to build an entrepreneurial ecosystem or would you try to squeeze it?
If you were part of the current Spanish government, the very same government struggling with a huge unemployment problem, you might have a different answer. There have been many examples of Spain’s anti-entrepreneurial efforts, including forbidding Airbnb and Uber activities.
Even Google News decided to close in Spain due, to a new law designed to protect legacy businesses. We can understand how disruptive companies affect entire industries. Change hurts, disruption hurts and it’s not easy to keep everyone happy. Got it!
.
Read more: Spain Hits A New Low In Its Fight Against Entrepreneurship
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