Avoiding the Cargo Cult And Getting The Trans-Atlantic Startup Model Right

This is a nearly week-old post syndicated without credit from TechCrunch: http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/11/01/avoiding-the-cargo-cult...

He has a point, sort of. In Europe it's easy to get caught up in the form and function of what one should do to raise money, copying the dance moves of those in Silicon Valley but without the same support net and ecosystem. But y'know? Most of the European entrepreneurs I know realise it doesn't work the same way over here. Hell, I'm in SF right now learning this from the inside out.

There are definite advantages to being European though. Global focus from day one (native markets are too small). Multilingual. Multi-currency. Ideas that actually work across diverse countries (some of the ideas I've heard in Silicon Valley just wouldn't work outside the US at all, and people seem surprised to hear that). Diverse teams. Local and regional funding support. VCs interested in fostering homegrown talent. Sure, there are counterbalancing factors to being in Silicon Valley too, but people know these, and generally realise Europe isn't SV; I don't see the big reveal here.

It's interesting, but I can't figure out what he's actually trying to say. European startups might be ok, but only if they also are in Silicon Valley?

Why this post got 5 points, being a rip-off??