Floating Startups
by Alex Hutchins
Foreign tech entrepreneurs looking for easier ways to develop code may soon get a whole new way to ship. Specifically: a cruise ship.
Blueseed, a four-person Sunnyvale startup backed by prominent investor Peter Thiel, is working on a novel solution to the problems of gridlock in immigration reform and overpriced Silicon Valley real estate.
That solution: a giant floating startup barge anchored 12 miles off the coast of California, stocked with 1,000 entrepreneurs from around the world.
The project, which may take the form of a converted cruise ship, would bring startup founders within ferry distance of Silicon Valley's key resources - venture capitalists, top talent and a business environment friendly to outlandish ideas.
To make it happen, Blueseed will have to raise tens of millions of dollars, attract hundreds of high-quality entrepreneurs and negotiate complicated legal issues. (For starters: determining what nation's flag to fly under.) And that's before it builds a small floating city in international waters.
"I don't think this is crazy at all, from a legal or engineering point of view," said Dario Mutabdzija, the company's president. "Which is not to say it's easy. It's an ambitious project, and I'm fully aware of that."
The idea behind Blueseed is to provide a visa-free locale where foreign entrepreneurs can create technology companies that utilize resources in Silicon Valley without having to deal with the cumbersome process of obtaining a U.S. visa.
Rent aboard the ship will cost around $1,600 a month plus the equity stakes that Blueseed takes in each resident business.
"The world's best entrepreneurs should be able to gather and collaborate in one place, and not be limited by antiquated work visa restrictions," Blueseed's site says.
The startup world has called upon the U.S. government in recent years to reform its immigration laws in a way that makes it easier for foreign entrepreneurs to build businesses in America. Yet such efforts have largely failed, as broader immigration debates in Congress have roiled legislation that would create a so-called "startup visa."
According to Blueseed's recent survey, 25 percent of the people considering the program said that a "critical" reason for their interest in Blueseed is it provides an "alternative to having to get U.S. work visas" for company founders.
What will Blueseed offer?
Plans to launch in Q3 2013, offering living and office space in an elegantly designed modern tech environment so compelling that it will be called the “Googleplex of the Sea”, attracting top entrepreneurial and technology talent from all over the world to Silicon Valley, where they can create companies and jobs, and develop disruptive and innovative technologies.
Living accommodations
· Comfortable living quarters accommodating one to four individuals per room
· Catering and food services at cafes and 24-hour venues around the ship
· Recreational facilities including a full service gym, game rooms, and other entertainment venues
· A comfortable and inspiring environment enriched by international experiences and lifestyles
Working accommodations
· Customizable individual or group office space in a variety of size and furnishing configurations
· A professional environment that is conducive to creative, innovative, and stress-free productivity
· Cost-effective, modern, simplified legal and business environment with low overhead
Conveniences of modern life
· Ship-wide high-speed Internet access
· Peace of mind including 24-hour security, concierge, and medical services
· On-board convenience stores and post office
· Convenient access to the SF Bay Area
· Ferry and other access services for onboard foreign national clients or US domestic commuters
But,
will it help the
American economy?
To find out, click here
1 comment:
sign me up, I am in!
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