Ask HN: Any nomad entrepreneurs? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Any nomad entrepreneurs?

11 pointscuchoperl6 comments

Are there any nomad entrepreneurs in HN? (ie you don't have an established office and you are travelling around).

I love travelling, and as I am starting a company, I am keen on ditching the physical office and live travelling.

I would like to know your experience on being nomad and running a startup.

At Fanvibe, we do have an office, but I'm only there 3 or 4 times a week, and I work from coffee shops wherever I can go.

Recently I wrote a quick article about spending a week in Hawaii doing good work.

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1991010

That's great, Art. That's exactly what I want to do. Thanks.

I think there's a reason so many startups happen in Silicon Valley. The proximity to others in the industry is a huge factor. Grabbing lunch with another startups founder, or a VC, or a mentor, etc. is extremely valuable.

Also, being nomadic makes a good cofounder relationship difficult.

I'm starting to realise this point. :-( I'm at the moment developing on an idea that I've had for a startup, but New Zealand isn't known for its VCs... I'm kind of lost in that department.

Even if you lived on Sandhill next to all the big VC's, it's not like you're going to be able to raise money from all of them any better.

Once you have VC's, are really raising money, have advisors, this is definitely the place to be. That doesn't mean you can't ever leave, or work in other places from time to time. If you absolutely hate it in the area, your product will suffer. If you also like to bounce around sometimes, and are very productive, you should do it. Bring your co-founders with you. Make sure they have the same mindset of working in different areas.

That being said, have a headquarter. Probably in Silicon Valley. Be a resident in the bay area. But by all means, don't subject yourself to never working elsewhere.

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