liam_boogar

That's what happens when startups build good products. Blogs get behind it. A previous article from the same blog: http://wp.me/p2OgMk-29t "SNCF iOS app now stores user info. Can Capitaine Train compete?" [ Dec. 2012]

Interestingly enough, these initiatives are all private

I don't think that is true.

The rumor is not replete with how the proposed tax would work either; however, previous indications of similarly proposed taxes would suggest a tiered tax level based on different types of User data (more sensitive vs less sensitive) are stored in different tiers (France/National, Europe/Federal, and outside of Europe), with wavering amounts of taxes on a, I imagine, per user level.

Why you saying Why should Internet companies be taxed? Or Why should taxes exist at all?

Totally true (author here); however, when they started, they were a startup. And when they were a startup, they were founded by someone French.

Most of the list are current startups; VLC is also only somewhat a startup (VideoLab is more of a startup; VLC being the project).

Definitely agree that the eBay example is a stretch (i wrote the article); however, I grew up in the Bay Area around French families (mostly engineers), and there was a certain French culture retained - not sure how you feel with respect to that.

The greater idea was that there is something inherently 'French' that produces great entrepreneurs - not that these particular ones owe France anything, but that it's worth reflecting on.

You're definitely right - I chose to mention the "VLC" project instead of Videolabs in the subtitle, as I felt people would recognize it more. Hence the explanation in the text.

The list is in no way complete, nor indicative of any 'ranking' - I think I could write a similar list once a week for the next year and not give everyone their due respect.

Great response, Gmo!

Indeed, while it doesn't entirely combat the 'bashing' - some of the bashing is due, so we can't expect to entirely reject all criticism - it does put a stick in the bicycle wheel of the "France doesn't have a word for entrepreneur" banter.

I can't speak to the other posts, but as the author of this post, the intrigue for me is that the common thread, their country of Origin, makes a big statement about France's ability to educate and product entrepreneurs.

There is also a subtle undertone (I chose not to dive into it in the article, as it's been discussed in depth elsewhere) about the fact that many of France's most successful citizens found their success outside of France, suggesting that, while the French system produces a consistent flow of intelligent entrepreneurs (a keystone of a healthy startup ecosystem), it fails to create an environment in which those entrepreneurs feel they can succeed.

I disagree - are you a founder?

Think of the list of things you wouldn't want your competitors to know about you - your upcoming deals, your plans for growth - these are things that I've seen founders reveal on stage during a video-recorded pitch competition.

Paris, London, Tokyo.

The stereotypes are funny, and startups, by nature, will always be filled with a majority of hustlers, but it may also inadvertently lump an entire group of startup founders -past,present and future- into the "SG pile," whom I think don't belong there.

That being said: i think i've heard this conversation and event had it (sadly, from the SG side in my less-educated days), and I think this conversation is intended to force people to ask themselves "am I a poser or do I want money?" which is a false dichotomy.

I'd rather look at people who want to make money by creating value vs. people who want make money by creating perceived value.