Tracy Isacke, Director of Investments and Business Development at Telefonica Digital, recently wrote a guest post for Forbes.com on ways start-ups can tap into big global opportunities.
Depending on where you sit, Silicon Valley is either a place you want to get to, or a place you want to grow beyond. We’ve all heard (and believe) the arguments that the Valley is exceptional and unique.
An idyllic paradise of savvy entrepreneurs, world-changing innovation in lockstep harmony with abundant risk capital supported by interlocking networks of leadership, talent and services. A Shangri-La for nerds. And much of the frothy faith the Valley has in itself is in fact true.
But let’s face it: the Valley, while utterly unique, is far from the only place where smart people congregate and work. A whole other world beckons. A global strategy matters. Not least because VC’s want to know you solve a big problem – a global problem. We don’t really need another cutesy app that helps the in-crowd find open seats at sushi bars in Cow Hollow (or its equivalent). Maybe it’s time to expand our horizons – just a bit.