France
Invest in France - Entrepreneurship in France Carlyle Group - What Constitutes a Successful Investment |
Germany
MTZ Meunchen - Starting a Technology Company in Germany Strascheg Center for Entrepreneurship - Entrepreneurial Skills Required to Shape Our Future GründerRegio M - Female Entrepreneurship |
It seems to me that entrepreneurship in any country has to start with two things - a good idea and an ambitious businessperson. But there are hoops to jump over before your company becomes successful. That's the reason why MTZ Meunchen has a rigorous screening process before they take on technology companies, and why the Carlyle Group only invests in companies that have the most potential to succeed. That's why Invest in France has to spend a lot of time on public relations to convince companies to make investments in France. And that's why places like the Strascheg Center for Entrepreneurship and GrunderRegio M exist, so people with good ideas can become the skilled businesspeople and make those ideas into a real product. It seems that in Germany, France, and the U.S., entrepreneurial skills are integral to making a company successful. I also got the impression that Germany has the most resources for beginning entrepreneurs to develop their skills.
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The business culture in France and Germany seemed more relaxed than that of America. While we were all in full suits, many of the businesspeople we met were dressed in fairly casual clothes. I learned that in German culture, work life is completely separated from one's social life, unlike America, where many people are friends with their co-workers. On this study abroad program, I not only gained valuable insight into the nature of entrepreneurship in different countries, but I also had the opportunity to compare and contrast corporate cultures.