Bootstrapping in Buenos Aires
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- sublocked
I read this article last night about getting your business running in emerging markets.
http://spreadsong.com/bootstrapp…
That, and "The 4 hour work week" make me want to move to Buenos Aires or Medellín. I've got a friend who moved to Colombia and he lives like a rock star.
Anyone else doing this? ...Or want to? Stories, hints, or tips welcome.
PS: This iz serious thread.
- lvl_130
Buenos Aires is absolutely amazing. the dollar is at least 3 to 1 (if not better most of the time) so your cash will def. take you farther than in the US. with that said, I wouldn't know the first thing about setting up an emerging business over there. i think if you made it through the millions of hoops with the govt. and the like it could be great...but who's to say you will make it through those hoops, or how long it would actually take?
- DrBombay0
I heard Medellín has changed a lot in the past few years.
- Meeklo0
I am from Buenos Aires, and I can tell you that, whoever wrote that, hasn't been living there for more than a couple of months.
Yes, the monetary difference its amazing the first few months. (Just to have an idea, a 2 bedroom place located in the "palermo" neighbourhood, with park view (very nice centric area, see photo below) will cost you around u$s300 a month with expenses and washer included. Imagine what you can get with your current salary. Sounds great right?
When you start living there, you realize that because of the small level of manufacturing industries there, all electronics cost 3 times as much, so if you think macs are expensive here... same goes for cars and pretty much everything that its imported.
Plane tickets also cost more, too, so if you are planning to travel back and forth your plan will not work as long as your clients want to meet face to face.
I'm not saying its impossible, its just not as easy as it sounds.
Also I'm not sure how is medellin/ or thailand in terms of design levels, but right now, Buenos Aires has incredible studios, already doing work for US/ Europe ad agencies/ companies, at levels that are just as good as top agencies, but they are able to compete because they charge 3 times less.So if you are planning to start your studio there, be ready to step up your game in order to compete with them.
- lvl_130
good luck dude. i'm sure it will be great if you got the means. i would love to try this.
someday...
- moldero0
ive been Bootstrapping in Mexico for almost 2 years now.
every time I think of moving back to SF, that NIN song runs through my head "every day is exactly the same"
I do miss me some good sushi though.
- My "With Teeth" is usually played via a playlist missing this one song - obviously a lemon on this record ;)raf
- monNom0
I'd keep an eye on political/social stability (given recent history and current global conditions). There are better places to play wage arbitrage I would think.
- sublocked0
Meeklo - what's the import situation like over there? Will they trip out if I bring over a laptop and a bunch of music gear with me? :)