Pirate island attracts more than 100 startup tenants
May 9, 2012 | Source: The Register
Blueseed concept art (credit: Blueseed)
More than 100 international tech companies have registered their interest in floating geek city Blueseed, to be launched next year in international waters outside of Silicon Valley.
The visa-free, start-up-friendly concept launched late last year aims to create a fully commercial technology incubator where global entrepreneurs can live and work in close proximity to the Valley, accessing VC funding and talent as required.
The bulk of registered demand germinated from the U.S. at 20.3%, Indian 10.5%, and Australians at 6%. Reasons: living and working in an “awesome” start-up- and technology-oriented space, proximity to Silicon Valley’s investors, and an alternative to having to get U.S. work visas for company founders or employees were key reasons.
Cost:$1,200 to $3,000 per person per month.
See also: Startup ducks immigration law with ‘Googleplex of the sea’
Comments (16)
by libra9
What is progress? Compare these angst-ridden, future shocked, “global entrepreneurs” to a middle class, 1950′s suburban family: optimistic, respectful, trim, well dressed, well-mannered, happily living in their new suburban track home, with GE appliances, a new Olds in the garage, and bright, well-adjusted children playing in the picket fenced yard. Ok, not PC, but are we happier today?
by Andrew
Aaah, I can see the film of grease left by nerds in the pools already…
by Timothy
This doesn’t change much in terms of taxation–US citizens are taxed on what they earn, no matter where they earn it. However it will difinitely streamline the visa and residency situation. Also a cool concept, similar to the phyle paradigm in Snow Crash. Phyles are forming all over, but I think this is the first one in international waters.
by Dan Dascalescu
Guys, please read the Blueseed FAQ, so you can make informed comments. http://blueseed.co/faq.html
by Bri
Can’t last long.why not build a Rusian or Chinese one, just off Washington. No supervision,and so it’s too easy to abuse.
by Frost
Ahh… the original Noveria arises. :)
(Mass Effect reference if you didn’t get it.)
by Chrispium
There’s a lot of pirates out there. To protect themselves, they can hire the US navy for … shall we say … 15% of their turnover?
by marty weiss
A viable concept, but– it must be survivable in any oceanic event. That means submersible to avoid surface turbulence. What’s really pivotal in this idea is the addressing of the international concept of identity. For recorded history, citizens have been property designated by a land address with ID. Freedom is predicated on ID and associated “belonging” to a nation. This concept shatters that convention, and it’s about time.
by John Doe
Captained by none other than Admiral John Galt.
by Eric Anderson
And other taxing matters
What about a city in orbit
A town on the moon
A house on Mars
A man made world in another star system?
STOP the LOST idea of the Law Of Sea Treaty
Let FREEDOM ring
by Arctic Poppy
Guess they think the ocean will always be free for use, no need to comply with regulations….
by slider
Isn’t this a corporate wet dream, being able to set up shop outside the reach of pesky national safety/ethics/tax laws and regulations? Up next: Monstanto Island.
by Khannea Suntzu
If I were the US I’d be wonderfully creative slapping a considerable special tax on the proceeds of (and the revenues of labour of people at) this kind of thielopolis, This looks like a marvelous cash cow once it is established for aggravated taxation. The same taxation which will syphon down to Missouri welfare recipients, evidently.
We don’t have a same arrangement in Europe (with the Greeks). These Thielvilles would serve as the “Germany” of the US. Profit!
by Solomon Kleinsmith
The US can’t tax something… in international waters.
by beanbag
Not true. The US taxes ex-pats in other countries on dollars they earn there all the time.
by Rob Fleming
Gives new meaning to the old “company town” where the company took back in monopoly prices what they paid out in wages.