Case Vaadin by Jurka Rahikkala

1. Entry to Silicon Valley
Case Vaadin
May 18, 2017 Jurka Rahikkala, SME2GO

2. Vaadin in a nutshell
• Founded 2000
• Turnover 10M€ (2016)
• 140 Employees
• Headquarters in Turku
• Other offices in San Jose (2012)
and Berlin (2012)
• 50% of sales from US
• 90% of sales from export
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4. Why Silicon Valley?
• Incredibly expensive
• Hostile labour market
• What is your reason to go there?
• Would some other location suit you better?
• You need to travel anyway, the US is BIG
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5. What are the first steps?
• Sell, setup, deliver or something else?
• Make sure that the first persons are able to
do, what is expected from them
• It’s very easy to get lost in practicalities
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6. The practicalities
• Try to find a good VISA lawyer
• Get a good accountant
• Consider, if you need a lawyer
• Find a good insurance broker
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7. The VISA
• Try to find a good VISA lawyer
• Prepare for lengthy, repeating and regular application
processes - it’s ok to get a VISA by winning in a lottery
• Preferably you guy is a Ph.D., CEO, possesses unique
skills etc. - and if not, make sure that they look like one!
• Shipping experts from Finland may still be easier and
cheaper that hiring locally
• May be stressing process for the applicants - e.g. you
may not know, if you need to move out in a month
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8. Out of Office
• If everything works at home, it’s easier to focus
on work
• Find apartments, day cares, schools etc. before
moving
• Pay enough that your guy in the US can afford
eating
• Consider spouse’s social network - being alone
when the other is working long days isn’t nice
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