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Gathering the worlds best
entrepreneurs
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Table of contents
1. There's no startup place like Silicon Valley
2. But theres no U.S.A. entrepreneur visa
3. Blueseeds novel win-win solution4. What will we offer?
1. Cost of living
2. Visas3. Questions
5. How can you help?
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Whats the best place on Earth
for a startup entrepreneur?Silicon Valley? Keep reading
Tell me
more
Skip next 5
slides
Of course
REASON
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Silicon Valley is the best place for
startups a unique combination of:
Ideas Capital Culture
REASON
Sil iconValley isthe best place for startups
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0 4,000 8,000 12,000
Connecticut
Florida
Michigan
Pennsylvania
Illinois
Texas
New York
New Jersey
Massachussets
California
U.S. International Patent applications by state in 2006
One or more foreign-
national inventors
All U.S.-citizen
inventors
Ideas California is #1 U.S. state
Wadhwa, Vivek - Intellectual Property, the Immigration Backlog, and a Reverse Brain-Drain:
Americas New Immigrant Entrepreneurs, Part III, Aug 2007 - http://www.ssrn.com/abstract=1008366
REASON
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Ideas Silicon Valley is #1 area
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
San Jose-
Sunnyvale-
Santa
Clara, CA
New York-
Northern
New Jersey-
Long Island
San
Francisco-
Oakland-
Fremont, CA
Los Angeles-
Long Beach-
Santa
Ana, CA
Boston-
Cambridge-
Quincy, MA-
NH
Top 5 U.S. regions by number of
US Patent & Trademark Office patents
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
Source: http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/taf/cls_cbsa/allcbsa_gd.htm
REASON
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Capital Silicon Valley is #1 area
PricewaterhouseCoopers National Venture Capital Association MoneyTree Report, Q3 2011 https://www.pwcmoneytree.com/MTPublic/ns/nav.jsp?page=region
REASON
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Culture Silicon Valley is unique
Risk taking Its OK to fail Engineeringtradition
World classuniversities
Culturaldiversity
REASON
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So you want to come to Silicon Valley
Existing visa system doesnt support entrepreneurs
No progress on legislation like the Startup Visa Act
Must find inadequate workarounds (e.g. work for others)
Or risk being sent back home (Amit Aharoni, BufferApp etc.)
PROBLEM
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Visa typeCan
work?
Can self-
employ?Expires Restrictions
B1/B2 Business,
Tourist or Waiver
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No
progress
in U.S.
Congress
on
Startup
Visa Act
PROBLEM
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Startup
entrepre-
neur
kicked
out of US
over visa
issues
PROBLEM
8/3/2019 Blueseed: visa-free startup incubator on a ship 12 miles from Silicon Valley
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PROBLEM
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SOLUTION
International waters line
Ship anchored 12 miles offshore,
in international waters,
outside US jurisdiction
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1,000 of the worlds top entrepreneurs
in a high-tech startup community
SOLUTION
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The Blueseed teammet at The Seasteading Institute
Max Marty
CEO
Dario Mutabdzija
President
Dan Dascalescu
CIO
SOLUTION
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We are
funded byPeter Thiel
PayPalco-founder
Early investor inFacebook, LinkedIn, Yelp
Main donor toThe Seasteading Institute,a think tank researching
ocean communities
SOLUTION
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United States
21%
India 11%
Australia 8%
Germany 5%
Italy 4%Spain 4%UK 4%Russia 4%
Belgium 4%
Brazil 3%
Canada 3%
France 3%
Singapore 2%
Israel 2%Other 22%
Startups signed up with us(as of Feb 2012)
473entrepreneurs
123 startups 38 countries
SOLUTION
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Motivations for moving to Blueseed
Not important Somewhat important Important Very important Critical
An alternative to having to get US workvisas for myself or other company
founders19.2% 10.6% 22.1% 22.1% 26.0%
An alternative to having to get US workvisas for my employees
28.8% 18.3% 25.0% 14.4% 13.5%
Streamlined legal and regulatoryenvironment made with low overhead in
mind4.8% 11.5% 23.1% 33.7% 26.9%
Ease of finding talent 10.6% 15.4% 19.2% 27.9% 26.9%
Proximity to Silicon Valley's investors 4.8% 8.7% 15.4% 31.7% 39.4%
Living and working in an awesomestartup- and technology- oriented space
1.0% 1.9% 14.4% 32.7% 50.0%
Coolness factor / fame 15.4% 13.5% 22.1% 21.2% 27.9%
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High-techuniversity
dorm
24/7hackathon &
coworkingspace
Awesome startup-and technology-oriented space
The Blueseed equationSOLUTION
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The Blueseed platform: 1,000-passenger
vessel. Well use one of these ships:
Converted cruise ship
Accommodation barge
Custom-built barge
OFFER
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Live/work/play environment onboard:
Googleplex of the Sea
Cabins for different budgets
Customizable office space
Recreational facilities
High-speed Internet access
24-hour food/medical/security
Awesome environment, supporting creativity and innovation
OFFER
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Wireless 1Gbps+ link to shore
Satellite backup
Fiber optic submarine cable(potentially)
OFFER
High-speed Internet access
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Daily transportation to the mainland
Ferry
Large-capacity roundtrip ferries, morning and evening
~30 minutes from ship to shore
Speedboats throughout the day
Small capacity, on demand
~20 minutes from ship to shore
Helicopter
Medical or other emergencies
VIP visits; 15 minutes to San Francisco
OFFER
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Sharedequipment:
3D printers etc
GymsPool
Sports fields
Entertainmentvenues
Conveniencestores
Game roomsPost Office
ATMs
Cafes Food service Concierge
OFFER
Amenities onboard
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Startup incubator services
Connection with
Silicon Valleystartup events
Access to angel
investors orventure capital
Networkingactivities
Trainingprograms
Legal help:immigration,IP/patents etc.
Events onboard+ more
OFFER
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No visas or immigration restrictions
Much lower regulatory costs you choose where to incorporate
Simplified business and regulatory environment
Bring into your team talent from anywhere in the world
No stressful commuting, no traffic
Perpetual hackathon atmosphere
Youll be in the middle of cutting-edge innovation
SOLUTION
Benefits of being aboard Blueseed
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What if things go wrong?
Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903480904576512250915629460.html
OFFER
When moving to Blueseed, youll deposit an amountto cover transportation to your country of choice
Q: Did your startup fail?A: The startup in the next cabin is probably hiring.
[in Silicon Valley] every company I work with is
absolutely starved for talent: qualified software
engineers, managers, marketers and salespeople- Marc Andreessen, August 2011, Wall Street Journal
Well be there to help.
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Cost of living aboard Blueseed(preliminary estimates)
More cash + less equity, or
Less cash + more equity
Combination of rent+ startup equity
Cash rent: from $1200/person/month (shared room for 4)
Up to $3000/person/month (private room with ocean view)
Comparable San Francisco rent: $1750
Plus desk at startup incubator: $500+/mo.
Cost includes officespace!
OFFER
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Blueseeds interests are aligned
with yours
Blueseedtaking
equity in
startups
Wesucceed if
you
succeed
OFFER
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How well work to reduce your rent
cost: extra revenue streams Offices aboard for big companies looking to
hire brilliant entrepreneurs like youTalent scouting
Since 2009, Google has been acquiring a newcompany per week. Well own equity instartups onboard, and cash in on exits.
Early acquisitionof startups
Rent out space for events, conferences etc.
Hotel rooms for visitors
Other partnerships enhancing the ecosystem
Well be aunique
environment
OFFER
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Visas youll need
To live and work aboard Blueseed: no visa
To travel to the U.S. mainland:
business visa (B-1), or
tourist visa (B-2; often combined with B-1), or
Visa Waiver (some countries, valid only 3 months), or
transit visa (least recommended)
B1/B2 visas generally valid for 10 years
Must spend at most 180 days/year in the U.S.
Americans (e.g. investors) visit Blueseed freely
OFFER
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Ease of getting business/tourist
visa vs. work visa
0
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
3,000,000
3,500,000
4,000,000
H-1B (skilled
worker)
L-1 (intracompany
transfer)
B1/B2
(business/tourism)
Average # of U.S. visas granted per year, 2006-2010
Source: http://www.travel.state.gov/xls/FYs97-10_NIVDetailTable.xls
OFFER
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What laws apply on board?
Bahamas (English common law)
Marshall Islands (based on American law)
The laws of the flagstate (to be decided)
Fair, efficient, speedy, predictable
You choose what country to incorporate in
Internationalcommercial arbitration
To country of residence/incorporation No taxes paid to BlueseedTaxes
International patents (WIPO)
United States patents (USPTO)
Patents as usual
OFFER
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FAQ blueseed.co/faq.html
Not a problem: large vessel (200m x 50m)
Meclizine - inexpensive preventative medicationSeasickness
Tsunamis/earthquakes doesnt affect ships at sea
Hurricanes dont exist near CaliforniaTsunamis,Hurricanes
Happen rarely; affect large vessels less
In case of force majeure, we can come to shoreStorms
Were the only ones in the region :)Pirates :)
OFFER
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When will Blueseed launch?
Estimated: Q3 2013
R&D were conducting your help is welcome: Select the best vessel and maritime specialists
Strengthen relationship with immigration authorities
Partnerships with startup incubators, legislators, media
Cleantech & greentech companies, environment studies
Investors
If you can help contact us: blueseed.co
OFFER
http://blueseed.co/http://blueseed.co/8/3/2019 Blueseed: visa-free startup incubator on a ship 12 miles from Silicon Valley
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The future
Q: What if US responds by fixing its visa problems?A: Well move the ship 1 mile from shore.
Other business models
More ships elsewhere in the world
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Concept ship Artful Containers
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Concept ship Hive
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Concept ship Two Habitats
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Concept ship Modern Hull
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How can you get aboard?
Angel
VC
Entrepreneurship network
Trusted Contact
Get referred by a reputable:
Be awesome apply online get selected
Or through direct channels
Apply online
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Apply online
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The people who are crazy enough to think they
can change the world, are the ones who do.
-- Steve Jobs, 1955-2011
www.blueseed.co