Blueseed: visa-free startup incubator on a ship 12 miles from Silicon Valley

8/3/2019 Blueseed: visa-free startup incubator on a ship 12 miles from Silicon Valley

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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


13/45ma e credit: siliconvalle .com

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/


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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

[email protected]

Blueseed: visa-free startup incubator on a ship 12 miles from Silicon Valley

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