This evening, I realized that if we get in, effectively Chile will have hired me for 6 months to come there and help local entrepreneurs, and is paying me less than a third what I'd make in any american city as a programmer. Really, its even less because the $40k would be shared with my 2 co-founders. I've been working at startups, and starting businesses for 20 years... I think they got me as a consultant cheap!
I really don't mind at all, of course. I think it is a great program and a great country. Many years ago I visited Santiago Chile on a vacation, and I couldn't help but feel like the culture was very "capitalist" at the time. Rather than the beggars you might find in many countries, the kids were selling coke or cigarettes, etc. The cabbie we met at the airport was efficient, dedicated, responsive, and ended up providing all the rides we needed the whole trip.
If there's any people who are primed for the transition to a vibrant entrepreneurial culture, I think they are it.
But, $40k for at least one entrepreneur to come and spend 6 months meeting with local entrepreneurs seems reasonable, and if any of the companies are successful, that's a big bonus.
I really don't mind at all, of course. I think it is a great program and a great country. Many years ago I visited Santiago Chile on a vacation, and I couldn't help but feel like the culture was very "capitalist" at the time. Rather than the beggars you might find in many countries, the kids were selling coke or cigarettes, etc. The cabbie we met at the airport was efficient, dedicated, responsive, and ended up providing all the rides we needed the whole trip.
If there's any people who are primed for the transition to a vibrant entrepreneurial culture, I think they are it.
But, $40k for at least one entrepreneur to come and spend 6 months meeting with local entrepreneurs seems reasonable, and if any of the companies are successful, that's a big bonus.