Buenos Aires Startup Network Hosts Latin American Entrepreneurs, Investors in NY

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The Buenos Aires startup network Palermo Valley chose New York to host its “Latin America Meets New York to talk Startups” event at NYU-Poly last Wednesday.  The Next Web profiled the event, focusing on its panels featuring entrepreneurs and investors from both NY and Latin America.  Colombian serial entrepreneur Andres Barreto discussed his success, dropping out of college to co-found music streaming service Grooveshark, and his current position as COO of OnSwipe, a tablet publishing platform.  Barreto said it is not always easy for entrepreneurs from other countries to get a visa to join a U.S. startup community, but that many are hoping a “startup visa” will soon be introduced.

At the event, many Latin American entrepreneurs said they chose to base their companies in NY because of its geography – it makes travel easier between Latin America and Europe.  Also, it is in close proximity to the base of the advertising and publishing industries.  Being in the U.S. made it easier for them to get both funding and early adopters because many U.S. venture capitalists remain weary of investing in non-American companies, which tend to have a more local, rather than global, focus.

The Next Web