As I understand it, these French villages are huge money sinks. You buy them, then find that French law requires you maintain them in their original condition. You can't bulldoze them and build modern buildings, and making 15th century French hamlets livable (let alone suitable as a hacker-space) isn't easy.
If you love restoring old buildings, knock yourself out; but otherwise I'd be very careful. Check what the impact of heritage laws is.
And if you dive in the French Law a little bit, you will find out it's far from being entrepreneur-friendly. You will get massively taxed on any profit, and employees' rights are so large that you could be sued if you need to cut down your resources (even if you do on pure economic grounds).
Definitely not a place to build a startup. That's one of the reasons there are no high profile startups in France: there's way too many obstacles, most french people who are serious about creating one usually leave the country.
Edit: oh, and I forgot that, in France, making money on your own, is very badly regarded. You would be assumed to be rich and evil, by default. (I am not inventing anything. Just check french forums/newspapers whenever there are economic news).
As someone coming from a very small village from the French countryside (probably not too different from the one that is to sell here), it does appeal to me ...
As a matter of fact, I was thinking of just that the other day, coming back in my village in a couple of years and try to start a hackers/startup/"IT" hub ... (maybe just starting with a hackathon or something similar).
You could wonder who would be interested ? And how the locals would react ?
Well, first, you have to imagine being in the countryside, being able to take a bike, roam in the woods, go on the river ... Then there is complete silence (like, really really silent). And of course, the food.
There's also a plan (although I think it's partially on hold right now) to have fiber everywhere. And no doubt that the local administration would help with that if you have a serious projects.
As for the locals, they are very friendly, the only thing they ask is that you take part in the community (for instance, buy at the local bakery or butcher). In the area I come from, there has been a steady stream of Dutch people buying secondary houses for the last 20 years. They all enjoy it, and are very welcome.
Yes, there is a language barrier, but this can definitely be overcome with good will from both sides (I've seen it in action).
See my other comment in the thread: I totally relate to what you wrote - we moved to a very rural place almost 2 years ago and are very happy with this!
Or you could buy a nice building in downtown Detroit and create a startup village for roughly the same price. Enough space people could live in the building and just take the elevator to their office. Maybe something similar to this one:
It would be interesting to see a Kickstarter project devoted to this. It would need to get big fast (Friday deadline to submit an offer), and would need both the $440,000 minimum to purchase the village and ample money on top of that for renovation. It might be a hard sell for people who have no desire or ability to relocate to the village, but I am sure smarter folk than I could think of some sort of angle to generate attention to the project. Perhaps?
And what would you offer to Kickstarter supporters? A week for free in a dead village? A brick from the 13th century church ?
If people left the place there's a clear reason for that. Money is not going to bring back interest in a long-dead location. Unless you make it like a new Las Vegas.
I've been to that part of France often (my mother lived about an hour outside of Limoges). It's very beautiful. Long straight tree lined roads, sleepy little villages, fields full of sunflowers. Limoges is a good sized town with a small airport (LIG) with flights to the UK and other locations several times a day.
As for a startup haven? Stranger things have happened.
So now they will describe it as home to 'hackers, thieves, ravers and squatters' :-)
If you go to Berlin, you'll discover many hackers are both also ravers and squatters. If you go to a security conference, you'll find many that are thieves.
I'm sure the people hanging out there are fine. :-)
Why would you set up this hacker haven there if you can do the same thing in a cheap but paradisiac country like Thailand or the Philippines for the same cost?
As a dad, I am personally very happy to pay taxes in exchange for the overall infrastructure (schools, hospitals, roads, doctors, health insurance etc) and (edit) food :) (although I really dig thai food).
I will probably move half-time to such a place though, once my kids have left school :)
This reminds me of what I saw recently about Detroit in the US. A number of houses there are up for sale at ridiculously low prices such as 500 dollars or less. When people leave, the land and property basically loses all value.
The $500 houses in Detroit are a bit of a scam. You get the deed to the place and then you get hit with the property taxes. Those places are empty for a reason.
[+] [-] wisty|14 years ago|reply
If you love restoring old buildings, knock yourself out; but otherwise I'd be very careful. Check what the impact of heritage laws is.
[+] [-] ekianjo|14 years ago|reply
Definitely not a place to build a startup. That's one of the reasons there are no high profile startups in France: there's way too many obstacles, most french people who are serious about creating one usually leave the country.
Edit: oh, and I forgot that, in France, making money on your own, is very badly regarded. You would be assumed to be rich and evil, by default. (I am not inventing anything. Just check french forums/newspapers whenever there are economic news).
[+] [-] Gmo|14 years ago|reply
As a matter of fact, I was thinking of just that the other day, coming back in my village in a couple of years and try to start a hackers/startup/"IT" hub ... (maybe just starting with a hackathon or something similar).
You could wonder who would be interested ? And how the locals would react ?
Well, first, you have to imagine being in the countryside, being able to take a bike, roam in the woods, go on the river ... Then there is complete silence (like, really really silent). And of course, the food.
There's also a plan (although I think it's partially on hold right now) to have fiber everywhere. And no doubt that the local administration would help with that if you have a serious projects.
As for the locals, they are very friendly, the only thing they ask is that you take part in the community (for instance, buy at the local bakery or butcher). In the area I come from, there has been a steady stream of Dutch people buying secondary houses for the last 20 years. They all enjoy it, and are very welcome.
Yes, there is a language barrier, but this can definitely be overcome with good will from both sides (I've seen it in action).
Anyway, just a thought ...
[+] [-] thibaut_barrere|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] rmason|14 years ago|reply
http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/17455927/40-Hague-Detroit-MI/
Detroit already has the Madison building which is filling with VC's and their portfolio companies.
http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news/local/detroit-madison-t...
[+] [-] joshes|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ekianjo|14 years ago|reply
If people left the place there's a clear reason for that. Money is not going to bring back interest in a long-dead location. Unless you make it like a new Las Vegas.
[+] [-] thibaut_barrere|14 years ago|reply
We are 2 couples of hackers/entrepreneurs located here:
http://bit.ly/zZLmrH (google maps link)
What we like about here:
- cheap yet nice houses compared to the rest of France (with gardens, woods, swimming-pools)
- well balanced climate (sunny on summer but not too hot, comfortable in winter usually)
- plenty of good food and quality restaurants
- Paris is not too far if needed (although I work almost 100% remotely)
- sea is not too far
We're not alone: I came across more and more entrepreneurs who are moving to rural areas to enjoy good quality life.
[+] [-] Gmo|14 years ago|reply
May I ask you if you did grow up in the area ? Or in a similar area ?
My point is, for someone that grew up in a (big) city, it might not be easy to adapt
[+] [-] schwa|14 years ago|reply
As for a startup haven? Stranger things have happened.
[+] [-] untog|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] vidarh|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] munin|14 years ago|reply
somehow I think making it a hacker haven won't do anything to endear you with the locals ...
[+] [-] derrida|14 years ago|reply
If you go to Berlin, you'll discover many hackers are both also ravers and squatters. If you go to a security conference, you'll find many that are thieves.
I'm sure the people hanging out there are fine. :-)
[+] [-] ekianjo|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] aymeric|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] thibaut_barrere|14 years ago|reply
As a dad, I am personally very happy to pay taxes in exchange for the overall infrastructure (schools, hospitals, roads, doctors, health insurance etc) and (edit) food :) (although I really dig thai food).
I will probably move half-time to such a place though, once my kids have left school :)
[+] [-] anmol|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ekianjo|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] notatoad|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Luyt|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jvrossb|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] NonEUCitizen|14 years ago|reply
http://www.consulfrance-washington.org/spip.php?article519
[+] [-] Breefield|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|14 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] semisight|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] sebkomianos|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jscore|14 years ago|reply