Thanks for posting, as a foreigner who hit the valley 'green' about 3 years ago all 5 points resonated. Its far too easy to underestimate the pragmatic concerns of dealing with a new culture and its social rituals, and how much time that actually takes away from building your product, enjoying new experiences, with partner or otherwise, and finding the comfortable balance. Simple things like credit lines (they don't exist for foreigners!), drivers licenses, insurance... the real basic things, can be massive pain points that locals will simply not understand.
The fact is, unless you're already hustling American-style, foreigners without established networks and a story ready to tell about their projects are going to sit on the sidelines (in the trough of sorrow) for a very long time. This could be a function of the transient nature of those who call SF their home, and its inherent social liquidity not facilitating deeper social connection... but I do know once you're "in", it's amazing, and doors will open.
[+] [-] feralmoan|13 years ago|reply
The fact is, unless you're already hustling American-style, foreigners without established networks and a story ready to tell about their projects are going to sit on the sidelines (in the trough of sorrow) for a very long time. This could be a function of the transient nature of those who call SF their home, and its inherent social liquidity not facilitating deeper social connection... but I do know once you're "in", it's amazing, and doors will open.
Its hard, but glad to have stuck with it.