TheAntipodean | 13 years ago | on: Driving students into science is a fool's errand
TheAntipodean's comments
TheAntipodean | 13 years ago | on: Come here and work on hard problems – except the ones on our doorstep
[1] Hardly the best of sources but you can dig deeper if you wish: http://www.japan-press.co.jp/modules/news/index.php?id=2443
[2] https://www.google.com/search?q=us+forces+japan+rape&rlz...
TheAntipodean | 13 years ago | on: Aaron Greenspan sues Facebook, Sequoia, Andreesen, YC, others
TheAntipodean | 13 years ago | on: Aaron Greenspan sues Facebook, Sequoia, Andreesen, YC, others
Round two!
TheAntipodean | 13 years ago | on: Aaron Greenspan sues Facebook, Sequoia, Andreesen, YC, others
TheAntipodean | 13 years ago | on: Aaron Greenspan sues Facebook, Sequoia, Andreesen, YC, others
[1] Third sentence: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitcoin
TheAntipodean | 13 years ago | on: Ask HN: Founders, what would you tell yourself at 15?
Thought you'd like to know not everyone is downvoting you ;)
TheAntipodean | 13 years ago | on: Ask HN: Is anyone making money from garbage?
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/dial-a-dump-sydneys-30... (The Telegraph is hardly Australia's best paper but for the purposes of answering your question I'd say it suffices).
I believe he deals mainly in industrial waste. Google his name (Ian Malouf) to get a fuller picture of his business practices.
TheAntipodean | 13 years ago | on: Ask HN: What's with the downvoting to oblivion?
I'd be proud of that achievement were I you.
TheAntipodean | 13 years ago | on: Ask HN: Is college for everyone?
This might not be the case in the future but it is a reality in the present.
Of course if you are successful in your company and have large sums of money at your disposal investment of $1 million or so in your destination country should get you a work visa, degree or no degree.
TheAntipodean | 13 years ago | on: Ask HN: What project are you currently working on?
I've often thought/day-dreamed about such an idea. Not just for a start-up but for a big well established company. If everything was open how would it affect their business dealings etcetera.
I imagine going into negotiations where the opposing party has watched your board of director meetings, looked at your profit margins and ascertained all manner of information pertinent to the negotiations and completely owning the negotiations.
I'd like to think this volatility/risk would occur only in the initial stages and in the long run it would lead to a powerful new business structure. Idealism isn't always reality however.
Given start-ups are fragile taking on this extra risk could be the death pill. How do you propose to deal with these issues if/when they arise?
TheAntipodean | 13 years ago | on: Ask HN: know any Japan-based startups?
There are many start-up companies over there across all industries. There isn't really a clique/community like there seems to be in San Fran, Sydney (my home town) etc. Founders just start up out of opportunity and need.
There are also open desk places for start-ups. A lot of that seems to be mainly occupied by creative design companies. In saying that I think you'll find most start-ups are not tech based.
If you'd like to know more shoot through some specific questions and I'll see if I can help you or even introduce you to the appropriate people.
--
I seem to not have answered your question with the above.
If you are eligible for a work visa get it before heading over. A common way to get a work visa if your two countries don't have a working holiday visa agreement is to apply for an English teaching role in your home country and then when you enter the country use that work visa to springboard into another job (note: this normally means you have to teach English for several months which can be hell if you don't like that sort of thing).
Already having a job ready for you when you arrive is the best way but highly unlikely a start-up is going to go through the process of sponsorship for your visa.
If you have 100K to spare you can go over there establish your own company and then sponsor yourself. You can then pay yourself an annual salary of 100K and get that money back. Little bit dodgy but within the law. At least the way I did it was!
Expect to get 200,000-300,000yen/month for a real beginning of the journey start-up company. If it already has a steady and growing revenue stream then you can probably negotiate higher.
If you are open to one-step-above-a-backpacker's-hostel living arrangements I suggest you get a room with SakuraHouse (if you plan to stay in Tokyo -- also advised if you want to work in a start-up). As it is cheap and easy to cancel the contract. Once you get a feel for the place then look to set up more permanent digs. Also look through the classifieds on www.metropolis.co.jp which is a local rag for foreigners living in Tokyo (you probably want to do the whole complete Japanese immersion thing but finding a Japanese sharehouse will be more difficult than a foreign sharehouse).
Winter is feezing, Summer is humid. Be prepared!
It is an amazing place.
TheAntipodean | 13 years ago | on: Ask HN: What to know before traveling around the world?
I'm sure the main point is go when the staff have some downtime and the business is a social business. I can't remember where it was but I've gone to a cafe for a tea and ended up playing backgammon with some old guys. Many countries seem to have a strong cafe culture where old men sit around playing board games (Middle East and Central America; chess and backgammon).
Best of luck. If you find it hard to socialise now I am sure after travelling for a while you will be much more comfortable with it.
TheAntipodean | 13 years ago | on: Ask HN: What to know before traveling around the world?
It is a great way for meeting people and having a great time. I've used it many times. Last week I was in the pacific for work and by night's end was invited to a BBQ for the next day. It turned out to be a great BBQ and a unique insight into the lifestyle of the island.
When I visited Paris I made friends with the local bartender and was receiving free drinks by nights end and invites left, right and centre to join people on little adventures.
TheAntipodean | 13 years ago | on: Ask HN: Is innovative hardware basically dead?
TheAntipodean | 13 years ago | on: First Picture of an Atom's Shadow
As far as I understand all matter is made of atoms so at the atomic level there wouldn't really be matter (wall, ground etc.) for the shadow to be cast on.
Amazing nonetheless.
TheAntipodean | 13 years ago | on: Estonia becomes the first to open a nationwide electric vehicle charging network
Mitsubishi needs to purchase these credits to stay within regulatory requirements pertaining to emittance of CO2 probably in the EU. Given that Mitsubishi is a large manufacturer they probably produce above their alloted quota of CO2 and therefore must purchase credits from someone/some organization (in this case Estonia) that does not use their full quota.
Estonia is using the income from this agreement to fund the fast-charging network.
This is all educated speculation as to its meaning. Apologies for no links to references to back up my understanding. I am sure a quick search will provide more information.