As part of a survey, the German publication Computerwoche has called for a change in Germany’s IT Startup culture. Ideas are certainly not the issue here as there are more patent registrations in Germany than in the USA. What else then could it be? Commentators point out the risk adverse nature of the German business culture and this is certainly something that EI Germany have noticed when discussing innovative Irish companies with German buyers. Another very strong factor is the role families play in influencing the career choices of their children. A big fat offer from Siemens compared to the hard existence of a start up is not much competition.

Somewhat like Ireland, the reputation of business failure is not something that sits well with the Germans. In this context, we are certainly closer to Berlin than Boston! On the people side, it is felt that Germans make good nerds but not good start up entrepreneurs. That is very easy to say but Germans certainly do not do a good enough job of marketing themselves and leveraging the “Made in Germany” brand.

So what does this mean for Ireland? Firstly, we should be pretty proud of our entrepreneurial spirit. According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, the rate entrepreneurs in 2008 were starting businesses in Ireland (4.3%) was well above the EU average and close to the US rate (5%). For countries like Germany, it will take generations to “manufacture” this spirit and no lean processes can accelerate this.

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