Ask HN: Startup outside the US
You need to decide for yourself if the hassle in incorporating in the US is worth it and also if there are other reasons for doing so.<p>Like you, I am based outside of the US.  I&#x27;m currently in the UK and yet, I am incorporating in the US.<p>The five reasons for this are :-<p>1) 99% of my customers are there.<p>2) 100% of my vendors are there.<p>3) Potential investors are there.<p>4) 99% of my financial transactions are in dollars.<p>5) My Bank is in the US and no currency conversions eroding profits.<p>Of course, some will say why don&#x27;t I go to London and seek out investment?  I have looked into this:<p>1) The mindset of a UK investor is vastly different than that of a US investor.<p>2) They sum of monies for potential investment is greater for a US investor and so is the level of risk.  The sum of equity is greater for the UK investor.<p>3) The US investor has many more connections than the UK investor.<p>4) The US investor has made many more bets than the UK investor and therefore has much better advice going forward.<p>I could go on...  But there is 0% chance that I will be starting up in the UK.<p>Here&#x27;s what I have found so far:<p>US | YC - $120k in return for 7% of the company&#x27;s equity.<p>London | Bethnal Green Ventures - £15,000 in exchange for 6%.<p>London | Founders Factory - £30k for around 7%.<p>London | IGNITE 100 - £17,000 in return for 8%.<p>London | Oxygen Accelerator - £20,000 for 8%.<p>There&#x27;s probably more, but I doubt you&#x27;ll get to YC levels of funding and influence in London.<p>If someone knows where I could get a better deal on funding, equity and terms.  I&#x27;d love to know!<p>What I am doing, is bootstrapping until I&#x27;m ready to onboard an investor.<p>I can&#x27;t really offer you advise, as I don&#x27;t know your full situation.  But hopefully what I have found offers some insight!