&gt; Funding gaps remain larger in Europe than in the US.<p>Well, of course. Engineers in the US take home five-figure sums each month, which explains why there are so many startups largely funded by ex-Google&#x2F;Apple&#x2F;MS&#x2F;FB employees.<p>In Germany, wages are so low, and taxes and rent so high, that you have to be either fucking good or fucking rich via inheritance to save enough money for your own startup.<p>Not to mention that failure is expected and financed in the US startup culture, whereas in Europe you can&#x27;t even get a small loan without putting your car&#x2F;house&#x2F;... as collateral, and you will get shunned for failure. Therefore, many capable people (have to) choose not to enter the start-up world.