Comments on: Is South Africa not good enough for Vinny Lingham? http://nicharalambous.com/2007/11/20/is-south-africa-not-good-enough-for-vinny-lingham/ Thoughts on things Thu, 29 Mar 2012 10:07:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: nh [dot] com » Blog Archive » I was wrong about Vinny Lingham http://nicharalambous.com/2007/11/20/is-south-africa-not-good-enough-for-vinny-lingham/comment-page-1/#comment-10318 nh [dot] com » Blog Archive » I was wrong about Vinny Lingham Wed, 18 Feb 2009 06:39:07 +0000 http://nicharalambous.com/2007/11/20/is-south-africa-not-good-enough-for-vinny-lingham/#comment-10318 [...] 2007 I wrote a blog post about Vinny Lingham abondoning South Africa in a tough time, taking his money and running. I was [...] [...] 2007 I wrote a blog post about Vinny Lingham abondoning South Africa in a tough time, taking his money and running. I was [...]

]]> By: Mark Allewell http://nicharalambous.com/2007/11/20/is-south-africa-not-good-enough-for-vinny-lingham/comment-page-1/#comment-9565 Mark Allewell Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:57:29 +0000 http://nicharalambous.com/2007/11/20/is-south-africa-not-good-enough-for-vinny-lingham/#comment-9565 I know that this post went out along time ago, but wanted to put in my two cents. I started a company called Tourism radio in 2005 and was also bought out by a VC in Switzerland. As an entrepreneur in SA, life is tough. I personally dont believe that it lacks in skill, as all of our techie design was done in conjunction with UCT. Its easy to personalise the issue of moving overseas and "leaving" SA, but I dont think that anybody can begrudge somebody for starting a business, getting a great investment and wanting to further expand their business, be it in SA, USA or Kenya. The core issue here is the inhability of the local government to help start ups. The Shuttleworth foundation is a joke when it comes to local investment. I know, I tried. They told me that my business had no global value and wasnt worth their time. Well three years later we are in five countries, have partnerships with some of the biggest car hire companies in the world and employ a large amount of people. Take the money Vinny, expand your business and come back to SA when you feel its right to invest in the local economy. Mark Allewell I know that this post went out along time ago, but wanted to put in my two cents. I started a company called Tourism radio in 2005 and was also bought out by a VC in Switzerland. As an entrepreneur in SA, life is tough. I personally dont believe that it lacks in skill, as all of our techie design was done in conjunction with UCT. Its easy to personalise the issue of moving overseas and “leaving” SA, but I dont think that anybody can begrudge somebody for starting a business, getting a great investment and wanting to further expand their business, be it in SA, USA or Kenya. The core issue here is the inhability of the local government to help start ups. The Shuttleworth foundation is a joke when it comes to local investment. I know, I tried. They told me that my business had no global value and wasnt worth their time. Well three years later we are in five countries, have partnerships with some of the biggest car hire companies in the world and employ a large amount of people. Take the money Vinny, expand your business and come back to SA when you feel its right to invest in the local economy.

Mark Allewell

]]> By: Mobile Marketing SA » Blog Archive » Do web marketers have it all wrong? http://nicharalambous.com/2007/11/20/is-south-africa-not-good-enough-for-vinny-lingham/comment-page-1/#comment-8320 Mobile Marketing SA » Blog Archive » Do web marketers have it all wrong? Mon, 26 May 2008 14:15:55 +0000 http://nicharalambous.com/2007/11/20/is-south-africa-not-good-enough-for-vinny-lingham/#comment-8320 [...] wonder Vinny Lingham doesn’t think Afrigator is worth investing in. It’s not because of a poorly built platform, it’s simply because there is no critical user [...] [...] wonder Vinny Lingham doesn’t think Afrigator is worth investing in. It’s not because of a poorly built platform, it’s simply because there is no critical user [...]

]]> By: Richard Catto http://nicharalambous.com/2007/11/20/is-south-africa-not-good-enough-for-vinny-lingham/comment-page-1/#comment-8157 Richard Catto Fri, 16 May 2008 15:14:00 +0000 http://nicharalambous.com/2007/11/20/is-south-africa-not-good-enough-for-vinny-lingham/#comment-8157 Ha ha. Actually, I'm just trying to piss Nic off. Ha ha. Actually, I’m just trying to piss Nic off.

]]> By: Henk Kleynhans http://nicharalambous.com/2007/11/20/is-south-africa-not-good-enough-for-vinny-lingham/comment-page-1/#comment-8156 Henk Kleynhans Fri, 16 May 2008 14:58:58 +0000 http://nicharalambous.com/2007/11/20/is-south-africa-not-good-enough-for-vinny-lingham/#comment-8156 Richard, watch out, I might just throw you with a rock... Richard, watch out, I might just throw you with a rock…

]]> By: Richard Catto http://nicharalambous.com/2007/11/20/is-south-africa-not-good-enough-for-vinny-lingham/comment-page-1/#comment-8153 Richard Catto Fri, 16 May 2008 11:54:37 +0000 http://nicharalambous.com/2007/11/20/is-south-africa-not-good-enough-for-vinny-lingham/#comment-8153 I stand by my no-Boers comment. I stand by my no-Boers comment.

]]> By: Justin Hartman http://nicharalambous.com/2007/11/20/is-south-africa-not-good-enough-for-vinny-lingham/comment-page-1/#comment-8150 Justin Hartman Fri, 16 May 2008 11:43:44 +0000 http://nicharalambous.com/2007/11/20/is-south-africa-not-good-enough-for-vinny-lingham/#comment-8150 Nice comments Jono and thanks for your support on our venture. That was a fascinating stat on the web developers in Silicone Valley. Nice comments Jono and thanks for your support on our venture. That was a fascinating stat on the web developers in Silicone Valley.

]]> By: Jono http://nicharalambous.com/2007/11/20/is-south-africa-not-good-enough-for-vinny-lingham/comment-page-1/#comment-8146 Jono Fri, 16 May 2008 11:29:46 +0000 http://nicharalambous.com/2007/11/20/is-south-africa-not-good-enough-for-vinny-lingham/#comment-8146 keep up the debate's nic, it's healthy to keep our local minds active and make this country a better place in all senses! great job mate! keep up the debate’s nic, it’s healthy to keep our local minds active and make this country a better place in all senses!

great job mate!

]]> By: Jono http://nicharalambous.com/2007/11/20/is-south-africa-not-good-enough-for-vinny-lingham/comment-page-1/#comment-8145 Jono Fri, 16 May 2008 11:25:26 +0000 http://nicharalambous.com/2007/11/20/is-south-africa-not-good-enough-for-vinny-lingham/#comment-8145 Hi Nic! Personally I do not agree on your post made and the statements within. I'm personally a very good friend of Vinny and I met up with him the week before he left. Let me give you a little insight into this move and why I believe that your post was made without having the knowledge of this kind of thing. Let's take Synthasite for instance... you say that the company in inskerts should have been kept local and an international move is an example of Vinny turning his back on the local market. Synthasite would be a waste of great technology if it was kept to a local current. The type of technology and the target market they are after is not something that can just be achieved by willpower from a South-African base. lets all be realistical here, I support the South-African market to the fullest as ths will be my life for at least the next 5 years, but synthasite needs the Silicon Valley backend. The type of people, investors and marketers that San Jose, Sillicon valley produces is the exact essence that will make Synthasite a success. keeping it local was like telling me someone should start a brick manufacturing company in Cape Town and only sell it to Australia. The US has over 9 million web designers/developers alone! South-Africa does not even have that many people that are able to access the internet, not even to mention that we only have just over a Million (in April 2008) broadband users. Sillicon Valley isnt the all and everything of an online venture, but unfortunately in his line of workings, it is huge! it provides him access and the required gateway to a global market which South-Africa could never offer to (take note) a venture start up like Synthasite! Vinny has not turned his back on the Local market. Regarding Afrigator... Vinny is a very knowledgable oke and I fully respect his judgement. It's not the potential ROI that made him not invest, but he obviously does not have the same outlook on the potential of afrigator even in a local market. To say that he "needs" to invest in them just because he needs to prove to a public audience that he "supports" the SA market is ignorant! he loves this country, but he has made a career move like many South-Africans and I feel we all should respect that and wish him all the best. Sitting behind your PC's and Laptops blogging and commenting about how Vinny should manage his company and career is just sad! There is no way to build his market without market leaders... i agree, but it's time someone else steps to the plate! Vinny has played a massive influence on our market, but he also has a career and dreams and he is not a Mother Teresa, but he sure as hell knows what his doing! There is a couple of awesome start ups that has and is launching at current stage and i think this market is at the forefront of big things to come! Afrigator... i support you guys all the way, well done thus far and keep on rolling baby! Those kids down in Cape Town that is starting MyTrade.co.za, keep up the damn good work, you guys are sure to be upcoming market leaders and Top innovators in South-Africa! The market needs that youth and determination that you guys have shown! all of the best for your Alpha launch next month, sure most of us here are routing for you guys to succeed!!! Regard, Jono Duncun Hi Nic!

Personally I do not agree on your post made and the statements within. I’m personally a very good friend of Vinny and I met up with him the week before he left.

Let me give you a little insight into this move and why I believe that your post was made without having the knowledge of this kind of thing.

Let’s take Synthasite for instance… you say that the company in inskerts should have been kept local and an international move is an example of Vinny turning his back on the local market.

Synthasite would be a waste of great technology if it was kept to a local current. The type of technology and the target market they are after is not something that can just be achieved by willpower from a South-African base.

lets all be realistical here, I support the South-African market to the fullest as ths will be my life for at least the next 5 years, but synthasite needs the Silicon Valley backend.

The type of people, investors and marketers that San Jose, Sillicon valley produces is the exact essence that will make Synthasite a success. keeping it local was like telling me someone should start a brick manufacturing company in Cape Town and only sell it to Australia.

The US has over 9 million web designers/developers alone! South-Africa does not even have that many people that are able to access the internet, not even to mention that we only have just over a Million (in April 2008) broadband users.

Sillicon Valley isnt the all and everything of an online venture, but unfortunately in his line of workings, it is huge! it provides him access and the required gateway to a global market which South-Africa could never offer to (take note) a venture start up like Synthasite!

Vinny has not turned his back on the Local market. Regarding Afrigator… Vinny is a very knowledgable oke and I fully respect his judgement. It’s not the potential ROI that made him not invest, but he obviously does not have the same outlook on the potential of afrigator even in a local market.

To say that he “needs” to invest in them just because he needs to prove to a public audience that he “supports” the SA market is ignorant! he loves this country, but he has made a career move like many South-Africans and I feel we all should respect that and wish him all the best.

Sitting behind your PC’s and Laptops blogging and commenting about how Vinny should manage his company and career is just sad! There is no way to build his market without market leaders… i agree, but it’s time someone else steps to the plate!

Vinny has played a massive influence on our market, but he also has a career and dreams and he is not a Mother Teresa, but he sure as hell knows what his doing!

There is a couple of awesome start ups that has and is launching at current stage and i think this market is at the forefront of big things to come!

Afrigator… i support you guys all the way, well done thus far and keep on rolling baby!

Those kids down in Cape Town that is starting MyTrade.co.za, keep up the damn good work, you guys are sure to be upcoming market leaders and Top innovators in South-Africa! The market needs that youth and determination that you guys have shown! all of the best for your Alpha launch next month, sure most of us here are routing for you guys to succeed!!!

Regard,
Jono Duncun

]]> By: Sean http://nicharalambous.com/2007/11/20/is-south-africa-not-good-enough-for-vinny-lingham/comment-page-1/#comment-5459 Sean Tue, 04 Mar 2008 09:57:31 +0000 http://nicharalambous.com/2007/11/20/is-south-africa-not-good-enough-for-vinny-lingham/#comment-5459 Great post and intelligent comments to the people who are intelligent and mature about this subject. But then along comes Catto. Richard Catto is an old white guy in desperate need of a good shag. He constantly trawls the web leaving comments like this in order to get a reaction and to get visitors to his website. I have seen this trick plenty of times by him. Richard, hits on your website don't necessarily mean that you are an intelligent writer, nor an interesting or popular person. Popular people who are controversial are people like Tom Eaton, Ben Trovato and Gareth Cliff(When he writes) They are intelligent and witty and actually do care about this country, believe it or not. Nice post Nic Great post and intelligent comments to the people who are intelligent and mature about this subject. But then along comes Catto.

Richard Catto is an old white guy in desperate need of a good shag. He constantly trawls the web leaving comments like this in order to get a reaction and to get visitors to his website. I have seen this trick plenty of times by him.

Richard, hits on your website don’t necessarily mean that you are an intelligent writer, nor an interesting or popular person. Popular people who are controversial are people like Tom Eaton, Ben Trovato and Gareth Cliff(When he writes) They are intelligent and witty and actually do care about this country, believe it or not.

Nice post Nic

]]>