Belgium and the US: a mutual introduction
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The document provides an overview of iText Group NV, highlighting its structure, milestones, and global presence, particularly in the USA and Belgium. It features insights from company CEO Bruno Lowagie, discusses market positioning, and reflects on cultural differences between American and Belgian business practices. Additionally, it mentions various honors received by the company and its efforts to support Belgian startups in the USA.
Belgium and the US: a mutual introduction
- 1. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction1 Las Vegas, Welcome sign, NV
- 2. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction2 Who is Bruno Lowagie? Original developer of iText Author: “iText in Action” (Manning Publications) CEO iText Group Castle Rock State Park, CA
- 3. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction3
- 4. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Company Structure Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction4 Shareholders: - Ingeborg Willaert (50%) - Bruno Lowagie (50%) °2008 Belgium: ISG iText Group NV IP, TM, Development Marketing °2015 Singapore: ISA iText Software Asia Pte. Ltd. Sales Asia/Pacific °2011 Belgium: ISB iText Software BVBA Sales EMEA °2009 USA: ISC iText Software Corp. Sales US/Americas Board of Directors: - Peter Camps (chairman) - Ingeborg Willaert - Bruno Lowagie Advisory board: - Bernard Slede - Mark De Visser
- 5. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction5 BelCham: Most promising company 2014 Tribeca Rooftop, New York, NY
- 6. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction6 Fastest growing Technology company 2014 Brussels, Belgium
- 7. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction7 Finalist Stevies 2015 Sint-Amandsberg, Belgium
- 8. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Why did UCLL ask me as a speaker? Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction8 To the US or not to the US, that’s not the question!
- 9. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA #1: Where is your market? Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction9
- 10. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA #1 Where is your market? Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction10 Site sessions 2014 Downloads 2014 (SourceForge Java version only)
- 11. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction11 #2 Where do you want to start? Westrozebeke, Belgium
- 12. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction12 #3 Where do startups get advantages? Kinepolis Ghent, Belgium
- 13. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA #3 Where do startups get advantages? Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction13
- 14. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA #3 Where do startups get advantages? Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction14 Don’t say hashtag! Say waffle!
- 15. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction15 #4 Where do you get funding? Sandhill Road, Menlo Park, CA
- 16. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction16 #5 Where do you plan your exit? Plug and Play Tech Center, Sunnyvale, CA
- 17. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction17 iText: How it all started… Java One, San Francisco, CA
- 18. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction18 First Open Source Release: 2000 Adobe Headquarters, San Jose, CA
- 19. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction19 First book: 2006 Digital Guru Technical Bookshop, Sunnyvale, CA
- 20. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction20 First IP Review: 2007 JRA Law, San Francisco, CA
- 21. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction21 First substantial revenue: 2009 Golden Gate Park Aquarium, San Francisco, CA
- 22. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction22 First visit to the US: 2010 Union Square, San Francisco, CA
- 23. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction23 WARNING: Stereotyping ahead Toll booths, Bay Area, CA
- 24. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction24 Horum omnium fortissimi sunt Belgae iText Summit 2012, Ghent, Belgium
- 25. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction25 Who has the best beer? Blue Smoke on the road, JFK airport New York, NY
- 26. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction26 Americans brew beer too! Devil’s Canyon Brewery, San Carlos, CA
- 27. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction27 And they have excellent wine Europeans tend to emphasize achievements from the past: they have a whole lot of history. Americans live very much in the present, some even in the future. Belgium, what did you achieve lately? Revana Winery, Saint-Helena (Napa Valley), CA
- 28. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction28 Belgium – USA: 2 - 1 World Cup, Brazil
- 29. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction29 Starting a business The Wall Street Bull, New York, NY
- 30. Connecting like-minded professionals and help promising Belgian startups scale up faster and more successfully in the USA.
- 31. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction31 Belgian American Chamber of Commerce - Independent, not-for-profit organization - Founded in 1918 - Headquarters in New York City (USA) - Provides services to individuals, startups and corporations - For and by entrepreneurs - Founded ATELIER incubator and co-working space in 2014 - Offices in New York and Bay Area What does BelCham offer? - Career service - J-1 Visa Program - Referrals & Introductions - Business workshops - Events - ATELIER co-working space
- 32. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction32 Differences USA - Belgium Americans have less rules and it’s OK to think big Europe has plenty of rules and prevents thinking big As for Singapore… Googleplex, Mountain View, CA
- 33. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction33 The idea is not the execution of the idea Oracle, Redwood Shores, CA Adobe Systems, San Jose, CA SAP, Palo Alto, CA
- 34. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction34 Feeling business Guerneville, CA
- 35. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction35 Empoyees in the US and Belgium Plug and Play, Sunnyvale, CA
- 36. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction36 Things need to be convenient 5 of the 11 federal holidays were moved to a Monday by the Uniform Monday Holiday Act (1968) To ensure uniformity throughout the world… Fish without fish bones… Times Square, New York, NY
- 37. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction37 The US: one nation… Every American is an American: most of the Americans I know have lived in at least two different states. Not every European is a European: They’re French, German, Dutch, Irish, Italian, Belgian,… Grand Canyon, AZ
- 38. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction38 Pledge of Allegiance Redwood City, CA
- 39. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction39 What amazes Europeans Americans: it is hard to understand that there are whole countries as small as New York. Belgians: it is hard to understand that there’s a country as big as the US. Manhattan seen from the Empire State Building, NY
- 40. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction40 Years versus house numbers Boston Massacre site, Boston, MA
- 41. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction41 All those different time zones… Europe: everything is so close by, and yet countries are after so far apart… (e.g. Flanders - Wallonia) The US: distances are huge. Everything is so far away and yet so close… Bay Area, CA
- 42. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction42 Deep down, Americans love Europe Castello di Amorosa, Calistoga (Napa Valley), CA
- 43. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction43 But they give it their own twist Safeway, Redwood City, CA
- 44. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction44 And Europe follows Java One, San Francisco, CA
- 45. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction45 Cum Romano Romanus eris Trevi Fountains, Rome, Italy
- 46. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction46 When in America, be American Firewood Grill SFO, San Bruno, CA
- 47. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction47 The food in the US is great! Fish Market, Palo Alto, CA
- 48. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction48 Food culture: some dinner stories Europe: Let’s see if we can trust each other before we start doing business. US: Let’s start doing business to see if we can trust each other. Sam’s Chowder House, Halfmoon Bay, CA
- 49. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction49 Guns are good… Iron Door Saloon, Groveland, CA
- 50. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction50 …subsidies are evil! Bennet Lane Winery, Calistoga (Napa Valley), CA
- 51. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction51 You. Your. Thou. Thy. Digital Detox Social Hike, Los Gatos, CA
- 52. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction52 Go to events and… Community Leadership Summit West, Santa Clara, CA
- 53. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction53 Pitch! Pitch! Pitch! Digital Detox Social Hike, Los Gatos, CA
- 54. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction54 Be a member
- 55. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction55 What’s beneath the surface? Film set “Third person”, Cinecittà, Rome, Italy
- 56. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction56 Friendly versus Blunt Wente’s, Livermore, CA
- 57. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction57 Talking about politics? White House, Washington DC
- 58. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction58 Talking about religion? Washington National Cathedral, Washington DC
- 59. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction59 Talking about sex? Film set “Third person”, Cinecittà, Rome, Italy
- 60. © 2015, iText Group NV, iText Software Corp., iText Software BVBA Belgium and the USA, a mutual introduction60 Montaña de Oro State Park, CA