Silicon Valley can be created anywhere: Vinod Khosla

Silicon Valley: Observing that Silicon Valley is not so much a place as a state of mind, Indian- American billionaire venture capitalist Vinod Khosla believes   it can be created anywhere by out of the box thinking. "Silicon Valley is not so much a place as a state of   mind. It's a way of doing things that can be done anywhere.   The reason it is hard to do that outside the Silicon Valley is   because all the re-enforcement you get outside of Silicon Valley is from the people who do not understand the Silicon   Valley mindset," said Khosla.  

"To replicate what's done in the (Silicon) Valley, and I   believe truly, it can be done anywhere; you have to select your circle of mentors, advisors, conversations differently,"   Khosla said in a rare interaction with the visiting group of 27 Indian startup executives who are currently on a week-long   trip to the US sponsored by NASSCOM. Sharing his personal experience, Khosla said he is never  afraid of failing and never embarrassed of failing."

My willingness to fail most likely gives me the   ability to succeed," he said.  "Most entrepreneurs, good entrepreneurs are just not   afraid to fail," he said, adding that the ability to think  outside the box is the Silicon Valley mindset.   When asked why are big companies like Google and  Facebook  not coming up in India, he said this is because  people are trying to do reasonable things. "Only entrepreneurs who are unrealistic and naive actually attempt unreasonable things," Khosla said.  

"You do not change the world by doing ordinary things or   reasonable things. They have already been attempted," Khosla   said.  Noting that the initial team of any start up is key to   the success, Khosla said, he has seldom seen entrepreneurs   from India paying enough attention to the people they hire initially.  "That's the reason why, many (Indian entrepreneurs)   are successful, but not hugely successful, because they  haven't built the tool to expand," he said.  Khosla advised Indian entrepreneurs to be close to their  market and not just move to the Silicon Valley just for the sake of it. He also advised them to keep the startup attitude   as long as they can.