Unpopular opinion: If you want to build something truly ambitious, location still matters

Recently, I traveled a lot around the world as an entrepreneur, and I realized something uncomfortable:

If you want to build something truly ambitious and scalable, operating from Western countries still gives you a massive advantage.

I’m not talking about freelancers or solopreneurs who want to build a small service business and enjoy the sun and cocktails after work. That’s a perfectly valid choice.

I’m talking about founders who want to leverage talent, capital, infrastructure, and speed.

We tend to underestimate the value of being born or operating in Western countries nowadays. Yes, there is a lot to criticize and improve, no system is perfect, but the legacy you inherit is invaluable.

When a founder operates with a team, efficiency matters. You don’t have time to constantly deal with:

• people not being punctual (and it being “normal”)
• deadlines not being respected (and it being “okay”)
• feedback not being taken seriously
• lack of accuracy and accountability

In many Southern countries, people are raised in environments where predictability is not a priority. A predictable environment with fewer frictions and fewer surprises is something many people in Western cultures take for granted.

As a founder, you end up wasting an enormous amount of energy on things that are not core to your business.

The hardest part is this:

Some people accept this as “part of the culture” and don’t want to improve it, because changing it feels like betraying their identity and you are the one told you’re taking things too seriously.

I know this is a sensitive topic, and I’m not trying to generalize or stigmatize anyone.

But as a founder, you don’t have the luxury of failing because of things that have nothing to do with your product, your market, or your execution.