Depending on whom you ask, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) free trade agreement between the United States and the European Union is either a huge opportunity for mutual economic growth and cooperation between the world’s most prosperous democracies, or it will only serve to enrich large corporations while degrading working, environmental, and agricultural conditions in both the United States and Europe.
Where's Berlin's Venture Capital?
One of the aspects that makes Silicon Valley, Silicon Valley – ok, maybe THE aspect that makes it what it is, is the huge amount of venture capital that entrepreneurs have access to. In the second quarter of 2014 – the second quarter – venture capital firms invested $7.1 billion in SV startups. Say what you will about possible bubbles, and overheated investment climates, but that number is what makes Silicon Valley the tech world’s equivalent of the Amazon Jungle: a lush, fertile environment that supports an almost unlimited number of creatures.
Berlin’s growing startup scene does not feature quite as much money.
The Face to Face
Face to face meetings with politicians, civil servants, and other political influencers are often the central elements of a public affairs strategy. These meetings, in many cases, are the culmination of a strategy that you and/or your clients have been building for weeks or months.
But before you walk into that meeting - a meeting that can have a crucial effect on your business - I think it's worth laying down a few groundrules that can help you be successful. After all, you've put in all the hard work to schedule the meeting. You want to make the most of the opportunity. Here's how:
