New | 'Don't rely on government' tech industry veteran Walt Mossberg tells Hong Kong start-ups
Mossberg, who has been reporting on tech for over two decades and has interviewed everyone from Steve Jobs to Elon Musk, thinks local start-ups can create a good environment for growth themselves.
Start-ups in Hong Kong should work to build an environment in which they can grow, rather than wait for the government to do it for them, according to longtime tech reporter Walt Mossberg.
Responding to a question from the South China Morning Post about what needs to be done to make Hong Kong a more fertile place for start-ups and innovative businesses, Mossberg said that founders and entrepreneurs needed to take the responsibility on themselves.
"It's a gigantic mistake to assume the government will do it for you," he said.
"If you look at examples [of successful start-ups] in the US, do you think those guys waited around for the government to create some special economic zone for them or open some shared workspace?"
While the government can help a great deal, Mossberg advised against companies dragging their heels waiting for the perfect environment.
"You have to make this a place where smart engineers and designers want to stay [or move to]," he said.