“You don't have to be big to do great things,” I once heard an entrepreneur say. And he was right. Silicon Valley is the perfect example.

Covering an area of only 1,800 square miles, the Silicon Valley region is home to some of the largest and fastest-growing companies of our time. Companies like Google, eBay, and of course Apple. Which leads to the intriguing question of how? How did this region become the birthplace of so many successful startups? What is its secret? And what lessons can we draw from Silicon Valley's success?

These are questions that not only I, but also businesses, entrepreneurs, and governments all over the world are trying to answer. In this book, Dutch professors Peter Ester and Arne Maas unravel the mystery of Silicon Valley, showing us what is needed to foster a productive environment for startups ‒ and what should be avoided. They offer insights we will take to heart.

Since 2014, we have been developing our own Silicon Valley in the Netherlands, the ‘StartupDelta’. The Netherlands has a lot to offer budding startups: hightech knowledge, an innovative mindset, and a large dose of enterprising spirit. More and more Dutch people, most of them young, are taking the risk of starting their own business. That's a sound basis. This book shows us the importance of combining the passion of young entrepreneurs with practical elements like adequate financing, excellent education, and a good network.

And that is exactly what we are doing with the Dutch StartupDelta. This initiative brings together public administrators, scientists, investors, and entrepreneurs around a shared goal: making the Netherlands an ideal location for startups, where young entrepreneurs with futuristic ideas can turn their dreams into reality. It is fantastic to see what a stimulating effect this is having. Today the Dutch startup ecosystem ranks fourth in Europe. And for us, of course, the sky is the limit.

As Steve Jobs once said: “Great things are never done by one person, they’re done by a team of people.” This book is both a guide and a source of inspiration. So let us continue working together to make the Dutch StartupDelta a great success.