Eric Westervelt

The next Silicon Valley? Berlin startups catching up

Eric Westervelt — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 22:23:50 +0000

California's Silicon Valley remains by far the dominant arena for high-tech startups and venture capitalists looking to back innovative projects.

But Europe is starting to make its mark on the startup scene. London, Paris and Berlin are starting to hold their own as more and more European startups look to compete on the global stage and attract investors.

A 'Crazy Green Field' For Creative Types

Sometimes it seems like the entrepreneurial spirit of young Berliners is confined to slacker hipsters selling used clothes to each other.

The secret to Germany's low youth unemployment; answers for Washington?

Eric Westervelt — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:47:46 +0000

For as long as he can remember, German teenager Robin Dittmar has been obsessed with airplanes. As a little boy, the sound of a plane overhead would send him into the backyard to peer into the sky. Toys had to have wings. Even today, Dittmar sees his car as a kind of ersatz Boeing.

"I've got the number 747 as the number plate of my car. I'm really in love with this airplane," the 18-year-old says.

Facing Deadlock, Libyan Rebels Struggle To Regroup

Eric Westervelt — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 11:00:00 +0000
In key Libyan cities, anti-government rebels have been unable so far to dislodge forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi, despite help from airstrikes and a no-fly zone from the Western coalition.