Founders of Billpoint, Inc. (not sure how successful it's been), Achievo Corporation, and Israel-based FraudSciences Corporation (which appears to have been bought by PayPal) talk about what it's like to start a company and take it global.

Chen says about his leap to go global:

"You look out over the cliff, and it's exhilarating. It looks like a lot of fun. But sometimes you want to jump off," Chen said with a laugh.

It's not quite like that. Every experience is different. But doing a little homework helps immensely to reduce risks and the fear factor. That's why we created this blog!

Note: After a some cyber-searching, it looks like Billpoint, Inc. was bought by PayPal too!

Again, welcome Wall Street Journal readers -- happy to have you with us!

Here's what Randy Komisar, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers says (2004) about whether to go global right at the start:

According to Komisar, globalization needs to be part of the tool set for every entrepreneur doing a start-up today. This doesn't mean immediately going global, but understanding the global market and having a plan for the future, he adds.

Watch his 3 minute, 19 second video clip about it here.

I don't necessarily agree with his remarks but let's give him the benefit of any doubt. After all, this video was done in 2004. A lot has changed since then.

If you are smart, innovative, proactive and know how to manage risk -- you can attack markets in far off places right at the start of your business. Of course, it helps to begin planning early.