rocket internet has turned the usual business model for tech startups on its head creditgordon welters for the new york timesfeb 27 2014berlin for linio think amazon for mexicans for zalora think zappos for malaysians for easy taxi think uber for nigeriansand for all of them think rocket internet a budding tech empire here in germanys capitalfrom its lowkey offices near the center of the city rocket internet has turned the usual business model for technology companies on its head compiling a team of highflying finance and management specialists and arming them with the money they need to mimic already successful internet companies applying these proven ideas in other countries often in emerging marketssince starting in 2007 rocket has backed about 75 startups in more than 50 countries that now generate more than 3 billion in annual revenue and employ about 25000 peoplethe business model stands in sharp contrast with the ethos that dominates silicon valley where originality is perceived as the main currency for successful startups it also has raised questions over whether europes tech sector where rocket is a major player can ever foster the same level of innovation that has led to a conveyor belt of successful american tech giants like oracle google and facebookstill rocket internet balks at criticism that it is purely a copycat machine it says all successful business ideas are somewhat borrowed from others and the ability to take proven tech ideas to emerging markets is a skill unto itself the small tech startups that rocket supports are often given as little as six months to succeed or face being shut downif theres a clear business model that is proven to work we will look at it said oliver samwer 41 one of three brothers who started rocket internet and who travels almost constantly to visit the companys global portfolio of tech startups every new company is like a speedboat and we want them to become aircraft carrierswithin the global tech community rocket internet and the startups it incubates are known for aggressively expanding into new markets and squeezing out local rivals zalando a german copy of the american ecommerce firm zappos has spread to 15 european countries since starting in 2008 and reported a 52 percent rise in its sales to 24 billion last year rocket internet recently sold its remaining stake in zalando which is valued at around 5 billion to the swedish investment company kinnevik one of rockets main investors though the samwer brothers retain a stake through their own investment firmother rocketbacked ecommerce startups including the latin american ecommerce site dafiti and its russian counterpart lamoda also have secured large market shares in some of the worlds fastestgrowing developing economies to succeed they have had to tweak their business models for emerging markets that involves offering cashondelivery services where few consumers have credit cards and running large fleets of delivery trucks where local logistics and infrastructure remain basicthe rapid expansion has fueled speculation that some of the tech firms