3 ms·

What is "the substance" of the Valley? (legitimately curious, please don't take my question wrong)

• nradov 10y ago
  Multiple high-quality research universities in close proximity, coupled with abundant government funding to prime the pump, good climate, and state law which generally prohibits employee non-compete contracts.
• gumby 10y ago
  nradov nailed some of it -- cultural stuff which is hard to replicate. In addition there's a dense web of lawyers who understand startups (which are different from established companies and different from, say, a retail store or simple service business), landlords who can deal with renting to a tenant that might not be around in a year, lots of possible employees who are comfortable with something interesting but quite risky and who bring their own experiences and networks into the effort, and in general a really large tolerance for risk. There's a lot of visible froth about the valley available in the press, most of which is useless bull. Folks are starting companies, getting funded, and shipping product to customers without bothering to make a single press mention or crunchbase entry. Many of them working with folks they've worked with before. None of that culture is visible from outside the valley.
  • deleted 10y ago
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