4 ms·

Makes sense to me. If you really want to make it big in fashion, you move to a fashion city. If you want to make it big in music, you probably move to LA, Brook

Makes sense to me. If you really want to make it big in fashion, you move to a fashion city. If you want to make it big in music, you probably move to LA, Brooklyn, or Nashville. Startups are a scene too; you can succeed elsewhere but why make it harder for yourself?

r_singh 8y ago
While your comment makes sense, I think you're underestimating the size of the world outside of YC's circle. It's incorrect to be in the delusion that you have to move to the valley to be a top company, but that depends on the definition of top, which here is valuation and it's hard to beat valuations that the Silicon Valley can afford and help realise because of the ecosystem that's formed over the years. YC is based in the USA, so it's not really a surprise that you'd have to move there to be a top YC company. You can build a top company anywhere in the world, even if your definition is that of valuation, the process remains by and large the same that YC advocates in documents such as the startup playbook and the startup school courses (the parlance may be different in material from different sources), and I believe that it gets easier to build a top company where you are if you make your own definition of top as valuations could be deceiving. You don't necessarily have to move to SV to make a top company by valuation, top YC company: stats suggest yes, but I still believe there's slim chances you could do it from anywhere, YC tries hard to be inclusive, however their location presents them with constraints, hence the stats. To decide where to move in order to build a top company, first understand what is your definition of a top company and whether you really want to disrupt your life, move to the valley, and build what the world calls a top company. PS - No disrespect to valuations, the Silicon Valley or anyone's ideologies.
- sbilstein 8y ago
  I don't think we actually disagree on any of those points. You can definitely build businesses anywhere in the world but people move to scenes to increase their chances of an outsize success. Plenty great bands come from small towns and regional scenes but a disproportionate amount of famous, world-touring bands are based out of Brooklyn or LA and the musicians you might meet there are aiming for that lifestyle. If you define success differently, it's all up for grabs. If you want to build the next Uber, you are giving yourself a bigger shot (and tough competition) by moving to SF. Of course, companies like Mailchimp are massively successful outside of the bubble but there just isn't the same pressure and rising tide in a city like Atlanta than there is in SF. I suspect many people end up in the Bay Area not to risk it all, disrupt their lives and start a company but simply because they got an awesome job at a growing company. Further down the line the scene makes them consider 'maybe I could do this too'. FWIW, I got advice when starting my business to move out of the Bay Area and somewhere way cheaper to extend my runway. I'm glad I didn't because even with smaller monthly expenses I'd lose out on the small network I have and the luck afforded to me simply by being here.
  - r_singh 8y ago
    I never assumed any disagreement; just felt the need to add the following.
- bsder 8y ago
  > To decide where to move in order to build a top company, first understand what is your definition of a top company and whether you really want to disrupt your life, move to the valley, and build what the world calls a top company. Actually I would instead say "Do you want to build a top company fast?" If you are willing to grow organically, nobody cares where you are located. In fact, you are probably better to be located in a decent place that is a little off the beaten path. However, if you want to do the VC dance to "Go big or go home", then you probably need to be in Silicon Valley.

r_singh 8y ago

While your comment makes sense, I think you're underestimating the size of the world outside of YC's circle. It's incorrect to be in the delusion that you have to move to the valley to be a top company, but that depends on the definition of top, which here is valuation and it's hard to beat valuations that the Silicon Valley can afford and help realise because of the ecosystem that's formed over the years. YC is based in the USA, so it's not really a surprise that you'd have to move there to be a top YC company. You can build a top company anywhere in the world, even if your definition is that of valuation, the process remains by and large the same that YC advocates in documents such as the startup playbook and the startup school courses (the parlance may be different in material from different sources), and I believe that it gets easier to build a top company where you are if you make your own definition of top as valuations could be deceiving. You don't necessarily have to move to SV to make a top company by valuation, top YC company: stats suggest yes, but I still believe there's slim chances you could do it from anywhere, YC tries hard to be inclusive, however their location presents them with constraints, hence the stats. To decide where to move in order to build a top company, first understand what is your definition of a top company and whether you really want to disrupt your life, move to the valley, and build what the world calls a top company. PS - No disrespect to valuations, the Silicon Valley or anyone's ideologies.

sbilstein 8y ago
I don't think we actually disagree on any of those points. You can definitely build businesses anywhere in the world but people move to scenes to increase their chances of an outsize success. Plenty great bands come from small towns and regional scenes but a disproportionate amount of famous, world-touring bands are based out of Brooklyn or LA and the musicians you might meet there are aiming for that lifestyle. If you define success differently, it's all up for grabs. If you want to build the next Uber, you are giving yourself a bigger shot (and tough competition) by moving to SF. Of course, companies like Mailchimp are massively successful outside of the bubble but there just isn't the same pressure and rising tide in a city like Atlanta than there is in SF. I suspect many people end up in the Bay Area not to risk it all, disrupt their lives and start a company but simply because they got an awesome job at a growing company. Further down the line the scene makes them consider 'maybe I could do this too'. FWIW, I got advice when starting my business to move out of the Bay Area and somewhere way cheaper to extend my runway. I'm glad I didn't because even with smaller monthly expenses I'd lose out on the small network I have and the luck afforded to me simply by being here.
- r_singh 8y ago
  I never assumed any disagreement; just felt the need to add the following.
bsder 8y ago
> To decide where to move in order to build a top company, first understand what is your definition of a top company and whether you really want to disrupt your life, move to the valley, and build what the world calls a top company. Actually I would instead say "Do you want to build a top company fast?" If you are willing to grow organically, nobody cares where you are located. In fact, you are probably better to be located in a decent place that is a little off the beaten path. However, if you want to do the VC dance to "Go big or go home", then you probably need to be in Silicon Valley.