3 ms·

It's not wrong, a LOT of tech companies have opened up support offices in Texas. The inexplicable thing is why engineering stays in SV.

root_axis 8y ago
That's like asking why banking stays on Wallstreet. It's because that's where the biggest and most influential firms are headquartered.
- jldugger 8y ago
  I think it's a fair question though. Obviously talent is tough enough to recruit that you don't tell engineers they're relocating and expect to keep them. But you can choose to build offices outside one very influential city: - Google bought the Port Authority building, which is like 2 empire state buildings in terms of office space. They have plenty of engineers working there: https://www.wired.com/2010/12/google-nyc/ https://www.wired.com/2010/12/google-nyc/ This year they bought the building next door: https://www.blog.google/inside-google/company-announcements/furthering-our-new-york-investment/ https://www.blog.google/inside-google/company-announcements/... - Apple has a large campus in Austin: http://fortune.com/2016/09/01/apple-austin-campus/ http://fortune.com/2016/09/01/apple-austin-campus/ - Amazon's obviously diversifying "HQ" locations The question is why companies hiring engineers by the thousands every year keep pushing to open more offices in the valley. Why is it ideal to shift HR and accounting away from the west coast but keep engineering local?
eloisant 8y ago
Because that's where the money is. VC are in SV and they want founders/CEOs close by. And founders/CEO want their engineers close by. But honestly even if you really need your headquarters in SV (for VC money, network, saying you're a "Silicon Valley company", etc) your best bet is to open offices in other locations to hire engineers. Not only they can have a better standard of living even if you pay them less, but you will have less competition to hire and retain engineers.
notfromhere 8y ago
VCs are lazy and dont like traveling more than an hour

root_axis 8y ago

That's like asking why banking stays on Wallstreet. It's because that's where the biggest and most influential firms are headquartered.

jldugger 8y ago
I think it's a fair question though. Obviously talent is tough enough to recruit that you don't tell engineers they're relocating and expect to keep them. But you can choose to build offices outside one very influential city: - Google bought the Port Authority building, which is like 2 empire state buildings in terms of office space. They have plenty of engineers working there: https://www.wired.com/2010/12/google-nyc/ https://www.wired.com/2010/12/google-nyc/ This year they bought the building next door: https://www.blog.google/inside-google/company-announcements/furthering-our-new-york-investment/ https://www.blog.google/inside-google/company-announcements/... - Apple has a large campus in Austin: http://fortune.com/2016/09/01/apple-austin-campus/ http://fortune.com/2016/09/01/apple-austin-campus/ - Amazon's obviously diversifying "HQ" locations The question is why companies hiring engineers by the thousands every year keep pushing to open more offices in the valley. Why is it ideal to shift HR and accounting away from the west coast but keep engineering local?

eloisant 8y ago

Because that's where the money is. VC are in SV and they want founders/CEOs close by. And founders/CEO want their engineers close by. But honestly even if you really need your headquarters in SV (for VC money, network, saying you're a "Silicon Valley company", etc) your best bet is to open offices in other locations to hire engineers. Not only they can have a better standard of living even if you pay them less, but you will have less competition to hire and retain engineers.

notfromhere 8y ago

VCs are lazy and dont like traveling more than an hour