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You'd also think that LA would be up there.

mdorazio 7y ago
I've been thinking that for the 13 years I've lived in LA, and somehow the city still completely sucks at tech. Silicon Beach is basically a joke in comparison to any actual tech hub - the salaries suck, the companies are largely exactly what you'd expect from LA cliches (marketing, fashion, sports, entertainment, etc.), and the success stories are few and far between. These days it seems like there's more going on in Irvine than there is in LA. (If you don't believe me, just look at HN's "Who's Hiring" posts.) Part of the problem is probably that LA is so close to the Bay Area - it's easy for tech talent to move up the coast or even semi-commute there instead of building a new hub.
- Teknoman117 7y ago
  I work at the Orange County office of a fairly sizable Bay Area company, and to be honest, I've not had an incredible amount of desire to move to the bay because the OC salary is basically the same (maybe better) after factoring in the difference in cost of living. That and in OC I can live 5 miles / 10 minutes from the office whereas I don't know how far/long I'd have to commute to live in the Bay. Admittedly, I don't know what the OC startup scene is like, I've got student loans that can't be paid with equity...
- bryanmgreen 7y ago
  As a native and current Angelino, if the city wants to grow tech, it needs capital. We don't have the businesses, can't keep talent, and cost of living is too high to survive without a good salary. Irvine, despite being an excruciatingly boring cookie-cutter place, is slightly cheaper to live and has the Silicon Valley overflow offices. A lot of talent starts in LA, but it gets immediately poached by literally every other city. If you don't have a Hollywood tech job, it's grim. I really want to stay, but can see a realistic/near future where I leave. (But I'm not going back to Irvine ever again)
  - mdorazio 7y ago
    Right there with you - it seems like capital could flow the 300 miles south without much problem, but for whatever reason it just doesn't (I suspect it's at least partially related to the types of startups and founders in LA). Irvine is ok if you're a family-oriented corporate person, but for young tech talent it's the most soul-sucking Stepford Wives place this side of Plano, TX. In my case, I ended up just not working in LA itself for half the time I've lived here. I've spent at least as much time working in the Bay Area, Austin, Seattle, Irvine, and now Portland as I have working in LA because the companies and compensation are just so much better elsewhere.
dv_dt 7y ago
Their city region labels are odd. The paper is behind a paywall, but it seems like San Diego & Ventura Co should be added to LA, and Tuscon should be added to Phoenix/Mesa. Maybe they're there already, but it feels like not from their choice of labels (not sure what high tech is in Riverside)
- gumby 7y ago
  I believe they are using census areas, which are constructed by looking at population and then how they connect (e.g. do a reasonably % of people commute within this region, etc).
- jjeaff 7y ago
  Ventura County, maybe, but Sam Diego is hours away from most of LA.
  - dv_dt 7y ago
    From Long beach you can get to San Diego as fast as San Fernando and Riverside.

I've been thinking that for the 13 years I've lived in LA, and somehow the city still completely sucks at tech. Silicon Beach is basically a joke in comparison to any actual tech hub - the salaries suck, the companies are largely exactly what you'd expect from LA cliches (marketing, fashion, sports, entertainment, etc.), and the success stories are few and far between. These days it seems like there's more going on in Irvine than there is in LA. (If you don't believe me, just look at HN's "Who's Hiring" posts.) Part of the problem is probably that LA is so close to the Bay Area - it's easy for tech talent to move up the coast or even semi-commute there instead of building a new hub.

Teknoman117 7y ago
I work at the Orange County office of a fairly sizable Bay Area company, and to be honest, I've not had an incredible amount of desire to move to the bay because the OC salary is basically the same (maybe better) after factoring in the difference in cost of living. That and in OC I can live 5 miles / 10 minutes from the office whereas I don't know how far/long I'd have to commute to live in the Bay. Admittedly, I don't know what the OC startup scene is like, I've got student loans that can't be paid with equity...
bryanmgreen 7y ago
As a native and current Angelino, if the city wants to grow tech, it needs capital. We don't have the businesses, can't keep talent, and cost of living is too high to survive without a good salary. Irvine, despite being an excruciatingly boring cookie-cutter place, is slightly cheaper to live and has the Silicon Valley overflow offices. A lot of talent starts in LA, but it gets immediately poached by literally every other city. If you don't have a Hollywood tech job, it's grim. I really want to stay, but can see a realistic/near future where I leave. (But I'm not going back to Irvine ever again)
- mdorazio 7y ago
  Right there with you - it seems like capital could flow the 300 miles south without much problem, but for whatever reason it just doesn't (I suspect it's at least partially related to the types of startups and founders in LA). Irvine is ok if you're a family-oriented corporate person, but for young tech talent it's the most soul-sucking Stepford Wives place this side of Plano, TX. In my case, I ended up just not working in LA itself for half the time I've lived here. I've spent at least as much time working in the Bay Area, Austin, Seattle, Irvine, and now Portland as I have working in LA because the companies and compensation are just so much better elsewhere.

dv_dt 7y ago

Their city region labels are odd. The paper is behind a paywall, but it seems like San Diego & Ventura Co should be added to LA, and Tuscon should be added to Phoenix/Mesa. Maybe they're there already, but it feels like not from their choice of labels (not sure what high tech is in Riverside)

gumby 7y ago
I believe they are using census areas, which are constructed by looking at population and then how they connect (e.g. do a reasonably % of people commute within this region, etc).
jjeaff 7y ago
Ventura County, maybe, but Sam Diego is hours away from most of LA.
- dv_dt 7y ago
  From Long beach you can get to San Diego as fast as San Fernando and Riverside.