Having spent a good bit of time on the east coast, CA and AZ, I tell you that I would start-up in AZ in a heartbeat compared to New England (where I spent my ti

Having spent a good bit of time on the east coast, CA and AZ, I tell you that I would start-up in AZ in a heartbeat compared to New England (where I spent my time) or CA. Why? Many factors, but the largest are these: cost of living. As someone moves beyond the 20-25 year old living in squalor trying to bootstrap their (1st, 2nd...5th) dream company, you simply can't live to any real standard in either NY or CA (I know, I've tried). In AZ I could buy a nice home in a nice area with access to REALLY nice facilities. In AZ I have access to ASU and UoA, both of which I recruited out of heavily. There are some really gifted people that come out of there. I've also got access to 9 months of perfect weather followed by 3 months of not-as-bad-as-everyone-says weather. I've also got natural beauty all around. There are people that say the talent pool isn't there, and I won't object that the size isn't the same as in CA or NY. Though, I would argue that if you are doing it right in AZ, you can get the top tier people rather easily...and cheaply compared to CA. The only advantage CA and NY have over AZ is access to money via VCs, and even that is changing. However, I do not argue that most VCs want to be able to keep their eyes on their money and have the companies within shouting distance...though I would contend that the need for money is changing and as people realize this, AZ is going to become and even more attractive destination.