8 ms·

The only reason to start a tech company in CA was the proximity to talent and capital. I always found it funny that supposedly cutting edge high tech VC’s wante

The only reason to start a tech company in CA was the proximity to talent and capital. I always found it funny that supposedly cutting edge high tech VC’s wanted you nearby when we had all the tools to base anywhere in the world. Seemed like they were unnecessarily limiting deal potential. Same thing with engineers. Now that remote work has accelerated into the mainstream, there is zero reason to base in CA, and many reasons to go elsewhere. Also, the CA of today is very different from the one that cradled the computing industry.

johnebgd 5y ago
CA still has large and growing industries that could be great clients. I agree there is zero reason to focus on engineering talent in CA but depending on your company it might make a lot of sense to build with a sales team in CA.
imnotreallynew 5y ago
Do others also feel this way? I moved to San Francisco a few years ago with the sole goal of starting a tech company. The “cushiness” of my well paid day job has made me a bit lazy in that regard, but it’s still the goal. However, I’ve become extremely disenchanted with the city and state, so the idea that tech startup == San Francisco is the only thing keeping me here.
- BobbyJo 5y ago
  You likely want connections that you can only develop there, but once you actually start, VCs don't care where you, just who you are and who can vouch for you.
- blacktriangle 5y ago
  FWIW I'm working on a tech startup far away from SF, so it's possible. However we're arguably not a startup since we're not really engineered for hypergrowth as much as slowly and methodically building a self-funded, profitable product company. As such issues like raising funding and hiring quickly are not things we're concerned with, which might be why we're doing fine outside of SF. When we do hire it's 100% remote so our location isn't hurting us in that regard. We feel like this is the best choice for our company as we retain 100% ownership and can focus on a straightforward business model of selling people a product that solves their problem at a fair price. Arguably the possible upside would be higher if we tried to go the VC route and get huge fast, but then the potential downside goes up as well. This way we're working ourselves into what amount to incredibly high paying jobs while also owning the asset that is the company.
ramesh31 5y ago
>I always found it funny that supposedly cutting edge high tech VC’s wanted you nearby when we had all the tools to base anywhere in the world. There really was something special about the time and place of San Francisco from the late 2000s up to 2020. The energy that place had was like nothing else I've ever experienced. You can absolutely make great software fully remote. But there's something to be said for being immersed in a culture of likeminded individuals and going to events all over the city every night to share thoughts with them. I'm eternally grateful for having spent the beginning of my career in that environment.
- chbloss 5y ago
  Do you think that environment will come back at some point? I think it is powerful to immerse yourself in such an environment and I would like to have that experience at some point in my career.
  - joelbondurant 5y ago
    Absolutely not ever.
  - ghaff 5y ago
    I haven't been to CA for a couple years at this point. There's still a lot of tech industry there. I assume that, for better or worse, the Bay Area goes back to tech being at the center of many things--which as I suggest is good or bad depending if you want all tech all the time or not.
- pavlov 5y ago
  > ”being immersed in a culture of likeminded individuals and going to events all over the city every night to share thoughts with them” This would be my nightmare. I do genuinely love tech and startups, but talking shop with strangers quickly feels hollow. At conferences I was always looking to escape by the end of first day lunch and maybe go to a local museum instead.
  - ghaff 5y ago
gremloni 5y ago
I disagree. California even ignoring the jobs is a fantastic place to live. The culture, people, food and arts, nature/beaches/forests, diversity and weather is something I have not been able to find anywhere else in the world. That’s not even taking into account the extremely high pay, meeting of the minds and country level GDP engine.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- 0des 5y ago
  I counter-disagree :) I hope you don't mind. Here is why: It's a fun place and the weather is amazing, however I wouldn't call it diverse (diversity of thought as well) and I wouldn't say the pay is high because of the high cost of living.
  - gremloni 5y ago
    I mean diversity of races in addition to diversity of thought :) High cost of living only really applies in a very specific area.
    - 0des 5y ago
      Thank you for the counter reply, I'd also disagree with diversity of races comment, but I will step back as I don't think counting people by color is fruitful labor. I'm only replying based on personal experience being all over different parts of the state over the years.
      - gremloni 5y ago
        Counting people of color individually in any given setting, probably not. Organically living and working with a diversity of races is something I cherish and would hate to live without.
      - stone-monkey 5y ago
        Very surprised that you feel this way after traveling throughout the state. Honestly, it blows my mind that places like Vallejo, Bakersfield, and Placerville are all part of the same state compared to places like the Bay Area and Socal. They don't feel remotely the same to me.
GeorgeTirebiter 5y ago
The greater valley (valley+bay+SF) is still the best place in the world to start your high-tech startup. The talent, resources, and infrastructure are here. The mentors are here. And the general 'work like hell to produce MVP' ethic is also here. Until other population centers duplicate all of these, the valley will remain The Place for Tech Innovation.

johnebgd 5y ago

CA still has large and growing industries that could be great clients. I agree there is zero reason to focus on engineering talent in CA but depending on your company it might make a lot of sense to build with a sales team in CA.

imnotreallynew 5y ago

Do others also feel this way? I moved to San Francisco a few years ago with the sole goal of starting a tech company. The “cushiness” of my well paid day job has made me a bit lazy in that regard, but it’s still the goal. However, I’ve become extremely disenchanted with the city and state, so the idea that tech startup == San Francisco is the only thing keeping me here.

BobbyJo 5y ago
You likely want connections that you can only develop there, but once you actually start, VCs don't care where you, just who you are and who can vouch for you.
blacktriangle 5y ago
FWIW I'm working on a tech startup far away from SF, so it's possible. However we're arguably not a startup since we're not really engineered for hypergrowth as much as slowly and methodically building a self-funded, profitable product company. As such issues like raising funding and hiring quickly are not things we're concerned with, which might be why we're doing fine outside of SF. When we do hire it's 100% remote so our location isn't hurting us in that regard. We feel like this is the best choice for our company as we retain 100% ownership and can focus on a straightforward business model of selling people a product that solves their problem at a fair price. Arguably the possible upside would be higher if we tried to go the VC route and get huge fast, but then the potential downside goes up as well. This way we're working ourselves into what amount to incredibly high paying jobs while also owning the asset that is the company.

ramesh31 5y ago

>I always found it funny that supposedly cutting edge high tech VC’s wanted you nearby when we had all the tools to base anywhere in the world. There really was something special about the time and place of San Francisco from the late 2000s up to 2020. The energy that place had was like nothing else I've ever experienced. You can absolutely make great software fully remote. But there's something to be said for being immersed in a culture of likeminded individuals and going to events all over the city every night to share thoughts with them. I'm eternally grateful for having spent the beginning of my career in that environment.

chbloss 5y ago
Do you think that environment will come back at some point? I think it is powerful to immerse yourself in such an environment and I would like to have that experience at some point in my career.
- joelbondurant 5y ago
  Absolutely not ever.
- ghaff 5y ago
  I haven't been to CA for a couple years at this point. There's still a lot of tech industry there. I assume that, for better or worse, the Bay Area goes back to tech being at the center of many things--which as I suggest is good or bad depending if you want all tech all the time or not.
pavlov 5y ago
> ”being immersed in a culture of likeminded individuals and going to events all over the city every night to share thoughts with them” This would be my nightmare. I do genuinely love tech and startups, but talking shop with strangers quickly feels hollow. At conferences I was always looking to escape by the end of first day lunch and maybe go to a local museum instead.
- ghaff 5y ago

gremloni 5y ago

I disagree. California even ignoring the jobs is a fantastic place to live. The culture, people, food and arts, nature/beaches/forests, diversity and weather is something I have not been able to find anywhere else in the world. That’s not even taking into account the extremely high pay, meeting of the minds and country level GDP engine.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
0des 5y ago
I counter-disagree :) I hope you don't mind. Here is why: It's a fun place and the weather is amazing, however I wouldn't call it diverse (diversity of thought as well) and I wouldn't say the pay is high because of the high cost of living.
- gremloni 5y ago
  I mean diversity of races in addition to diversity of thought :) High cost of living only really applies in a very specific area.
  - 0des 5y ago
    Thank you for the counter reply, I'd also disagree with diversity of races comment, but I will step back as I don't think counting people by color is fruitful labor. I'm only replying based on personal experience being all over different parts of the state over the years.
    - gremloni 5y ago
      Counting people of color individually in any given setting, probably not. Organically living and working with a diversity of races is something I cherish and would hate to live without.
    - stone-monkey 5y ago
      Very surprised that you feel this way after traveling throughout the state. Honestly, it blows my mind that places like Vallejo, Bakersfield, and Placerville are all part of the same state compared to places like the Bay Area and Socal. They don't feel remotely the same to me.

GeorgeTirebiter 5y ago

The greater valley (valley+bay+SF) is still the best place in the world to start your high-tech startup. The talent, resources, and infrastructure are here. The mentors are here. And the general 'work like hell to produce MVP' ethic is also here. Until other population centers duplicate all of these, the valley will remain The Place for Tech Innovation.