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It doesn't matter the distance. The fact is that LA is cannot compare to the Silicon Valley. See PG's posts on the topic http://www.paulgraham.com/startuphubs.h

It doesn't matter the distance. The fact is that LA is cannot compare to the Silicon Valley. See PG's posts on the topic http://www.paulgraham.com/startuphubs.html http://www.paulgraham.com/startuphubs.html and http://paulgraham.com/hubs.html http://paulgraham.com/hubs.html

untog 15y ago
Yes, but it's, what, a six hour drive? Not great, I grant you, but you could work for a few days in LA, then drive to SV, stay for a few days, meet the people you need to meet, then drive back to LA. Once things start happening you can make a permanent move. I know it sounds like a waste of time, but you're going to lose a hell of a lot of time dealing with the inconvenience of living in a car.
- kurtvarner 15y ago
  I think you're missing the point. I will be staying in Palo Alto full-time. I won't be commuting to LA very often.
  - untog 15y ago
    No, I understand that is the point. What I am saying is that I think that the benefits of being in Palo Alto full-time and sleeping in a car are minimal (at best) when compared to working in LA and travelling to Palo Alto as needed, until you get set up and on your way. I can understand wanting to be in SV for the networking opportunities and so on. But you can code anywhere, including in your home in LA, and the results will be the same. SV is a fantastic place to create a startup, but it isn't the only place you can ever do it- I'm in NYC and plenty here have no trouble. Presuming that the only reason you haven't been successful is because you haven't got to SV yet is a very dangerous path of thinking.
  - neilk 15y ago
    Parisoma is in SF.
alaskamiller 15y ago
One last comment... you need to stop touting around these essays as if they're canon. This isn't the promise land.
jlarocco 15y ago
It seems like you're doing this for all the wrong reasons and totally missing the point in all the stories where people struggle and eventually become successful. LA is close enough to Silicon Valley that you could fake it pretty easy, without the huge inconvenience of living in a car. Learn a few popular hang outs and meeting places and commute up a few times a week. Schedule meetings and appointments to coincide with the days you drive up. And living in Silicon Valley isn't going to make a bad startup idea any good. Why not start in LA and move to Silicon Valley when you get things off the ground?
jacoblyles 15y ago
It's absolutely worth it to be here, that's for sure. I never would have met my cofounders otherwise. Warning - it took me four months to meet them after I moved here.
neilk 15y ago
Dude, I live here, and I love the connections I make here. Your plan is still ridiculous, unless what you wanted was media attention, in which case, congratulations. Development requires more than just attitude and being in the right location. You need to sleep and eat well. If you are sure you really need to be here, and want to do it on the cheap, then hit Craigslist and get a room in a shared house somewhere in the peninsula.

untog 15y ago

Yes, but it's, what, a six hour drive? Not great, I grant you, but you could work for a few days in LA, then drive to SV, stay for a few days, meet the people you need to meet, then drive back to LA. Once things start happening you can make a permanent move. I know it sounds like a waste of time, but you're going to lose a hell of a lot of time dealing with the inconvenience of living in a car.

kurtvarner 15y ago
I think you're missing the point. I will be staying in Palo Alto full-time. I won't be commuting to LA very often.
- untog 15y ago
  No, I understand that is the point. What I am saying is that I think that the benefits of being in Palo Alto full-time and sleeping in a car are minimal (at best) when compared to working in LA and travelling to Palo Alto as needed, until you get set up and on your way. I can understand wanting to be in SV for the networking opportunities and so on. But you can code anywhere, including in your home in LA, and the results will be the same. SV is a fantastic place to create a startup, but it isn't the only place you can ever do it- I'm in NYC and plenty here have no trouble. Presuming that the only reason you haven't been successful is because you haven't got to SV yet is a very dangerous path of thinking.
- neilk 15y ago
  Parisoma is in SF.

alaskamiller 15y ago

One last comment... you need to stop touting around these essays as if they're canon. This isn't the promise land.

jlarocco 15y ago

It seems like you're doing this for all the wrong reasons and totally missing the point in all the stories where people struggle and eventually become successful. LA is close enough to Silicon Valley that you could fake it pretty easy, without the huge inconvenience of living in a car. Learn a few popular hang outs and meeting places and commute up a few times a week. Schedule meetings and appointments to coincide with the days you drive up. And living in Silicon Valley isn't going to make a bad startup idea any good. Why not start in LA and move to Silicon Valley when you get things off the ground?

jacoblyles 15y ago

It's absolutely worth it to be here, that's for sure. I never would have met my cofounders otherwise. Warning - it took me four months to meet them after I moved here.

neilk 15y ago

Dude, I live here, and I love the connections I make here. Your plan is still ridiculous, unless what you wanted was media attention, in which case, congratulations. Development requires more than just attitude and being in the right location. You need to sleep and eat well. If you are sure you really need to be here, and want to do it on the cheap, then hit Craigslist and get a room in a shared house somewhere in the peninsula.