It depends; If you are trying to start a new industry, you'd like your competitors more, because they validate the market. My university lecturer told me in the

It depends; If you are trying to start a new industry, you'd like your competitors more, because they validate the market. My university lecturer told me in the 90's (or 80's) he was starting a bottled water company; Back then no one drinks bottled water. Every month or so the half dozen bottle water company startups in Australia have a meet up; and they were all friends. Hmm, sounds familiar...