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I'm suspicious of the claim that there can be more than one silicon valley. With founders being more mobile and VC in... shrinkage (less willing to take risks s
by s_baar 18y ago
I'm suspicious of the claim that there can be more than one silicon valley. With founders being more mobile and VC in... shrinkage (less willing to take risks setting up in new markets), the likelihood of any such concerted effort being possible is nil. After all, you're not going to get anyone outside the organizers to move from the valley in significant numbers, so I think the prospects for natural growth is limited.
I suppose what you say is true, but I don't see any reason to think such a transplant would ever outstrip the size/clout of the valley. And that's what it comes down to, is that with the big players already entrenched, and the weather so nice, no city will come close, even if the transplants do prove a boon.
- pg 18y agoI agree with you. I just wanted to consider what would be the optimal way to jumpstart a competitor. The chance of any city actually carrying out the plan I suggested is microscopic. Which is itself an interesting point, because it shows how unlikely the Valley is to face significant competition in the foreseeable future.
- alain94040 18y agoGreat article. But the fallacy in the comments is that most thought about domestic competitors only. As an example, the French community in Silicon Valley has been wondering for years how to get Paris (or some other city) to start resembling Silicon Valley more. Many French politicians visit for a week and always ask that same question. There could be a critical mass of French people living in Silicon Valley who would love to spend more time in Paris to advise and help the local startup scene, plus some political will to make something happen. Plus some rich American angels would love some special angel visa that would allow them to skip the lines at le Louvre :-) But this plan doesn't address the general lack of positive thinking in Paris. As we (the French living here) often conclude, there is a reason we moved out...
- listic 18y agoSure! Being non-American I read this essay this way too: Can you buy a Silicon Valley if you're not in US? There's little friction in moving to Silicon Valley if you're in the US, but much if you're outside of US.
- pg 18y agoI did actually mean the essay to apply to all cities, not just those in the US.