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Having moved from Des Moines to San Francisco, I can say with confidence that Iowa has its upsides. A flourishing community of startup founders, hilariously low

Having moved from Des Moines to San Francisco, I can say with confidence that Iowa has its upsides. A flourishing community of startup founders, hilariously low rents (my perfectly nice studio ran for < $500/mo.), a culture of honesty and selflessness, and - shockingly - no lack of things to do. Even the music scene isn't half bad. Lack of diversity is a serious problem; most people in Des Moines were born there. From a startup perspective, there's also not much of an investor ecosystem, and some companies struggle to find local funding. It's a smaller and more homogenous city, with everything that entails.

yitchelle 12y ago
It is interesting that not more satellite areas around SF are rising centres of startups. Even Sacramento, which is quite near, does not seem to much activity. Anyone know why?
- moron4hire 12y ago
  This is just a guess, but perhaps there is a perception that, being so close, why not just move the rest of the way to SF?
  - lostcolony 12y ago
    While being so far that travel to SF is really inconvenient. Sacramento is not really being compared as "near enough to SF to count", but rather "A city in the US that is not SF", and thus is being compared against every other city that falls into that category. Being close enough that an hour and a half drive (assuming no traffic) and the expensive parking necessary to visit SF may be a point in its favor, but I'd imagine not a tremendous one.
  - briandear 12y ago
    Ever looked at the cost difference between Sacramento and San Fran? That's your reason.
- deleted 12y ago
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- Touche 12y ago
  It's more interesting that physical location matters at all in 2014.
  - yitchelle 12y ago
    I don't think we, as humans, will ever work fully remotely. I know companies like 37signals and others have been successful in this working model, but personally, I must have some human contact with the person I have been working with. I would imagine that the majority of humans would also have the same attitude. Humans are social creatures and we have an emotional need to connect. I can clearly see this as I contrast this human need when I compare my wife's needs and my needs. I am borderline Asperger's and my need to connect is not as high as that of my wife. Although this observation is in a family environment, I don't think it is too dissimilar in an office environment. So from the perspective of connection, physical location matters.
    - davidw 12y ago
      Also, random spontaneous interactions happen more when there are more 'particles' bouncing around. That's part of the point of this book: http://davids-book-reviews.blogspot.it/2012/10/the-new-geography-of-jobs.html http://davids-book-reviews.blogspot.it/2012/10/the-new-geogr... That said, I did my time in the Bay Area, got out, and I'm happy to see people doing more in all kinds of places.
- r0m4n0 12y ago
  I know everyone can boast their own city but I have found Sacramento to be the perfect combination of low cost, central location, and atmosphere. Within 2 miles from downtown, a 1 bedroom flat for $800 in a bike friendly midtown. I've been a part of the startup community for the past few years and have witnessed the buzz. With large campuses for Intel, HP, Oracle in the suburb areas there is a large pool of talent that I grew up around and occupy the area. Recruiters and VC make regular appearances at collaborative work spaces and maker labs in the area. Honestly, when I see these articles I'm a bit baffled. why would you move to Reno to save a couple hundred a month on rent?
davidw 12y ago
> most people in Des Moines were born there The opening bit of this book talks about that: http://www.billbryson.co.uk/index.php/the-lost-continent/#exract http://www.billbryson.co.uk/index.php/the-lost-continent/#ex... (click on extract to read) "I come from Des Moines. Somebody had to. When you come from Des Moines you either accept the fact without question and settle down with a local girl named Bobbi and get a job at the Firestone factory and live there for ever and ever, or you spend your adolescence moaning at length about what a dump it is and how you can’t wait to get out, and then you settle down with a local girl named Bobbi and get a job at the Firestone factory and live there for ever and ever."
- jondthompson 12y ago
  It's great that this has changed in the 25 years since he wrote this, and even longer since he lived it. I live in Des Moines. I choose to. There are many people intent on improving Des Moines. It's easy to get in touch with the people that have the political and economic ability to drive that change. Zach is an example of this.
  - davidw 12y ago
    Bryson actually has a number of kind things to say about Iowa; that's the first bit of the book, and it's probably written to hook you. I think overall it's a pretty funny and interesting read about his travels throughout the US, although yes, it's been in print a while. As a native of Oregon, I'm still a bit bitter that he skipped the Pacific Northwest entirely, though.
    - jondthompson 12y ago
      I get that. However, I was responding the quote that has been used multiple times to describe Des Moines, which is from an experience that ended before I was born.

yitchelle 12y ago

It is interesting that not more satellite areas around SF are rising centres of startups. Even Sacramento, which is quite near, does not seem to much activity. Anyone know why?

moron4hire 12y ago
This is just a guess, but perhaps there is a perception that, being so close, why not just move the rest of the way to SF?
- lostcolony 12y ago
  While being so far that travel to SF is really inconvenient. Sacramento is not really being compared as "near enough to SF to count", but rather "A city in the US that is not SF", and thus is being compared against every other city that falls into that category. Being close enough that an hour and a half drive (assuming no traffic) and the expensive parking necessary to visit SF may be a point in its favor, but I'd imagine not a tremendous one.
- briandear 12y ago
  Ever looked at the cost difference between Sacramento and San Fran? That's your reason.
deleted 12y ago
[deleted]
Touche 12y ago
It's more interesting that physical location matters at all in 2014.
- yitchelle 12y ago
  I don't think we, as humans, will ever work fully remotely. I know companies like 37signals and others have been successful in this working model, but personally, I must have some human contact with the person I have been working with. I would imagine that the majority of humans would also have the same attitude. Humans are social creatures and we have an emotional need to connect. I can clearly see this as I contrast this human need when I compare my wife's needs and my needs. I am borderline Asperger's and my need to connect is not as high as that of my wife. Although this observation is in a family environment, I don't think it is too dissimilar in an office environment. So from the perspective of connection, physical location matters.
  - davidw 12y ago
    Also, random spontaneous interactions happen more when there are more 'particles' bouncing around. That's part of the point of this book: http://davids-book-reviews.blogspot.it/2012/10/the-new-geography-of-jobs.html http://davids-book-reviews.blogspot.it/2012/10/the-new-geogr... That said, I did my time in the Bay Area, got out, and I'm happy to see people doing more in all kinds of places.
r0m4n0 12y ago
I know everyone can boast their own city but I have found Sacramento to be the perfect combination of low cost, central location, and atmosphere. Within 2 miles from downtown, a 1 bedroom flat for $800 in a bike friendly midtown. I've been a part of the startup community for the past few years and have witnessed the buzz. With large campuses for Intel, HP, Oracle in the suburb areas there is a large pool of talent that I grew up around and occupy the area. Recruiters and VC make regular appearances at collaborative work spaces and maker labs in the area. Honestly, when I see these articles I'm a bit baffled. why would you move to Reno to save a couple hundred a month on rent?

davidw 12y ago

> most people in Des Moines were born there The opening bit of this book talks about that: http://www.billbryson.co.uk/index.php/the-lost-continent/#exract http://www.billbryson.co.uk/index.php/the-lost-continent/#ex... (click on extract to read) "I come from Des Moines. Somebody had to. When you come from Des Moines you either accept the fact without question and settle down with a local girl named Bobbi and get a job at the Firestone factory and live there for ever and ever, or you spend your adolescence moaning at length about what a dump it is and how you can’t wait to get out, and then you settle down with a local girl named Bobbi and get a job at the Firestone factory and live there for ever and ever."

jondthompson 12y ago
It's great that this has changed in the 25 years since he wrote this, and even longer since he lived it. I live in Des Moines. I choose to. There are many people intent on improving Des Moines. It's easy to get in touch with the people that have the political and economic ability to drive that change. Zach is an example of this.
- davidw 12y ago
  Bryson actually has a number of kind things to say about Iowa; that's the first bit of the book, and it's probably written to hook you. I think overall it's a pretty funny and interesting read about his travels throughout the US, although yes, it's been in print a while. As a native of Oregon, I'm still a bit bitter that he skipped the Pacific Northwest entirely, though.
  - jondthompson 12y ago
    I get that. However, I was responding the quote that has been used multiple times to describe Des Moines, which is from an experience that ended before I was born.