Is Silicon Valley The Place To Be?
June 6th, 2008 | Categories: launch, markets, off topic, strategy, trends, web issuesIn February, a spat between Michael Arrington of TechCrunch and Glenn Kelman of Redfin re-ignited the age-old debate of whether it is better to launch a start-up in Silicon Valley or whether physical location matters in the Internet age.
There are obvious arguments to be made for both sides. The biggest argument for re-location to Silicon Valley revolves around raising capital. Top-notch networking and superior human resources also play a huge role in this decision. Lifestyle seems to be the biggest argument against re-location to the Valley. Many believe that success on the Internet space can be accomplished anywhere given the right set of circumstances.
I have to admit that I don’t favour any side in particular, although I would side with Silicon Valley if I had to choose. I enjoy my lifestyle, but I understand what it takes to succeed. Often times, this means making sacrifices. My situation (single with no children) lends itself well for such a transition. For others, it simply isn’t possible - especially if borders need to be crossed.
A nice alternative to a flat-out move may be frequent trips to the Valley. This is by no means a substitute, but it could at least provide some of the networking and financial benefits that the Bay area has become known for.
The advent of the Internet has destroyed physical barriers and created a global communication network. That in mind, Silicon Valley continues to reign as the tech hub of the world. Will this persist or will location soon cease to matter?
Tags: financing, glenn kelman, human resources, launch, lifestyle, location, michael arrington, networking, redfin, silicon valley, start-up, techcrunch
June 17th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
As we were somewhat discussing over the phone today, Victoria is a small melting pot for creative start ups, yet it will grow in time. Many creative tech companies thrive in the Bay area, I think due in part to the level of support and is relative to the amount of tech companies in the Valley. The Internet has a global market base, there will always be room for growth elsewhere. I think having a tech community that is truly supportive as a whole, no matter what the location, will find its own way up the ladder of success and living in a unique location only adds to its originality!
June 23rd, 2008 at 3:55 pm
i agree that if you have a good idea and solid business plan and the right people in place, you can succeed anywhere in the world.
The key comes down to the age-old adage of:
1) Working hard
2) Actually having a good idea
3) Being a little lucky