Is Phoenix the Next Silicon Valley? 555
SpicyBrownMustard writes "There's no secret to a rising level of 'Silicon Valley fatigue' lately, and the new reality show certainly isn't helping. And with hacker hostels packing in twenty somethings fueling the 'it's okay to fail' incubator culture that now is actually hurting startups, it's no wonder weariness with the culture is setting in. Forbes.com asks the question: Is Phoenix The Next Silicon Valley? The article covers a startup with a couple names you might know, who picked Phoenix due to its much lower cost of living and different quality of life. The startup's CTO, 'explains that having so much more financial freedom lowers the stress associated with working for a startup, as he can enjoy work/live balance.' Their location certainly didn't hurt fundraising, as they managed $2 million in seed capital. Are we indeed moving on from Silicon Valley for tech startups?"
LOL (Score:5, Insightful)
Phoenix ?!? Has anyone ever been there?
This is pure long-shot PR from someone with real estate interests..
Think of the advantages... (Score:5, Insightful)
You can dispense with wafer ovens altogether... just put your silicon outside in the parking lot...
No. (Score:4, Insightful)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteridge's_Law_of_Headlines
Arizona? No Thanks (Score:4, Insightful)
Is Phoenix The Next Silicon Valley?
Dear God, I hope not. In the current political climate, as an immigrant, I am avoiding Arizona entirely unless it's absolutely required.
No, it isn't. (Score:5, Insightful)
For over a decade people keep saying "X" will be the next Silicon Valley. And they then go on and forget they made such ridiculous predictions and nobody every calls them on it.
FYI The next Silicon Valley continues to be Silicon Valley, as it reinvents itself (and replacing itself with something even more inexplicable the next time.)
So now you know. And you can quote me on it.
Re:LOL (Score:2, Insightful)
Yes, but they didn't return after being seared to a golden brown.
Kansas City should be the next Silicon Valley.
Google Fiber could support it.
Re:Arizona? No Thanks (Score:4, Insightful)
So you have no problem with the laws of the US but a problem with the state of Arizona actually enforcing these laws? Fan-friggin-tastic.
You're missing the point. The fact that Arizona has a cultural image problem with a big hunk of the population is likely to make it more difficult to recruit talent, which is essential to the success or failure of any company, and start-ups in particular. It's hard enough already to lure the top people to your company. Why make it harder? Easier to just locate someplace else. If they like the bed they've made, good for them. The Supreme Court validated the single biggest part of their legislation. But that doesn't mean I, or a lot of the people I hire, suddenly feel like it's a good idea to go live there.
Re:Arizona? No Thanks (Score:4, Insightful)
Despite Joe's antics, he'll get elected again because his politics aren't what most of the voting populous of AZ cares about.
Things like Tent City suck, and we like when our criminals get sent there. We like that he deputizes people to track down deadbeat dads or keep gangbangers out of mall parking lots. We like that he's a mean son of a bitch. We want our stupid kids locked up and put in a chain-gang for the week when they get a drunk driving charge.
We overlook the fact that he panders to the media on the right with birther nonsense, because he's not a position in our government where it matters. [Hint, the MCSO doesn't determine presidential eligibility.]
Re:Only the retarded use sexual slang (Score:5, Insightful)
On a side note, what do you have against reducing the size of government and federal spending?
What do I have against it?
I believe everyone should be provided healthcare by the state, because I don't think we can trust private entities to resist the temptation to charge more and more for healthcare services (because they know we HAVE to pay it...).
I believe the government should regulate what pollutants industry is allowed to dump into the earth/water.
I believe the government should provide free education to all of its citizens.
I believe the government should regulate financial industries and banks.
Frankly, I believe there are MANY things the government should do, because either they are the only ones who can do it, or because the sector should not be trying to make a profit.
If you want to reduce government, set your sights on the massive "defense" budget. Leave what (limited) social services the USA has alone.
Re:Arizona? No Thanks (Score:3, Insightful)
You have essentially answered your own question.
On one hand, you say that you disagree with Arizona laws because of the beliefs of the people that live there. This is a problem because it makes Arizona out of step with the majority of the US.
But.. the majority of the US is not in Arizona. That's why it's called Arizona. It's a different place from where you live. If you don't live there, why do you care?
Do you have a problem with marijuana dispensaries every three blocks in Denver (assuming you don't live in Colorado)?
How about *insert some other random law approved by the state which gets challenged federally*?
Let the states conduct their own business.
Re:Arizona? No Thanks (Score:5, Insightful)
Things like Tent City suck, and we like when our criminals get sent there.
What about the innocent, but accused? You did know that the majority of Tent Citie's population are merely accused and awaiting trial, right?
But I'm wasting my time. You're exactly the kind of authoritarian asshole that keeps any sort of sensible person out of Phoenix. I hope you get falsely accused of a crime in August.
Re:LOL (Score:4, Insightful)
The factors that are always cited in Silicon Valley's success are things like cultural openness, strong public schools and exceptional universities, mild weather, cultural acceptance of taking risks and failing, local venture capital, etc. Phoenix fails on pretty much all counts. Austin has a couple going for it, but is surrounded by Texas. Kansas City is pretty unlikely (Maybe Lawrence KS has a chance though...?). New York will never create that culture, but it will always be a finance/fashion mecca.
It is interesting to look at the things that made Chicago, Detroit, Columbus, and New Orleans hubs in their day by comparison.
The next Silicon Valley (Score:5, Insightful)
I've been in this field for a long-long time
I was in the Silicon Valley when the thing got started and I benefited handsomely
IMHO, the "Silicon Valley Phenomenon" is a one-time happening
It happened because of many factors
* The concentration of critical mass of coherent talents - mostly comprised of remnants of the hippies with their Groovy mindset, and earlier batch of the baby boomers who were, in one way or another, influenced by the hippies culture
* It occurred at a time when the "change culture" finally arrived at the tech scene - with hobbyists earnestly believed that they could build their own gadgets with solders and breadboards
* And the Silicon Valley happened to provide a venue, the place, for the talents to gather and trade their ideas
We also need to understand that the Silicon Valley phenomenon occurred way before Internet - which means, people _still_ had to congregate in ONE PHYSICAL PLACE in order to trade ideas
With Internet, people no longer need to gather physically in one place in order to trade ideas
There have been many attempts in repeating the "Silicon Valley Success" all over the world - from Boston USA to East London, UK to Japan to even third world countries such as Malaysia, but none ever achieve same level of success as Silicon Valley
Why?
Simply because there is no need for yet-another Silicon Valley