Comments on: The Irrelevance of Silicon Valley Envy http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/08/the-irrelevance-of-silicon-valley-envy.html Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:23:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Chris Yeh http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/08/the-irrelevance-of-silicon-valley-envy.html/comment-page-1#comment-9985 Chris Yeh Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:58 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/08/the-irrelevance-of-silicon-valley-envy.html#comment-9985 It's foolish for Boulder to try to become more like Silicon Valley when most of the people who move there do so precisely because it is *not* the Valley. I've always admired the folks I know in Boulder, who seem down to earth and outside the echo chamber that is Silicon Valley. It would be a shame to see Boulder become a cheap knockoff, rather than what it is now: a worthy original. It's foolish for Boulder to try to become more like Silicon Valley when most of the people who move there do so precisely because it is *not* the Valley.

I've always admired the folks I know in Boulder, who seem down to earth and outside the echo chamber that is Silicon Valley. It would be a shame to see Boulder become a cheap knockoff, rather than what it is now: a worthy original.

]]> By: bfeld http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/08/the-irrelevance-of-silicon-valley-envy.html/comment-page-1#comment-8917 bfeld Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:55 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/08/the-irrelevance-of-silicon-valley-envy.html#comment-8917 Well said Chris!<br /> Well said Chris!

]]> By: bradleyjoyce http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/08/the-irrelevance-of-silicon-valley-envy.html/comment-page-1#comment-8920 bradleyjoyce Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:55 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/08/the-irrelevance-of-silicon-valley-envy.html#comment-8920 Amen! I just wrote a <a href="http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2008/08/06/where-to-locate-your-startup/">post on the Texas Startup blog</a> about where to locate your startup and how you should really consider simply staying put rather than moving out to the valley because "that's where startups go." Many cities across the country have great entrepreneurial communities and they should all be themselves! Amen! I just wrote a post on the Texas Startup blog about where to locate your startup and how you should really consider simply staying put rather than moving out to the valley because "that's where startups go."

Many cities across the country have great entrepreneurial communities and they should all be themselves!

]]> By: nitinbadjatia http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/08/the-irrelevance-of-silicon-valley-envy.html/comment-page-1#comment-8930 nitinbadjatia Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:55 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/08/the-irrelevance-of-silicon-valley-envy.html#comment-8930 It's funny, we get the same meme running through conversations here in Pittsburgh. We're lucky to have a vibrant tech scene in a wide array of fields, software, hardware, clean-tech, robotics, but people keep obsessing about Silicon Valley. As a very frequent visitor to Silicon Valley, I love the place, but it does have drawbacks. I think Guy Kawasaki had a great post a while back about getting beyond the obsession: <a href="http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2006/06/how_to_kick_sil.html. ">http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2006/06/how_to_kick_s...</a> Boulder seems like a great place to operate from; I've love to check it out someday. It's funny, we get the same meme running through conversations here in Pittsburgh. We're lucky to have a vibrant tech scene in a wide array of fields, software, hardware, clean-tech, robotics, but people keep obsessing about Silicon Valley. As a very frequent visitor to Silicon Valley, I love the place, but it does have drawbacks.

I think Guy Kawasaki had a great post a while back about getting beyond the obsession: http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2006/06/how_to_kick_s…

Boulder seems like a great place to operate from; I've love to check it out someday.

]]> By: NickN http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/08/the-irrelevance-of-silicon-valley-envy.html/comment-page-1#comment-8932 NickN Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:55 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/08/the-irrelevance-of-silicon-valley-envy.html#comment-8932 And we do the same in RTP. Did you know we're the "Silicon Valley of the Southeast". <sigh> One of the biggest practical differences I see is in hiring. When I was in Silicon Valley, we would find good engineers, make an offer on a Friday and have to up the offer by Monday because of the fierce competition. In RTP, you're not fighting that, but you are fighting the "why should I leave a safe job and join a startup". In general it's a different game outside SV, and I like it that way. And we do the same in RTP. Did you know we're the "Silicon Valley of the Southeast".

<sigh>

One of the biggest practical differences I see is in hiring. When I was in Silicon Valley, we would find good engineers, make an offer on a Friday and have to up the offer by Monday because of the fierce competition. In RTP, you're not fighting that, but you are fighting the "why should I leave a safe job and join a startup".

In general it's a different game outside SV, and I like it that way.

]]> By: richard_st59861 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/08/the-irrelevance-of-silicon-valley-envy.html/comment-page-1#comment-8937 richard_st59861 Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:55 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/08/the-irrelevance-of-silicon-valley-envy.html#comment-8937 It really is true. Most cities and states follow the trends instead of lead. They all benchmark some city that is doing great things and looks similar to their city so they try and apply the same policies etc. Instead of being original and playing to that cities strength. In Kentucky, we have good quality of life, low cost of living and a highly educated workforce and research universities. We need to focus on the things that make us unique and not try to emulate every Boulder or Austin that comes along. In relation to start-ups, trying something new like Brad & David did with Techstars is a better model then trying to recreate Silicon valley in Boulder. (would ruin Boulder, anyway) It really is true. Most cities and states follow the trends instead of lead. They all benchmark some city that is doing great things and looks similar to their city so they try and apply the same policies etc. Instead of being original and playing to that cities strength. In Kentucky, we have good quality of life, low cost of living and a highly educated workforce and research universities. We need to focus on the things that make us unique and not try to emulate every Boulder or Austin that comes along. In relation to start-ups, trying something new like Brad & David did with Techstars is a better model then trying to recreate Silicon valley in Boulder. (would ruin Boulder, anyway)

]]> By: DJ Burdick http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/08/the-irrelevance-of-silicon-valley-envy.html/comment-page-1#comment-8974 DJ Burdick Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:55 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/08/the-irrelevance-of-silicon-valley-envy.html#comment-8974 I agree you shouldn't try and copy the valley if you're in another area. Just like if you're trying to compete with an entrenched/dominant company you shouldn't try to copy them either. You need to play to your strengths. However, if you have a chance to be in the valley I highly recommend it. A lot of people put on blinders and say things like "we're the silicon valley of the midwest etc..." Why not just move to the valley if that's your barometer for a great area? I recently made the move and love it. See my experience here: <a href="http://techburner.com/2008/07/31/a-fire-in-the-valley/ " target="_blank">http://techburner.com/2008/07/31/a-fire-in-the-va...</a> I agree you shouldn't try and copy the valley if you're in another area. Just like if you're trying to compete with an entrenched/dominant company you shouldn't try to copy them either. You need to play to your strengths. However, if you have a chance to be in the valley I highly recommend it. A lot of people put on blinders and say things like "we're the silicon valley of the midwest etc…" Why not just move to the valley if that's your barometer for a great area?

I recently made the move and love it.
See my experience here:
http://techburner.com/2008/07/31/a-fire-in-the-va…

]]> By: DJ Burdick http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/08/the-irrelevance-of-silicon-valley-envy.html/comment-page-1#comment-45423 DJ Burdick Sat, 16 Aug 2008 15:07:27 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/08/the-irrelevance-of-silicon-valley-envy.html#comment-45423 I agree you shouldn't try and copy the valley if you're in another area. Just like if you're trying to compete with an entrenched/dominant company you shouldn't try to copy them either. You need to play to your strengths. However, if you have a chance to be in the valley I highly recommend it. A lot of people put on blinders and say things like "we're the silicon valley of the midwest etc..." Why not just move to the valley if that's your barometer for a great area? I recently made the move and love it. See my experience here: <a href="http://techburner.com/2008/07/31/a-fire-in-the-valley/ " target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://techburner.com/2008/07/31/a-fire-in-the-va...</a> I agree you shouldn't try and copy the valley if you're in another area. Just like if you're trying to compete with an entrenched/dominant company you shouldn't try to copy them either. You need to play to your strengths. However, if you have a chance to be in the valley I highly recommend it. A lot of people put on blinders and say things like “we're the silicon valley of the midwest etc…” Why not just move to the valley if that's your barometer for a great area?

I recently made the move and love it.
See my experience here:
http://techburner.com/2008/07/31/a-fire-in-the-va…

]]> By: Richard Stump http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/08/the-irrelevance-of-silicon-valley-envy.html/comment-page-1#comment-45422 Richard Stump Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:31:32 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/08/the-irrelevance-of-silicon-valley-envy.html#comment-45422 It really is true. Most cities and states follow the trends instead of lead. They all benchmark some city that is doing great things and looks similar to their city so they try and apply the same policies etc. Instead of being original and playing to that cities strength. In Kentucky, we have good quality of life, low cost of living and a highly educated workforce and research universities. We need to focus on the things that make us unique and not try to emulate every Boulder or Austin that comes along. In relation to start-ups, trying something new like Brad & David did with Techstars is a better model then trying to recreate Silicon valley in Boulder. (would ruin Boulder, anyway) It really is true. Most cities and states follow the trends instead of lead. They all benchmark some city that is doing great things and looks similar to their city so they try and apply the same policies etc. Instead of being original and playing to that cities strength. In Kentucky, we have good quality of life, low cost of living and a highly educated workforce and research universities. We need to focus on the things that make us unique and not try to emulate every Boulder or Austin that comes along. In relation to start-ups, trying something new like Brad & David did with Techstars is a better model then trying to recreate Silicon valley in Boulder. (would ruin Boulder, anyway)

]]> By: NickN http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/08/the-irrelevance-of-silicon-valley-envy.html/comment-page-1#comment-45421 NickN Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:58:09 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/08/the-irrelevance-of-silicon-valley-envy.html#comment-45421 And we do the same in RTP. Did you know we're the "Silicon Valley of the Southeast". <sigh> One of the biggest practical differences I see is in hiring. When I was in Silicon Valley, we would find good engineers, make an offer on a Friday and have to up the offer by Monday because of the fierce competition. In RTP, you're not fighting that, but you are fighting the "why should I leave a safe job and join a startup". In general it's a different game outside SV, and I like it that way. And we do the same in RTP. Did you know we're the “Silicon Valley of the Southeast”.

One of the biggest practical differences I see is in hiring. When I was in Silicon Valley, we would find good engineers, make an offer on a Friday and have to up the offer by Monday because of the fierce competition. In RTP, you're not fighting that, but you are fighting the “why should I leave a safe job and join a startup”.

In general it's a different game outside SV, and I like it that way.

]]>