I'm in Richmond too. It is a great city. Very affordable, youngish, a fun mid sized city. We probably have more microbreweries per capita than anywhere else in the US.

But I do feel like we are flyover country as far as tech is concerned. Compared to northern VA we might as well not exist.

However I do think it is a good place for startups if only because there is an outsized amount of talented engineers stuck in corporate jobs here. It shouldn't be hard to poach some of them before they give up and move to SF or DC. Especially easy if you offer nationally competitive salaries.

You can't hire the people working for megacorps if your company is in Virginia because they are more likely than not bound by noncompete clauses. Only California throws them out as a matter of public policy, which is one of the main reasons why Silicon Valley is where it's at.

I'm not a lawyer, but I'm pretty sure this is only true if you are looking to compete with the megacorps, which probably isn't the case if you are a startup. It's called a non-compete, because it means you can't work for a competitor. Having to do with tech doesn't make you a competitor.

A noncompete typically bars you from holding any type of related position within a specific radius of your employer.

What do you been by related position? Would web development for Walmart be a related position to web development for Microsoft, a company that doesn't compete with them? I've signed multiple non compete agreements and they always specify that I can't work for a competitor. I looked up various examples online and couldn't find anything that didn't specifically mention that the restriction on working counts for anything other than a competitor. I'd be curious to see an example that says otherwise. Perhaps you can link to an example of one of the non compete agreements you are talking about?

never sign those ones.

Are non-competes a thing out there? All the contracts I've seen when I was working in VA have barred taking code, customers, etc with you when you leave. But I never encountered one of those "you can never work at a company that uses computers after you've worked with us" clauses.

Is GE competing with Twitter though? How broad do non-competes get?

never been to richmond but i could see it being a problem if a lot of their companies are in the same industry. a lot of these smaller tech hubs have only 1 or 2 "types" of companies.

I agree with your assessment completely. I actually want to start a startup in Harrisonburg VA, but there are problems with starting one in the area.

It's much harder to raise money. There are very few investors there who can help you. There's less of a support system to help you. Fewer potential customers in the area. It's tough out there.

Very nice city, great beer for sure, low cost of living, very little opportunity if things go south for you.

  We probably have more microbreweries per capita than anywhere else in the US.

That would actually be Portland, OR with 52, more than any city in the world. Richmond isn't even on the map to be honest..

Portland OR has 52 microbreweries per person? That's pretty darn amazing. You guys might want to check yourselves into a rehab program, because you may have a slight drinking problem. (the above is sarcasm. But let's teach people what per capita means.)

looks like they are 5th. 2nd in Oregon. 2nd among Portlands, even.

http://blogs-images.forbes.com/niallmccarthy/files/2016/11/2...

They're apparently very tiny; many are reportedly more like nano or femtobreweries.

I realized my mistake after I posted, but my point still remains. Richmond isn't even close to the top.

Portland, OR has the most total. Portland, Maine actually has the most per capita (followed by Boulder, CO and Asheville, NC). [1]

[1] http://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2016/11/01/which-u...

I stand corrected. Still it does seem like we have as many breweries as Starbucks out here.

Richmond also has mountains and beaches within a 2 hr radius. Quite a nice place.

You still are living near to Richmond (the other Richmond, though).