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.