It's all about the exits.
You could never get an exit if you were based in Chicago or St. Louis or Montana, etc.
You might have a hard time getting funding in Chicago. I don't see what Chicago would have to do with your getting an exit. Duo just sold to Cisco for $2.3B, and they're in Ann Arbor.
Re:Peak California
by chrisco255 on Sunday March 10, 2019 @06:19PM
(#19355008)
Who cares about exits? Let's build sustainable businesses that operate profitably without insane VC money.
I know you’re asking earnestly, but the sad truth is the vast majority of startup founders care about the exit. Usually they also fail, unless it isn’t their main motivation, but the answer to your question is: most people who start companies.
Yeah in many cases it is "get something cool first and then leave it for somebody else to come up with a business model". Given the fleeting nature of success it makes sense to sell the first one and get enough to retire or be able to afford to lose.
Re:Peak California
by stcredzero on Monday March 11, 2019 @12:32PM
(#19360279)
Between this, and the great-grandparent comment, this is a perspective-changing thread.
Speaking as a Montanian, it’s been done before.
Based in Colorado. Just wondering if you could expand on this.
Seems like what you are saying is no startups in Montana ever get exits - personally I think that's because startups seeking an exit end of moving to The Bay Area because of all the factors being mentioned here.
When a scene gets hot, there's always the danger of grouthink. There is far too much groupthink here. Much of it now is even the toxic kind. "Fear is the mind-killer." However, fear is only the start, only the beachhead. Groupthink is the main body, and it's the mechanism whereby the mind-killing starts to result in real world consequences.
When a scene gets hot, and there's real money and power to be had, it also attracts the sociopaths.
https://meaningness.com/geeks-mops-sociopaths