U.S. tech inventors are highly clustered because of idea spillover

Re:U.S. tech inventors are highly clustered because of idea ... by mdorazio on Tuesday October 22, 2019 @07:48PM (#21329670)

I've been thinking that for the 13 years I've lived in LA, and somehow the city still completely sucks at tech. Silicon Beach is basically a joke in comparison to any actual tech hub - the salaries suck, the companies are largely exactly what you'd expect from LA cliches (marketing, fashion, sports, entertainment, etc.), and the success stories are few and far between. These days it seems like there's more going on in Irvine than there is in LA. (If you don't believe me, just look at HN's "Who's Hiring" posts.)

Part of the problem is probably that LA is so close to the Bay Area - it's easy for tech talent to move up the coast or even semi-commute there instead of building a new hub.

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Re:U.S. tech inventors are highly clustered because of idea ... by bryanmgreen on Tuesday October 22, 2019 @11:26PM (#21330768)

As a native and current Angelino, if the city wants to grow tech, it needs capital. We don't have the businesses, can't keep talent, and cost of living is too high to survive without a good salary. Irvine, despite being an excruciatingly boring cookie-cutter place, is slightly cheaper to live and has the Silicon Valley overflow offices.

A lot of talent starts in LA, but it gets immediately poached by literally every other city. If you don't have a Hollywood tech job, it's grim. I really want to stay, but can see a realistic/near future where I leave. (But I'm not going back to Irvine ever again)

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Re:U.S. tech inventors are highly clustered because of idea ... by mdorazio on Wednesday October 23, 2019 @12:23AM (#21331014)

Right there with you - it seems like capital could flow the 300 miles south without much problem, but for whatever reason it just doesn't (I suspect it's at least partially related to the types of startups and founders in LA). Irvine is ok if you're a family-oriented corporate person, but for young tech talent it's the most soul-sucking Stepford Wives place this side of Plano, TX.

In my case, I ended up just not working in LA itself for half the time I've lived here. I've spent at least as much time working in the Bay Area, Austin, Seattle, Irvine, and now Portland as I have working in LA because the companies and compensation are just so much better elsewhere.

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Re:U.S. tech inventors are highly clustered because of idea ... by Teknoman117 on Tuesday October 22, 2019 @07:57PM (#21329721)

I work at the Orange County office of a fairly sizable Bay Area company, and to be honest, I've not had an incredible amount of desire to move to the bay because the OC salary is basically the same (maybe better) after factoring in the difference in cost of living. That and in OC I can live 5 miles / 10 minutes from the office whereas I don't know how far/long I'd have to commute to live in the Bay.

Admittedly, I don't know what the OC startup scene is like, I've got student loans that can't be paid with equity...

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