Hi guys,
Myself and a few like minded individuals are looking to co-locate in one location to continue work on some of our software startup projects. We've developed some products already, and now believe it is time to all work from the same location.
I am wondering for those of you who have startups, where is a good city to headquarter in? We are currently considering Chicago, Boston, San Jose area, and Austin Texas. The resources we are looking for are places where there is lots of young talent we can recruit from in the future. Cost of living is also an important factor, as we're on the humble budget of a startup.
For those of you who currently have startups, what are the most important resources you have access too? What resources do you wish you had access to? Are there any states or cities in particular that really will back startup tech companies(No, we are not consider Rhode Island)..
We're originally from the Midwest, but willing to move anywhere we think we can be successful long term.
Thanks for your advice.
Best City to headquarter a startup
where is a good city to headquarter in? We are currently considering Chicago, Boston, San Jose area, and Austin Texas. The resources we are looking for are places where there is lots of young talent we can recruit from in the future. Cost of living is also an important factor, as we're on the humble budget of a startup.
So you want to be near universities with the kind of programs your candidates should take?
Or you want to be in hotbeds where people are always changing jobs (they'll come to you for experience, then quit and go elsewhere for the bucks)?
I recommend you make a decision grid. List some cities, how many universities are there, the cost of living, how many other startups are there, how many VCs are there, how many angels, etc.
I don't have my own startup but i do work for one, good cities would be pretty much any city with a solid university/college(Without this it will be alot harder to find good candidates) , your office doesn't have to be in the best of locations when you start out as long as your employes can get there easily. (you will have to move to larger offices if you grow anyway)
Texas is a pretty good state for small businesses, tax-wise. That's why we moved here. There are a decent number of tech companies here, so there are plenty of opportunities to meet and network with tech workers.
If you want low cost of living + available software engineers + in the USA, I think it would be hard to beat Pittsburgh. Dirt cheap housing + there are programmers there because of Carnegie Mellon University and associated startups.
I'm from the Seattle area. It's pretty much the capital of "casual game development".
Pros: It's got a very rich pool of tech talent. A lot of tech companies have established offices there (Google, Facebook, Amazon, Adobe, Microsoft, Boeing, etc). As for education: The University of Washington has a pretty good CS program, you've got digipen, and a few private universities and colleges.
Cons: The rush hour traffic can be horrendous. Rain can cause people to feel miserable, but the climate is very temperate which can really be appreciated in the winter and summer months. The cost of living fluxuates.
Anyways, you'll have to do the homework on all this, but Seattle may be worth looking at as well.
Pros: It's got a very rich pool of tech talent. A lot of tech companies have established offices there (Google, Facebook, Amazon, Adobe, Microsoft, Boeing, etc). As for education: The University of Washington has a pretty good CS program, you've got digipen, and a few private universities and colleges.
Cons: The rush hour traffic can be horrendous. Rain can cause people to feel miserable, but the climate is very temperate which can really be appreciated in the winter and summer months. The cost of living fluxuates.
Anyways, you'll have to do the homework on all this, but Seattle may be worth looking at as well.
Best cities? Probably New York right now, why? U could consider such things as living cost, sunny days, proximity to schools, etc.. but in reality alot of cities fit that bill and there're all good if that's what you want, what u should really consider is opportunities. New York is going to become the next Silicon Valley for web startups, this will attract talent from all over and also funding. The proximity of that will increase your chances of forming connections, finding talent and making interesting things happen. Just my opinion.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
Author
Hi guys,
Thanks for all of the advice. We are going to discuss some of your suggestions and build a decision grid.
Thanks for all of the advice. We are going to discuss some of your suggestions and build a decision grid.
This topic is closed to new replies.
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