If you are here, your network will be using all of the latest tools – Twitter, Foursquare, Quora, Nexus One, etc., before other networks in other cities will. These networks hit critical mass here earlier and are thus more valuable to the early adopters here. You’ll have a 3-month+ head start on people outside to see what’s coming next. Imagine trying to design next year’s clothing without firsthand immersion in this year’s fashion, in Milan or Paris.

From a post titled “Why You Need to be in Silicon Valley”.

In general I hate posts like this. I don’t live in SIlicon Valley, but I do spend quite a bit of time there. I want to believe that twitter streams and blog comments allow anyone, anywhere to follow and make connections with the most plugged in silicon valley digerati. This ought to allow them to spot emerging trends from anywhere they chose to live without being sucked into the Silicon Valley echo chamber.

Is this wishful thinking or does being in Silicon Valley still give you an insurmountable edge?

(via brycedotvc)

I think this is just another case of how people assume their success is directly related to every choice they made and can recommend no other course.  In my experience, if you ask anyone where you need to be to start a company, the chief indicator of what their response will be is where they live. If you ask if you should go to business school, the chief indicator is if they went.  If you ask how to raise money, what investors, or just where to get your paper supplies, they go back to what they did.

Perfectly understandable but it completely overlooks all of the things particular to the person asking.  Where should you start your company?  Well, where is YOUR personal network the richest?  Where can YOU find the best talent?  Where are YOUR customers and investors?

Me? Thanks, but I’m going to ride this whole Brooklyn thing out.  Viva la Hot Potato!

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