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NYC vs Silicon Valley

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Re: NYC vs Silicon Valley

#4
Matt, I'm reprinting my reply on your blog here:

Duuuude, NO! Or at least, that's what I want to scream at you after reading this. But it is hard for me to refute your logic around investors. Of course, SV has a larger and older network. Can't deny that. But, of course, in SV there are also waaaay more entrepreneurs vying for VC dolla bills. Having spent time in both locations, I wouldn't say it's any easier to raise funds in SV, although they do have more smart money for sure.

But now with FRC, Flybridge, and Founder's Collective (among many others) stepping up in NYC, I think we're just seeing the beginning of an awesome growth curve.

Plus, haven't you been reading Dave McClure's blog? It's not about the tech, it's about the design and marketing. Which NYC has in SPADES.

Alright dude, enjoy SV!

Re: NYC vs Silicon Valley

#5
I don't it helps that most startups here in NYC are pretty lame, ripoffs of yelp or really weak ideas. I have been very unimpressed and stayed away from both startups and wall st.

Re: NYC vs Silicon Valley

#6
a) Wall Street has been a huge talent suck for a long time...the default dream...: Work for Lehman.

Actually, there is a bigger talent suck than Lehman. I can easily see the appeal of working for a startup rather than Lehman: don't wear a suit, don't deal with bureaucracy or MBAs, technology rules the day. Less money, but a lot more fun.

Now, consider many small hedge funds: don't wear a suit, no bureaucracy, maybe one or two MBA's who handle clients, technology rules the day. Bring your dog to work, but the CEO's dog gets veto power.

Both seem like fun places to work, but the hedge fund can compete on price.

Re: NYC vs Silicon Valley

#7
[Wall Streeters turned venture capitalists] are people who do dumb shit like ask about pricing for a premium version of a genuinely novel product (in a category with no existing market) that hasn't even launched yet...in the first meeting.

Right, because asking about pricing (you know, the process by which you charge actual money for a product, thus generating revenue and hopefully profit) is a completely unreasonable thing for an investor to ask about.

Re: NYC vs Silicon Valley

#8

a) Wall Street has been a huge talent suck for a long time...the default dream...: Work for Lehman. Actually, there is a bigger talent suck than Lehman. I can easily see the appeal of working for a startup rather than Lehman: don't wear a suit, don't deal with bureaucracy or MBAs, technology rules the day. Less money, but a lot more fun. Now, consider many small hedge funds: don't wear a suit, no bureaucracy, maybe o…

I read that as a stand-in for "Wall St", probably also because my friends usually go for Goldman now, but hedge funds are definitely where all the action is at.

Re: NYC vs Silicon Valley

#9

I don't it helps that most startups here in NYC are pretty lame, ripoffs of yelp or really weak ideas. I have been very unimpressed and stayed away from both startups and wall st.

I work for a startup in New York. We have a really cool idea, but raising money has been a bitch and a half. We've decided to bypass the VCs almost entirely and focus on customers.

Re: NYC vs Silicon Valley

#10

a) Wall Street has been a huge talent suck for a long time...the default dream...: Work for Lehman. Actually, there is a bigger talent suck than Lehman. I can easily see the appeal of working for a startup rather than Lehman: don't wear a suit, don't deal with bureaucracy or MBAs, technology rules the day. Less money, but a lot more fun. Now, consider many small hedge funds: don't wear a suit, no bureaucracy, maybe o…

The technological problems that you work on in a hedge fund are less interesting than those you do in a startup. On the other hand, making actual money has benefits.
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