Toronto is poised to become a producer of tech startups • Hacker News Board

Re: Toronto is poised to become a producer of tech startups

#171

Post by Apocryphon » Sun, Jun 12, 2016, 9:53 PM UTC

I think if any city/region wants to be a future Silicon Valley (given the rents, why would you?), first focus on being the next Seattle/Austin/Portland. You can't beat NY in terms of having access to capital, but then NY (and LA) is its own world with its own dominant industry, so I'm not sure if it's comparable as to SAP in terms of "the next SV" talk. But you can do what those three cities have and have access to affordable (if increasing) housing, good business environments, and the standard of living that would draw in potential tech folks.

Maybe I should replace Portland with Boulder, in which case it'd be SAB. (Or with Denver but that's just SAD.)

Re: Toronto is poised to become a producer of tech startups

#172

Post by cmrdporcupine » Sun, Jun 12, 2016, 9:54 PM UTC

lewisl9029 wrote: post #141

086421357909764 wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interestingly this is almost the same commentary for every "next silicon valley" city we read about here. I think sometimes people are trying to cash in on the ideal before it's even been formed. Why is everyone so rushed to be the next SV anyway? Why not be the best Toronto, or whatever city of focus that happens to support entrepreneurship through whatever programs. I feel like being a next SV town is sort of like…

> Interestingly this is almost the same commentary for every "next silicon valley" city we read about here. That may be true, but you have to realize even the other "next silicon valley" contenders in the US can easily offer more than double the salary to developers compared to Canadian cities like Toronto and Vancouver. Toronto is not even playing in the same league in that aspect.

Even worse than the salary is the attitude at Toronto area startups. Elitist "you-should-feel-so-lucky-you're-at-a-startup-now-work-for-peanuts"...

Leaving the Toronto ad-tech startup I was at to work (remote) for a NYC ad-tech startup (well, recent startup and growing) was the best thing that ever happened to me. Got lucky to work for the best founders and senior management I have ever had in my career.

Re: Toronto is poised to become a producer of tech startups

#173

Post by 467568985476 » Sun, Jun 12, 2016, 9:59 PM UTC

I'd love to see some comments on what it's like raising money in Toronto. Is there a local investor ecosystem? Do companies raise a series A led by a Toronto firm? Do they fly to NYC or SF and hope to find investors who don't want them to move?

Re: Toronto is poised to become a producer of tech startups

#174

Post by lifeisstillgood » Sun, Jun 12, 2016, 10:02 PM UTC

Apocryphon wrote: post #171

I think if any city/region wants to be a future Silicon Valley (given the rents, why would you?), first focus on being the next Seattle/Austin/Portland. You can't beat NY in terms of having access to capital, but then NY (and LA) is its own world with its own dominant industry, so I'm not sure if it's comparable as to SAP in terms of "the next SV" talk. But you can do what those three cities have and have access to a…

Boulder Austin Denver Atlanta Seattle Salt-Lake?

Really stretching my US geography to get anything close to a decent acronym

Re: Toronto is poised to become a producer of tech startups

#175

Post by Apocryphon » Sun, Jun 12, 2016, 10:03 PM UTC

lifeisstillgood wrote: post #174

Apocryphon wrote: post #171

I think if any city/region wants to be a future Silicon Valley (given the rents, why would you?), first focus on being the next Seattle/Austin/Portland. You can't beat NY in terms of having access to capital, but then NY (and LA) is its own world with its own dominant industry, so I'm not sure if it's comparable as to SAP in terms of "the next SV" talk. But you can do what those three cities have and have access to a…

Boulder Austin Denver Atlanta Seattle Salt-Lake? Really stretching my US geography to get anything close to a decent acronym

I think Boulder/Denver should be regarded as one market. SLC is definitely hot for tech, but is it for startups? Atlanta I'm not too sure of.

Re: Toronto is poised to become a producer of tech startups

#176

Post by aji » Sun, Jun 12, 2016, 10:05 PM UTC

086421357909764 wrote: post #134

lewisl9029 wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Waterloo grad here. Seeing pretty much the same thing. Really not difficult to imagine why Canadian tech companies have mostly stopped being competitive on the global stage, considering most of the talent they have access to at these pitiful salaries are essentially left-overs. Unfortunately, I honestly don't see how the situation can improve. It's a classic tragedy of the commons situation. Companies act in self-int…

Interestingly this is almost the same commentary for every "next silicon valley" city we read about here. I think sometimes people are trying to cash in on the ideal before it's even been formed. Why is everyone so rushed to be the next SV anyway? Why not be the best Toronto, or whatever city of focus that happens to support entrepreneurship through whatever programs. I feel like being a next SV town is sort of like…

agreed. and I agree with many people out here in Seattle, that I'd really rather not see the city become "the next Silicon Valley". I'd much prefer Seattle become the best it can be, by itself, without needing to draw on Silicon Valley (or anywhere else, for that matter) for guidance and inspiration. that's the way I'm sure a lot of people here and in other cities feel about their own towns.

Re: Toronto is poised to become a producer of tech startups

#177

Post by halostatue » Sun, Jun 12, 2016, 10:07 PM UTC

kogepathic wrote: post #152

uiri wrote: post #137

This article is poorly fact-checked: "Queens College" is, I'm guessing, referring to Queen's University in Kingston (since the attendance number cited also matches), which is over 150 miles away from Toronto. I'm surprised the author didn't include the 25,000 students at McMaster and the 20,000 students at the University of Guelph which are both much closer than either Waterloo or Queen's. And if the author is going…

> even if it means avoiding -40 degree winters. Oh come on, winter in Ottawa isn't that bad. I can't recall many days that were below -30 when I was living there. Although I hear Toronto barely has snow in the winter time, must be heaven not to have to shovel your driveway.

Oh, come on. I had to shovel my driveway at least twice this past winter.

(I was able to bike to work throughout most of the winter, even if some of the rides were abbreviated because I can use the GO train as well.)

Re: Toronto is poised to become a producer of tech startups

#178

Post by halostatue » Sun, Jun 12, 2016, 10:09 PM UTC

justinlaing wrote: post #10

Who is going to move to Toronto to join the tech scene? If given the choice who is going to choose Toronto over Bay Area or Seattle? Without it having a massive draw it won't even register compared to Bay Area or even Seattle.

I did, although eighteen years ago, and originally not for the tech scene as for love. But I am constantly telling recruiters who reach out to me that I have less than zero interest in working in the U.S., and more or less zero interest in working anywhere but Toronto.

We may not be the “best” tech scene in North America (but I am currently running what I consider to be an amazing Rails-first team), but I can’t imagine wanting to live elsewhere permanently.

Re: Toronto is poised to become a producer of tech startups

#179

Post by lifeisstillgood » Sun, Jun 12, 2016, 10:09 PM UTC

Apocryphon wrote: post #175

lifeisstillgood wrote: post #174

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Boulder Austin Denver Atlanta Seattle Salt-Lake? Really stretching my US geography to get anything close to a decent acronym

I think Boulder/Denver should be regarded as one market. SLC is definitely hot for tech, but is it for startups? Atlanta I'm not too sure of.

I was just aiming for BADASS I am afraid.

Salt lake only came to mind thanks to salt stack. Atlanta - well, as I said, limited geo knowledge. Ironic really

Re: Toronto is poised to become a producer of tech startups

#180

Post by cmrdporcupine » Sun, Jun 12, 2016, 10:10 PM UTC

I almost spat my glass of wine out my nose when I read "Delightfully efficient transport"

The GTA has some of the worst sprawl and traffic problems in North America, and its transit system has been neglected since the 80s and the politicians are only starting to get their heads out of their asses on this in the last few years.