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New York vs San Francisco in fight for tech start-ups
41–50 of 59 posts
Re: New York vs San Francisco in fight for tech start-ups
#42As a New Yorker looking longingly westward, I have a question. Is the Valley the only place it makes sense to be, or is it feasible to live in the East Bay? I know the real answer is that it doesn't matter where you are if you're the right person working on the right project. That said, I want to be somewhere that the social environment is a positive one for someone living off his savings while trying to build a prod…
If you're going from the East Bay to the South Bay every day, the trip will make you insane. I did this for far too long, and it was a terrible idea.
Even in the best of circumstances, it takes half an hour to get from Oakland or Berkeley into San Francisco, making it unlikely that you will go to anything without advance planning.
Oakland has some bright spots (particularly Rockridge) but you are still unlikely to have serendipitous encounters with anyone. I've never lived in Downtown Berkeley, but it is the one place in the East Bay where the streets are full of people.
Re: New York vs San Francisco in fight for tech start-ups
#43It's funny how little press Austin gets, considering the size of the tech community out there.
Re: New York vs San Francisco in fight for tech start-ups
#44As a New Yorker looking longingly westward, I have a question. Is the Valley the only place it makes sense to be, or is it feasible to live in the East Bay? I know the real answer is that it doesn't matter where you are if you're the right person working on the right project. That said, I want to be somewhere that the social environment is a positive one for someone living off his savings while trying to build a prod…
I just saw today that Oakland is in the top 5 of the most dangerous cities in the US. I know those Top Anything lists have to be taken with a grain of salt, but Oakland seems to be in the (local) news constantly, and it's mostly not good news. After having lived in the Bay Area for 4+ years, I've been to Oakland only once, and that was to help someone move out of Oakland. I think I'd rather move to San Jose if I want…
Ugh, live in San Jose? Never. Statistically, Oakland may be dangerous, but it's also physically a large city. If you are in the right parts, you'll certainly be as safe as if you lived in Berkeley, and safer then a lot of parts of SF. Just stay in the nice parts of the City.
I haven't actually ever lived in Oakland though, but I've lived in Berkeley for 5 years, live in SF now, and have many close friends who live in Oakland. Parts of it are very nice!
Re: New York vs San Francisco in fight for tech start-ups
#45As a New Yorker looking longingly westward, I have a question. Is the Valley the only place it makes sense to be, or is it feasible to live in the East Bay? I know the real answer is that it doesn't matter where you are if you're the right person working on the right project. That said, I want to be somewhere that the social environment is a positive one for someone living off his savings while trying to build a prod…
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Re: New York vs San Francisco in fight for tech start-ups
#46As a New Yorker looking longingly westward, I have a question. Is the Valley the only place it makes sense to be, or is it feasible to live in the East Bay? I know the real answer is that it doesn't matter where you are if you're the right person working on the right project. That said, I want to be somewhere that the social environment is a positive one for someone living off his savings while trying to build a prod…
Most of the tech companies are in the South Bay or on the peninsula. If you need city living, I suggest you look to SF or San Jose.
Re: New York vs San Francisco in fight for tech start-ups
#47As a New Yorker looking longingly westward, I have a question. Is the Valley the only place it makes sense to be, or is it feasible to live in the East Bay? I know the real answer is that it doesn't matter where you are if you're the right person working on the right project. That said, I want to be somewhere that the social environment is a positive one for someone living off his savings while trying to build a prod…
I just saw today that Oakland is in the top 5 of the most dangerous cities in the US. I know those Top Anything lists have to be taken with a grain of salt, but Oakland seems to be in the (local) news constantly, and it's mostly not good news. After having lived in the Bay Area for 4+ years, I've been to Oakland only once, and that was to help someone move out of Oakland. I think I'd rather move to San Jose if I want…
There are lots of great areas of Oakland. Rockridge and Temescal are totally fine and near the BART, for instance.
Re: New York vs San Francisco in fight for tech start-ups
#48As a New Yorker looking longingly westward, I have a question. Is the Valley the only place it makes sense to be, or is it feasible to live in the East Bay? I know the real answer is that it doesn't matter where you are if you're the right person working on the right project. That said, I want to be somewhere that the social environment is a positive one for someone living off his savings while trying to build a prod…
Not sure about Berkeley, but when I moved out here I was told one consistent thing about housing, "don't live in Oakland"
Oakland is gentrifying and isn't so bad. Richmond (the city, not the district), that's one place I'd stay away from.
Re: New York vs San Francisco in fight for tech start-ups
#49When I see these location discussions I'm always curious how much of an impact non-compete clauses play in starting or recruiting for a startup.
California has "16600. Except as provided in this chapter, every contract by which anyone is restrained from engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business of any kind is to that extent void." and without such employee protection in place I would be very nervous about trying to start a company which might compete with a former employeer. Similarly it seems hard enough to find talented designers and developers already without having to consider that the individuals with the most relevant experience might be barred from completing with their current employers.
Re: New York vs San Francisco in fight for tech start-ups
#50Earlier quoted context omitted.
I've only been here six years, and truth be told I avoid SF at all costs, but all I have to do is look at the job listings. SF listings are full of every Social Web Media Infinity-point-Fad known to man. South Bay -- Platforms, infrastructure, embedded systems, established technologies, emphasis on availability and reliability. This is what the San Francisco startups rely on to make sure their new web startup doesn't…
Well I think it has to do with how difficult it is to find affordable office real estate for businesses that outgrow their space. I can't imagine a company as big as Google or Facebook having their HQ in SF without having to build a giant skyscraper in the Financial District.
Zynga's new HQ in SOMA houses upwards of 3,000 employees, which is probably about on par with Facebook.