louisgray.com - Latest Comments in http://blog.louisgray.com/2009/03/is-valley-too-expensive-for-normal.html

Re: http://blog.louisgray.com/2009/03/is-valley-too-expensive-for-normal.html

Charlie Anzman — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:59:00 -0000

Define normal person in the valley? :)

Re: http://blog.louisgray.com/2009/03/is-valley-too-expensive-for-normal.html

Neuro — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 08:22:46 -0000

Its the money stupid to quote Bill Clinton :-) Penelope Just wants to have her cake and eat it

Re: http://blog.louisgray.com/2009/03/is-valley-too-expensive-for-normal.html

Joel Webber — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:38:00 -0000

Silicon Valley is pretty damned expensive, but to echo previous statements, it's impossible to start a company without the right people. If you know the right people to get going, and are somewhere where you have a reasonable chance of finding more good people, you'll be ok. Northern California just has a much higher density of such people than most other places.

Re: http://blog.louisgray.com/2009/03/is-valley-too-expensive-for-normal.html

Daniel J. Pritchett — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 20:17:00 -0000

Penelope Trunk is the presenter I'd most like to see at sxsw. I hope you enjoyed it!

Re: http://blog.louisgray.com/2009/03/is-valley-too-expensive-for-normal.html

Cains — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 19:36:00 -0000

There's certainly a 'brain drain' going on, whether people are leaving because of a lack of capital or new opportunities. Last week I stumbled upon this stat; 'immigrants have started 52% of Silicon Valley's technology companies'. Apparently now, many are heading elsewhere because of tighter immigration rules & emerging markets providing more opportunities.

Re: http://blog.louisgray.com/2009/03/is-valley-too-expensive-for-normal.html

Chris White — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:30:00 -0000

People might not want to hear this, but if you come to the bay area, I would recommend you work for a big company first, like Google or Apple. Why? Because you'll meet the people who you may want to start a company with, and you'll learn more about how the valley works.

Re: http://blog.louisgray.com/2009/03/is-valley-too-expensive-for-normal.html

Nicholas James — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:23:00 -0000

Chris has a valid point. I don't think it matters where you startup its about the execution and being in Silicon Valley helps you to execute better due to the resources there (previously mentioned), although thats not to say you can't execute effectively anywhere else.

Re: http://blog.louisgray.com/2009/03/is-valley-too-expensive-for-normal.html

Chris White — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:20:00 -0000

My first startup was right out of school at a company called Applied Logic Systems in Syracuse, NY. I guess it's not the typical scenario, but it worked out pretty well for me. I learned a lot from some really smart people, and only a couple of them ended up in the bay area. I'd recommend doing a startup wherever you are, because you might attract talent that would be hard to get otherwise.

Re: http://blog.louisgray.com/2009/03/is-valley-too-expensive-for-normal.html

sofarsoshawn — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:19:00 -0000

Only if you're poor

Re: http://blog.louisgray.com/2009/03/is-valley-too-expensive-for-normal.html

Jason Kaneshiro — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:16:00 -0000

Maybe the boss thing was the wrong example. I could replace that with family or friends. I just meant to say, you won't get as much social pressure that the risk isn't worth it. I know most people say they ignore social pressure, but it does matter in subtle ways when it's you making the step. It's to say, out here, you're more likely to get support from everyone and that even failure would be acceptable, vs. people shaking their heads that working at a startup is a big career mistake.

Re: http://blog.louisgray.com/2009/03/is-valley-too-expensive-for-normal.html

Adam Wexler — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:15:36 -0000

I think it's a great point. You have similar problems for those getting started out of NYC.

This just shows the need for new breeding grounds. I think Austin, Boulder & Atlanta, three up-and-coming technology hubs with y-combinator clone to boot, offer more promising and practical living+working situations. Let's see if each gets some new transplants over the next couple years..

Re: http://blog.louisgray.com/2009/03/is-valley-too-expensive-for-normal.html

Chris White — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:03:00 -0000

Jason, part of what you say is true, but I've never given much consideration to whether my boss cared about why I was quitting. That's part of why you quit, because you don't want a boss. if he's your friend, that's different, but still. You have to do what you think is right for you wherever you are. (BTW, you always have a boss, I didn't mean to imply you didn't. It's your customers, your board, your investors, your wife, yourself...)

Re: http://blog.louisgray.com/2009/03/is-valley-too-expensive-for-normal.html

Jason Kaneshiro — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:59:00 -0000

I'd also add there's a cultural acceptance of startups in SV. Tell your boss you're quitting your stable job plus benefits to work out of a closet at a startup eating nothing but pizza and nobody bats an eyelash. Seems everyone gives it a shot once in their life around here. That makes it easier to attract employees

Re: http://blog.louisgray.com/2009/03/is-valley-too-expensive-for-normal.html

Chris White — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:53:00 -0000

If you want to live in the bay area, wait a year or two. It's going to be a lot easier. Of course, you might want to label your startup company something besides Web 2.0, because that might look like a big crater in the ground.

Re: http://blog.louisgray.com/2009/03/is-valley-too-expensive-for-normal.html

Jesse Stay — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:52:00 -0000

The reason the valley *is* worth it is because its full of so many people that have been successful before. It's a chicken and the egg problem. To live there you have to be successful, but to be successful you have to find some way to connect with people that live there.

Re: http://blog.louisgray.com/2009/03/is-valley-too-expensive-for-normal.html

Chris White — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:50:00 -0000

Also, Palo Alto real estate is touted as the most resilient in the bay area. Real estate agents there still advocate bidding over asking price. When there are more layoffs and no IPOs to prop up the market, this market will finally face what everyone else is experiencing. Watch for the smart people to start selling this spring.

Re: http://blog.louisgray.com/2009/03/is-valley-too-expensive-for-normal.html

Glen Campbell — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:49:00 -0000

lazy Tech News Reporters…

Re: http://blog.louisgray.com/2009/03/is-valley-too-expensive-for-normal.html

Chris White — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:47:00 -0000

Jeff, nowhere near what will happen soon. Palo Alto commercial rents are off by roughly 25%. Eventually it will go back to 2002 levels. We rented the Android space (now Facebook headquarters) for about $1.90 per sqft. It was at least $6 per sqft until recently. In early 2000, there were spaces going for as much as $11 per sqft. It's a cycle, and it's going down now.

Re: http://blog.louisgray.com/2009/03/is-valley-too-expensive-for-normal.html

EFFETTI — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:45:09 -0000

What is "normal", what is "too expensive", and what are the essential ingredients needed to launch a success ??? While Venture Capital started here in Silicon Valley, and has become a worldwide phenomena with many other pockets of venture activity, it may be that Social Media will be a determining factor in reducing, or eliminating geographical boundaries !? At the end of the day, great ideas, and great people continue to attract great things !!!

Re: http://blog.louisgray.com/2009/03/is-valley-too-expensive-for-normal.html

Jeff P. Henderson — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:42:00 -0000

@Chris, it already has!

Re: http://blog.louisgray.com/2009/03/is-valley-too-expensive-for-normal.html

Chris White — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:34:00 -0000

Don't worry. SF and the valley will become much cheaper soon.

Re: http://blog.louisgray.com/2009/03/is-valley-too-expensive-for-normal.html

Jesse Stay — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:33:10 -0000

Hey cool - Disqus finally launched Trackbacks! (look below)

Re: http://blog.louisgray.com/2009/03/is-valley-too-expensive-for-normal.html

Jesse Stay — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:32:28 -0000

This is the reason I, a father of 4 kids, am founding my bootstrapped startup, SocialToo in Salt Lake City, UT instead of Silicon Valley. I simply can't afford it. The networking is amazing there, but I am doing just fine so far connecting with people one state away as I would probably be able to do from the same city. Social Media and blogging makes all that possible now.

Re: http://blog.louisgray.com/2009/03/is-valley-too-expensive-for-normal.html

Nicholas James — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 13:38:00 -0000

Andy you have to consider what the Valley has, in comparison to other areas. Notably Venture Capitalists ready to fund the venture, Access to people with Experience ready to help develop the product and Tech News Reporters who are highly unlikely to travel far to see your product.

Re: http://blog.louisgray.com/2009/03/is-valley-too-expensive-for-normal.html

Jeremy Chone — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 13:35:58 -0000

I think we are moving from a Scale First to a Monetize First model. The transition from .com to Web 2.0 was already in this direction. Now, I leave in SF, and it is very hard to leave this city even without the Silicon Valley around.