It’s no secret that the Bay Area has become a mecca of sorts for those who want to work to work at a startup and change the world. Silicon Valley and the Bay Area have become the hub for budding tech nerds and entrepreneurs, all competing to create a start-up with staying power. Alongside these small fish are the real tech sharks that also call the valley home: Google, Apple, Facebook, Netflix and Intel to name but a few. The sheer number of high-tech workers in this area is quite staggering, with an estimated 29% of all private sector workers in high-tech jobs. But is the Bay Area about to be dethroned?
Over the last few years, a surprising number of startups have chosen to base themselves in Los Angeles. Not only have many of the giants (Facebook, Youtube, Microsoft and soon enough Google) set up shop in regions such as Playa Vista, but small start-ups are beginning to follow suit . Some have suggested that in the long-term, the tech industry is likely to move away from isolated tech clusters such as Silicon Valley and Playa Vista and reap the benefits of the energy, talent and diversity found in global megacities such as New York, Hong Kong and London.
Startup founder and technologist Tara Brown certainly didn’t seem to regret her decision to make the move. In a recent article on Forbes, she stated:
“I began to realize that only hanging out with technologists allowed for a very narrow view on the world and that living within 46.9 square miles versus 100 times that was akin to living in an Amish community and trying to comment on the new Tesla Model X. Or a fish bowl, take your pick.”
Is Tara correct in assuming that the “sameness” or lack of diversity within the Valley is actually cramping innovation? Do big cities really have a competitive advantage over the Bay Area?
To explore these suggestions further, we used Good.Co’s proprietary data to compare the personalities of tech pros in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles and New York City to address the following questions:
Can LA or New York City dethrone Silicon Valley?
Who has the competitive edge when it comes to personality traits?
Where is the greatest personality diversity? Are you going to meet a greater range of personality types within the LA or NYC tech circuits?
Over the last few years, a surprising number of startups have chosen to base themselves in Los Angeles. Not only have many of the giants (Facebook, Youtube, Microsoft and soon enough Google) set up shop in regions such as Playa Vista, but small start-ups are beginning to follow suit . Some have suggested that in the long-term, the tech industry is likely to move away from isolated tech clusters such as Silicon Valley and Playa Vista and reap the benefits of the energy, talent and diversity found in global megacities such as New York, Hong Kong and London.
Startup founder and technologist Tara Brown certainly didn’t seem to regret her decision to make the move. In a recent article on Forbes, she stated:
“I began to realize that only hanging out with technologists allowed for a very narrow view on the world and that living within 46.9 square miles versus 100 times that was akin to living in an Amish community and trying to comment on the new Tesla Model X. Or a fish bowl, take your pick.”
Is Tara correct in assuming that the “sameness” or lack of diversity within the Valley is actually cramping innovation? Do big cities really have a competitive advantage over the Bay Area?
To explore these suggestions further, we used Good.Co’s proprietary data to compare the personalities of tech pros in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles and New York City to address the following questions:
Can LA or New York City dethrone Silicon Valley?
Who has the competitive edge when it comes to personality traits?
Where is the greatest personality diversity? Are you going to meet a greater range of personality types within the LA or NYC tech circuits?