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Comment by 2mur | Hacker News Reader

I hate writing this comment because I actually have a lot of warm feelings about St. Louis. I grew up there and went to college + medical school there (until I was about 25). Then I left.

I always say that St. Louis is a nice place to be from. It's a nice place to raise a family. But I'm never going to move back. Or under extreme protest if my wife decides she wants to move back to be by family. There's just nothing interesting about St. Louis. White flight ruined the city in the sixties and highway 70 divides the majority black population (north) from the majority white population (south). So it's basically a segregated suburbia wrapped around a lifeless inner core. No one lives in the city. They drive there to work, drink and watch sports. Period.

I certainly wouldn't want to start a tech company there.

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I grew up there as well, and moved away and started my own company. Kudos to the team of people trying to get a startup environment off the ground, but I would temper anyone's expectations of this having much long-term value.

As 2mur explains, it's a great place to grow up and awesome for families. That said, there are significant issues with the area that ruined any chance of me starting my company in St. Louis. Beyond the in-your-face social issues, there is an insularity to St. Louis. Outsiders generally are viewed quite skeptically, and trying to recruit to St. Louis was a significant non-starter for me.

This isn't intended to bag on St. Louis, but it's just not a fit as a technology hub. Compared to Seattle, the Bay area, Boston, Research Triangle, etc. the difference couldn't possibly be overstated.

>>Beyond the in-your-face social issues, there is an insularity to St. Louis.

Wait, where'd you go to high school?

Haha, sorry for the pointless comment but this is on point.

Haha, so true. I was actually going to include the "where did you go to high school?" question as an example, but thought it would be tl;dr.

To those not from St. Louis, take heed: you're measure in "class" is determined by your answer to this question. If you're an outsider, you're relegated to lesser-than status.

lol it's really like a big small-town, completely exemplified by this question.

Entrepreneur in the city, here. There's stuff going on :P

By the way, CITY MUSEUM?? Come, on!

But seriously, I wouldn't say there's a ton to attract someone here, but (1) if you're serious about your venture and this capital would make the difference, you can make it here--and I'll help you! and (2) there's more going on here than you think. Not an overwhelming amount, but enough to make a real run at it. This sort of grant program just adds to the mix.

> They drive there to ... drink

Well, that's a little terrifying.

Downtown has Laclede's landing, Busch Stadium, the James Edwards Dome, Scott Trade Center etc. There's other places that I'm forgetting, but that's a draw to down town for nights and weekends if you are into sports, drinking, and live music. I lived downtown while I was there and everyone I knew and worked with lived outside of the city and would drive in for work/events. I was only there for a couple of years over a decade ago so some of it has probably changed but I doubt it. It is probably one of the last places I would consider for a company and it's one of the few places I have no real desire to go back to.

Welcome to the Midwest

Sounds like Atlanta, or any southern city. If Southern cities want to innovate they should at least try and create basic city public infastructure.

same thing happened to detroit

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