Personally, I'm not convinced that the bay area is the be all and end all for startups. Maybe for classic style VC fueled all or nothing deals, but for those more interested in living cheaply and bootstrapping something, as long as you have a line on the good tech people in your area, perhaps you can make a go of it. Perhaps it's even easier to get a few of them on board, because there are relatively less other interesting things going on.
Europe definitely isn't conducive to startups though, even registering a company is quite expensive. I think if I were to head back to the states, I might pick someplace... not too isolated, but sort of "second tier". Portland, Oregon would be great..maybe someplace like Tucson in Arizona, Boulder Colorado, and so on.
(*) Biotech/medical - now there is a field where high capital requirements and lots of regulations mean that startups really can't happen without massive investments and thus tend to cluster very tightly in certain areas - bay area, san diego, boston.
Why?
-- Pro government business.
-- Massive investment in infrastructure from european businesses moving manufacturing there
-- highly educated and motivated workforce
-- low costs
-- relatively centrally located, and close to Austria, Lichtenstein, and Switzerland banking centers.
-- Low tax rates and regulation rates.
I'm sure some of the other eastern european countries are contenders, and might be better... but innovation is going to start concentrating in eastern europe, as they join the EU, the entrepreneurs will move to get less burdensome regulation while staying in the EU.
The US will probably retain some advantages, but we're making it harder and harder for people to come to the US to live and work.
I've driven 6 hours to meet a potential partner face to face. I've flown across the continent to "ask" for an interview with a dream employer. If anyone out there is as passionate about meeting the dreamers of today and leaders of tomorrow, please feel free to say so.
Let me begin: I'm Andrew and I'm in Toronto (yes, Canadians take risks too)
At the very least, many of you will find yourselves in the same city as others on this site and to me that's about as good an excuse to have a 2am coffee as any I can think of.
I've got a bit of a selfish motivation in that I'm looking for partner #3 and I think face-to-face is the best way to see how well the ideas flow and personalities mesh (and if we're lucky, clash!).
Always willing to meet for coffee, though.
Am not moving to the Bay Area.
Me too. What are you doing after work today? I'm on the Ave right now. See my profile for contact info.
Yes, yes, I know... Definitely a shortage of risk takers here... Currently working on a few ideas for a startup, and all the while, looking for something interesting to work on if somebody else has one...
Well... near Seattle, baby.