"Why isn't Chicago hotter for tech?"

asebold·Jan 30, 2020

If you're on twitter, you probably saw this tweet rolling around lately: https://twitter.com/zck/status/1220124725331947520?s=20It's not the first of it's kind I've seen. Chicago has a thriving tech scene, I don't understand where these sentiments come from. Every where I go, everyone is talking about how their area is "the next silicon valley". I've heard this said about Boston, Omaha, Atlanta, Denver, even ~* central Illinois *~. And from what I see coming out of SF, people are eager to hop on the hype train for these places (So many VCs talking about Denver and Utah lately). Amidst all of this Chicago tech continues to thrive and yet, the rest of the country seems oblivious. Active Campaign just raised $100M, Sprout Social just IPO-ed., and I can't imagine any place in the country that has more fintech institutions save New York or SF. What gives? Are we midwesterners just too darn nice to be noticed?

eleniak19·Jan 30, 2020

I was all over this :) I just moved back to Chicago after 6 years in SF. I had super low expectations, namely to save some money while I got my company off the ground.I was blown away. Chicago is thriving. The startups here are lowkey hustling and killing it. The only thing I've noticed is how insanely conservative most of the VCs are - that ended up not being a problem for me since I kept my VCs in SF.Get a few riskier venture institutions, break the midwest "safe" mentality, and I think big things will be happening in chicago. Also, this: https://www.getcities.org/

asebold·Jan 30, 2020

But big things ARE happening in Chicago, that's my point. Just because there is less VC money originating FROM Chicago (I say originating because there is certainly plenty of VC money flowing into Chicago), that shouldn't mean Chicago isn't a "hot" tech hub, right? We have lots of stable tech companies and no shortage of tech workers. We have a passionate civic tech and tech diversity community. Basecamp was founded here which is where Ruby on Rails originated. I could go on. Surely a "tech scene" is more than just VCs throwing money at companies?

hannahzwick·Jan 30, 2020

I feel this deeply. I started in tech in Chicago, then that company moved us to Denver, then I moved to a new company in San Diego, and recently moved back to Chicago. Like Chicago is a TECH town for sure. I don't know why people don't think so? I feel like everyone I know works in tech or nonprofits.

asebold·Jan 30, 2020

Yeah, the only friends I have that aren't technical or are aren't working at a tech company are lawyers