cloud

New High Tech Headquarters: ‘the Cloud’

“Eventually, the founders of TOA Technologies headquartered in Cleveland. Why not? As they say: “On the Internet, no one knows you’re a dog” ” or in Cleveland or Mosul.”

–Thomas Friedman, “Makers and Breakers“; The NYT (11/9/2014)

I don’t know how much homes in Cleveland cost, but I’ve got a hunch it’s less than the average $2 million they go for in Palo Alto.

Call that reason #1 to consider locating a start-up somewhere other than Silicon Valley.

The Cost of Living Criterion

Reason #2:  as Friedman’s article makes plain, when (almost) everything is cloud-based — data, collaboration, (crowd)funding, dogmarketing, distribution — where you’re actually, physically located . . . suddenly doesn’t matter so much.

What does matter?

Such things as a strong, local education infrastructure; access to early stage financing; and a culture of nourishing start-up’s.

Thankfully, Silicon Valley needn’t have a monopoly on any of those things.

About the author

Ross Kaplan has 19+ years experience selling real estate all over the Twin Cities. He is also a 12-time consecutive "Super Real Estate Agent," as determined by Mpls. - St. Paul Magazine and Twin Cities Business Magazine. Prior to becoming a Realtor, Ross was an attorney (corporate law), CPA, and entrepreneur. He holds an economics degree from Stanford.

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