The weather is beautiful

The people there complain about the fog, but that’s just silliness. Come visit Montreal in February. Then talk to me about fog.

The city is nice

They’ve got the ocean, mountains and a vibrant city. The earthquake thing isn’t great, but get a sturdy a desk to hide under and you should be fine, right?

The startup community is unbeatable

I love the YCombinator system and got a chance to learn a lot about how it all works while I was there. Of course there are a ton of non-YCombinator startups doing incredible work as well…

So are you really moving to the Valley?

No, I’m not. But the thought certainly crossed my mind.

Mostly, this is because of how many people asked me if and when I was moving.

The question came from venture capitalists and entrepreneurs alike. It seemed natural and obvious to them that I should move there, because that’s “where it all happens.” They’re not entirely wrong.

And I’m not the only one thinking about this. Scott Kirsner noted that several of the entrepreneurs recently presenting at YCombinator Demo Day in Boston are planning a move to the Valley.

“The VCs more adventurous. The partnership opportunities more plentiful. The potential for generating buzz better.”

All true. I think cities like Boston (and Montreal) can do a lot to build a great startup ecosystem, but it’s going to take a ton of work. And it won’t be easy.

Meanwhile, I have no immediate plans to move to San Francisco. I absolutely believe that startups can succeed outside of the Valley fishbowl (here’s hoping I prove that true!) Mind you…perpetual Spring weather…hhhmmm…

Photos by lloydi, brandonwardlaw