4 places taking on Silicon Valley — and why you’ll want to go

First labeled Silicon Valley in the 1970s, the area located in the South San Francisco Bay area has long earned its nickname, serving as a hotbed of industry and innovation. Inspiring an HBO television series and serving as the backdrop for a multitude of Hollywood films, Silicon Valley is something of an international icon. Once called the Valley of Heart’s Delight, from a literal orchard rose a forest of venture capitalists, silicon chip manufacturers, and startups. 

But even a heart has four chambers — and a high-tech ecosystem is hardly a thing to be contained. The following areas are among the most highly sought after real estate for old and new tech companies alike looking to set up shop.

Portland, Oregon

Like Silicon Valley, the world outside the technology sphere has accessed Portland by way of a television show. And, while Portlandia has yet to explore Portland’s happening tech scene, the fact remains — Portland is a city to watch out for. 

With affordable housing prices, high job growth, and rising wages for high tech jobs, Portland appears ready to establish itself as the next Silicon Valley. Perhaps the best news of all? There’s a huge boom in new technology jobs thanks to a number of prestigious Silicon Valley companies opening offices in Portland. Companies like Twitter, Apple, and Facebook are drawn to the lower rent prices and abundance of highly skilled employees Portland offers, making it a city on the rise.

Beersheba, Israel  

While Beersheba is working hard to overcome a negative reputation, it is no longer a city of sand and camels. Instead, this city in Israel’s Negev desert has, with the help of mayor Rubik Danilovich, evolved into a modern city with the potential to be the next Silicon Valley. 

Under Danilovich’s leadership, the city has opened a large technology park near the major university, bridging the gap between business and education. Also nearby is a military intelligence facility. The convergence of three types of great, innovative minds may be what the city needs to become a global destination, making Beersheba a place where the newly graduated will want to stay. City leaders are committed to creating a technology driven future for the city, which promises to be a must watch.

Nashville, Tennessee 

Collaboration is a great way to assume Silicon Valley status and Nashville knows it. Tennessee State University recently implemented a program designed to help establish the city’s presence in the tech industry, in part by bringing young, tech-savvy people to the area. Where the city experienced a void in certain skill sets, the university answered by establishing programs that would provide these skills. The university program teaches coding, COBOL business language, and ecommerce practices via and IBM Academic Initiative. 

Additional professionals in the tech industry have partnered with the program and students are moving to Nashville to take part. Local industry experts predict a much larger boom, given the influx of companies recently opening up shop — particularly start-ups. 

India
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Sure, it may seem a little broad to cast an enormous country as the next Silicon Valley, but if there is anywhere capable of earning of such a title, it is most certainly India. Given the longstanding relationship between the two countries, it should come as no surprise that there are big things to come. 

While Silicon Valley has been outsourcing to India for years, India’s start-up culture is booming right now, promising only to expand. Venture Capital investment is at an all-time high and government initiatives to increase work in the tech sphere are underway. India is becoming a key player in a global marketplace, drawing interest from companies doing international business. 

Do you think your city is a better choice for the next Silicon Valley? Let us know in the comments below!

By Heather Hamilton

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