Silicon Sands

Three years ago I decided it was time to move. I felt I had outgrown the small local startup community of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and was ready for a fresh start. While I loved my city, I longed for a more established ecosystem that deeply supported high growth and more importantly entrepreneurship.

Looking to grow my second technology company, my obvious first choice was Silicon Valley. The place is somewhat of a dream for new tech founders, and I spent countless hours researching the local startup scene and resources. What I found is that the area is loaded with talent, resources, and is a perfect storm for many new startups. However, the cost of living and facility rents were absolutely ridiculous. I’m a firm believer in bootstrapping and lean startup culture, and I knew starting a company from scratch again in one of the highest-priced areas in the country would have its own set of challenges.

I started looking at different areas across the country that may have similar promise, and an up-and-coming tech scene. It wasn’t until my girlfriend got a call from a friend in Phoenix, that we started to explore the idea of moving to Arizona. I did some research and found that Phoenix was the third fastest-growing city in America, was home to some of my favorite tech companies, and that the political support around entrepreneurship was second to none.

The day I arrived in Phoenix was the first time I had ever been here. Little did I know how much my life was about to change. I was greeted by a community of extraordinary people, who together actually change things in our world. They introduced me to what now seems likes thousands of entrepreneurs, investors, politicians, and business leaders. It really is the people who make the place, and I now could not see myself doing business anywhere else.

The entrepreneurship community in Arizona is so well connected, almost every person I meet with nowadays knows someone who I already know. This is partially due to the number of local business groups and communities in the area. These groups have truly united Phoenix, and are the backbone of a large portion of the commerce that happens here. Anytime I am in need of a resource or service, I know who to call, or know someone who knows someone to call. Having all the resources needed to scale, has dramatically cut down the time it takes to take an idea from inception to application.

Arizona’s resources, people, low costs, connectivity, and fast-paced business environment have exceeded all of my expectations. I’m proud to call this place home and am truly blessed to work alongside so many incredible individuals. My partners and I sometimes refer to Phoenix as “Silicon Sands,” as it is quickly becoming one of the best places to build a technology company in the United States.