We bootstrapped to $11M in ARR
From friends I've talked with, the benefits of the valley are real, but diminishing. At the same time downsides are increasing: cost of living, homelessness, real estate prices (though I read these are coming down a bit). I've been told the benefit has been the ease of networking, and likely will always be so. As startup hubs grow around the country this networking benefit will start to be there. It is already there in some places such as Austin and Boston.There are a number of hubs in the country now, with most outside the valley focusing on one or more niches. Some of these are:- Nanotechnology in Boston and Middlesex-essex, MA- Healthcare Boston, New York City, and the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Big investments though are being made in Kansas, Ohio, Texas, and Pennsylvania-  SaaS in Austin,TX- Education in Boston- Fintech in New York City