Why These Tech Employees Traded Silicon Valley for Silicon Beach

by Madeline Hester
October 17, 2019

Silicon Valley may be considered the mecca of tech but that doesn’t mean the region is without its cracks. With a sky-high cost of living, fierce business competition, and perhaps worst of all, year-long light jacket weather, it’s not too surprising that many tech workers are searching for greener pastures.

Los Angeles is attracting a new crop of tech companies looking for more Vitamin D, diversity and developers. We asked three tech employees what specifically attracted them to Silicon Beach.

 

tigerconnect
TIGERCONNECT

TigerConnect provides healthcare companies with communication solutions that accelerate productivity. The opportunity to work with a company that makes an impact not just on its users but also on the community of Santa Monica is one of the many reasons Senior Android Software Developer Cary Dobeck choose the Southern California lifestyle.

 

Tell us why you decided to build your tech career in Los Angeles and not Silicon Valley.

I wanted to work in the Los Angeles area for a few reasons. Santa Monica is my home; my family and friends are here, and so is the great weather. There are a ton of options for work and play. You are in the center of everything: the beach, mountains, theaters, sporting events, and great food are all nearby. I kept hearing from friends about how Silicon Valley is overcrowded and highly competitive. Instead of being a little fish in a big pond, I wanted the opportunity to work for a growing business and have a meaningful impact.

 We regularly help out local charities and support local businesses with fun company events.

 

What specifically attracted you to LA, and what has surprised you most about the local tech community since you've arrived?

One of the things that really surprises me about TigerConnect is how involved with the community we are. As a Santa Monica native, I really appreciate giving back to the home that raised me. We regularly help out local charities and support local businesses with fun company events. The best part is that this love and support exist inside the company as well. My coworkers have many different interests and backgrounds and yet, we share the same goals and we encourage each other to accomplish them. I feel that this camaraderie flourishes when each of us is given the opportunity to grow with our company.

 

prodege
PRODEGE LLC

With over 100 million registered users, it would be an understatement to call Prodege LLC’s user base diverse. Senior Business Analyst Ahmed Hollowell shared how diversity was one of the selling points that attracted him to work in Los Angeles.

 

Tell us why you decided to build your tech career in Los Angeles and not Silicon Valley.

I recently moved from the Bay Area to LA to help Prodege build out the strategy and analytics team within the finance organization; it was a growth opportunity that I couldn’t pass up. The part of the move that I was most worried about was the size of the tech community in LA and future career opportunities, but I quickly learned that innovation and talent were just as prevalent.

There’s a sort of homogeneity that exists in the Bay Area, making it hard to find people who don’t work in tech; LA is very different. 

 

What specifically attracted you to LA, and what has surprised you most about the local tech community since you've arrived?  

I was ultimately attracted to the diversity of thought and experience in LA and its tech community, with Prodege being a prime example of that. There’s a sort of homogeneity that exists in the Bay Area, making it hard to find people who don’t work in tech; LA is very different. I like that many of my Prodege peers come from a wide range of industries. After months of taking weekend trips to LA, I was sold on the idea of living in a place where I could be a techie but not be defined by it.

 

 

seriously
SERIOUSLY

Though they started off as a gaming company, Seriously is expanding into the entertainment industry. So what better place to be than Los Angeles? Senior Director of Performance Marketing Alex Pan shared how being in the middle of the entertainment epicenter gave his career a second act. 

 

Tell us why you decided to build your tech career in Los Angeles and not Silicon Valley.

After living and working in Silicon Valley from 2009 to 2016, I decided it was finally time for a change of scenery. San Francisco changed dramatically over that time period — transforming from a bohemian city with a vibrant art scene, into a playground for tech millionaires. While the Bay Area offered the most job opportunities for someone in tech like me, I felt it wasn’t worth it compared to the exorbitant cost of living, increasing crime rates, and growing homeless crisis. Rather than just complain about it, I decided to do something about it and move somewhere else. 

 Not surprisingly, you also see many tech startups related to the entertainment industry.

 

What specifically attracted you to Los Angeles, and what has surprised you most about the local tech community since you've arrived?

The main things that attracted me to LA from San Francisco were the significantly lower cost of living, increased diversity, and warmer weather. One thing that surprised me was that many tech companies in LA are concentrated near the Westside of Los Angeles, which tends to have a more laid-back vibe compared to other parts of the city. Not surprisingly, you also see many tech startups related to the entertainment industry. At Seriously, we’ve also tapped into the entertainment angle by building a character-based brand and releasing several animated shorts around those characters. We view ourselves as an entertainment company and not just a gaming company.