‘Where ambition goes to die’: These tech workers flocked to Austin during the pandemic. Now they’re desperate to get out.::Drawn by the promise of an emerging tech hub, some tech workers who flocked to Austin found a middling tech scene, subpar culture, and scorching heat.

  • Jo Miran@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    27
    arrow-down
    23
    ·
    edit-2
    1 year ago

    I moved to Austin in 2000 and I’ve been a tech CEO in Austin since 2006 and VC since 2012. I’ve worked or done business in just about every tech hub in the US, so I have a fairly good perspective on Austin and how it compares to the rest of the nation. All I can say to that guy and many others that decided to come to Austin without any contacts, no idea of what they were doing, where to go, where to live, who to talk to, and with a huge superiority complex is – “Bye Felicia”.

    EDIT: To clarify, I’m talking about the hustlers that moved in expecting to be showered with VC money just because they exist, not the workers. Also, one of the main culprits of the Austin overhype was Business Insider.

      • Jo Miran@lemmy.ml
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        19
        arrow-down
        8
        ·
        edit-2
        1 year ago

        Nothing wrong with that at all. That’s not who I’m referring to. A bunch of mid-tier hustlers decided to move to Austin all at once, assuming that they could just show up with a dumb idea with a cringe name and that they would be showered with VC money. If you are young, just graduated college, and are trying to build a solid network that will last you a lifetime, Austin is a great choice. As with anything long lasting, it’s not done overnight. A lot of these guys were looking for get rich quick cons and that doesn’t do well in Austin.

        Austin is a wonderful town to eat, drink, fuck, work hard, and make true friends. Not so good for snakes.