When it comes to tech innovation California is number one. With more IT workers than the next two states combined (New York and Texas), California has over 1.5 million. Ever wondered what keeps California ahead of the curve?

From Silicon Valley to a skilled workforce let’s look at the key factors that keep California on top.

The beginning of Silicon Valley

The history of Silicon Valley started in the early 1900s when Stanford University had a big impact on the region. The engineering department at Stanford University became a hotbed of research and development in the 50s and 60s. Students and professors worked together on projects that were the foundation of the digital revolution in the area. A major milestone in Silicon Valley’s history was the creation of Fairchild Semiconductor, a company started by 8 former Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory employees. This pioneering company launched the semiconductor industry in the area and spawned many startups and expanded the tech ecosystem.

The Stanford connection

Stanford University’s presence was one of the key factors that created Silicon Valley. Stanford, founded in 1885, has always been an innovative and entrepreneurial environment. Startups with a tech focus thrived because of the university’s focus on research and collaboration. Many of the tech giants, including Google and Hewlett-Packard, were started by Stanford students or faculty.

The big players

The fact that tech giants have headquarters in Silicon Valley is what makes the region prosperous. Not only have companies like Apple, Google, Facebook, and Intel changed their respective industries but Silicon Valley has become synonymous with them. Because of the global talent they’ve attracted the air is competitive and innovation happens. And venture capital firms like Andreessen Horowitz and Sequoia Capital have been instrumental in supporting entrepreneurs and the entrepreneurial spirit in the area.

Ecosystem

The collaborative environment that encourages networking and information sharing is another key factor that makes Silicon Valley startups successful. Since startups are often near each other, there’s a sense of community among entrepreneurs who can talk, share ideas, and work on projects together, because of this proximity information flows more easily and entrepreneurs can benefit from each other’s successes and failures. For example, the famous tech hub Y Combinator is a tight-knit community where entrepreneurs can support and learn from each other and invest and mentor in startups.

Venture capital is easy to find

Because of the many venture capital firms in Silicon Valley startups can get funding for their projects more easily. These investors who focus on funding high-potential and early-stage companies create an environment that encourages creativity and calculated risk-taking. Compared to other places entrepreneurs have a better chance of getting venture capital since investors are actively looking for companies. Entrepreneurs can execute their ideas, build their companies, and eventually support the growth of the startup ecosystem because of this access to capital.

Infrastructure

Early-stage companies benefit from the resources, mentorship, and advice that incubators and accelerators provide. These resources help startups refine their company ideas and navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship. These programs often include networking opportunities, access to industry experts, and specialized training that gives founders the tools they need to succeed. For example, 500 Startups has helped form hundreds of successful startups by providing them with the resources and guidance they need to grow.

Talent from around the world

Silicon Valley’s success as a global tech hub has been largely due to its ability to attract talent from all over the world. The region’s ability to attract and retain international talent is influenced by many factors including the diversity of its workforce, the attractiveness of career opportunities, the presence of top universities, and the need for visa reform. This global talent is key to shaping the direction of technology as the region grows and innovates.

Silicon Valley’s connectivity

What sets Silicon Valley apart from other global tech clusters is the ecosystem’s connectivity. Innovation and entrepreneurship thrive in the relationship between startups, venture investors, IT giants, universities, incubators, and networking events. Because of this unique ecosystem talent and capital continues to flow into Silicon Valley and it stays at the forefront of technological advancements.

Conferences and networking events

Valley has conferences and networking events all year round. These gatherings of founders, investors, industry experts and thought leaders are great opportunities for networking and knowledge sharing. And events like TechCrunch Disrupt and Silicon Valley Innovation Summit showcase the tech and bring together like minded people.

Summary

California has stayed ahead in tech for a reason. It’s because of the combination of solid infrastructure, great education, collaborative environment, strong venture capital, diversity, global talent, and connected ecosystems. California keeps Silicon Valley at the heart of the world’s tech industry by encouraging innovation and a climate for technical growth. California will continue to be at the forefront of technological innovation and adaptation as the world of tech evolves.