Peer2Politics

What makes a city ideal for startups? According to Fab Lab founder Katie Rast, the answer to this question goes far beyond traditional quantifiable data. San Diego is inarguably securing its status as a hub for startups, technology and innovation – the goal now is to continue its expansion in the right direction. It’s all happening right here in the I.D.E.A. District and its surrounding neighborhood. So just what is it that makes this area so appealing to the creative class? Rast explains that the culture of a city is similar to that of any organizational structure: “It really helps to decide what types of companies are going to exist and thrive there. Right now, this idea of East Village’s renaissance is very attractive to a lot of startups, because startups are usually people at the forefront of a movement, and so they see the potential even before the ground is broken.” Startup culture is a key component to maintaining the forward momentum in downtown San Diego, and the opportunity to build from the ground up is a unique one. As the physical space becomes increasingly desirable, it draws an influx of the highly coveted creative class – an invaluable resource even on the most basic levels of urban growth. Economists have identified correlations between cities that attract young talent and a region’s overall economic prosperity; Fab Lab and similar organizations are exactly the type of magnets that attract said talent. The combined efforts between I.D.E.A. District and these organizations as we strive together to foster a community built around the creative class is now on track to follow a serious recipe for success.

Silicon Valley from above. (Patrick Nouhailler / Flickr) It seems lately that every place in the United States wants to be home to the next Silicon Valley.