Toronto: Dear Waterloo, It's Not A Zero Sum Game

When did the gauntlet get dropped between Canadian "cities" for some made up startup championship belt? Does Toronto really have to lose for Waterloo to win? What about Vancouver or Montreal? Can they succeed too, or must we all fail so all those profs and ex-rim employees can win?

If you don't know what I'm talking about the rest of this will probably sound a lot like a rant. But, because I'll feel better if I tell you, I'm talking about the on-going feud between the cities, municipalities, and startup ecosystems in Toronto and Waterloo.

Canada is not the ideal place to run a startup, and believe it or not that includes all of her fair cities.

Don't get me wrong, Upverter is largely based in Toronto, and we love it here [why, hire]. But were here because the best talent we know is, and wants to be, here. Not because its easier to be a startup here. And as much as the world seems to be fighting over which city is going to be the next startup mecca [sf, nyc, mtl, syd], they all seem to not realize the prize isn't going to be a new focal point. Its going to be an equalization. What I mean is it will become more ok to be where you need to be for your business to succeed. There isn't going to be a right answer for everyone anymore. And thats going to be a great thing for all of us.

At the end of our YC class an unprecedented number of startups left the valley. Some back to Europe. Others to NYC & LA. We were the only made-in-canada team, and likewise the only to return here. But thats a hugely relevant stat (albeit a much harder problem for YC to manage). And if you draw the dotted line, you should see that this means whenever or if ever a new mecca happens, there wont be a migration. There will just be a even greater place to be for the type of startups that are succeeding there.

And really, in what world does Waterloo or any of these cities win such that the rest of us fail? It just doesn't make sense. We are all on Team Canada, we are all on Team Not Silicon Vally, and we are all bought into the idea that this is the best place for us to run our businesses. Because if we weren't, or if it isn't, what the hell are you doing here?

Winning isn't about beating someone else, and especially not about having the best seats in the upper bowl. Its about enabling entrepreneurs, wherever they are, and wherever they're from, to be successful because when they are the world becomes a better place, not for one city or one sect, but for everyone.

So... Can we be friends again? Thanks for those kick-ass engineers. How can we help?