Airbnb will build a new tech hub in Atlanta

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pratik661 ◴[18 Feb 21 17:01 UTC] No.26182359[source]▶

I grew up in metro Atlanta and studied at Georgia Tech. The state government subsidizes college education for grads with a certain GPA (HOPE Scholarship). However, I (and most CS grads I knew) left Atlanta for better paying jobs in NYC/Bay Area/Seattle/Austin. I always wondered why the ATL tech scene was 'underdeveloped' compared to comparable sized cities like Seattle and Austin, despite having major research institutions (Georgia Tech and Emory) to anchor it.

This is what I mean by 'underdeveloped':

- Most software dev job postings (as of May 2018) have SPECIFIC tech stack requirements. This to me is a red flag. Most recruiters in 'developed' tech cities assume that software development skills are transferable and that technology stacks/frameworks/languages can be learned.

- The salaries offered were still very low compared to comparable COL locations like Austin

- No major FAANG presence to put upward pressure on local developer wages

replies(14): >>26182424 #>>26182453 #>>26182607 #>>26182952 #>>26183122 #>>26183172 #>>26183431 #>>26185995 #>>26186002 #>>26186101 #>>26186104 #>>26186504 #>>26188019 #>>26188376 #

1. jseliger ◴[18 Feb 21 17:42 UTC] No.26182952[source]▶

>>26182359 #

California has a huge advantage in the form of no non-competes: https://www.vox.com/new-money/2017/2/13/14580874/google-self..., NYC has a huge advantage in the form of the subway and sheer size, and so on. It's surprising to me that more states don't outright ban noncompetes and build out subway networks, but they don't.

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2. mlinksva ◴[18 Feb 21 18:59 UTC] No.26183995[source]▶

>>26182952 (TP) #

DC's non-compete ban should go into effect later this year https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/d-c-mayor-signs-bill-to-ba... and they have a subway network. Will be really interesting to see what affect this has (though of course it'll be difficult to tease out).

It's possible most non-competes will be banned nationally (US), see https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/biden-can-free-mil... and https://joebiden.com/empowerworkers/#:~:text=Eliminate%20non...

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3. foobiekr ◴[18 Feb 21 19:44 UTC] No.26184498[source]▶

>>26183995 #

One problem is the dc metro tech industry is, on the balance, in Virginia, some in DC proper and a small amount of non-Federal in Maryland (less probably due to the taxation in MD).

4. wil421 ◴[18 Feb 21 21:33 UTC] No.26185939[source]▶

>>26182952 (TP) #

I am not a lawyer but reside in Georgia.

It's doubtful Software Engineers are covered by non-competes in Georgia. You could use one for sales people and possibly an ex-founder or executive.

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5. monocasa ◴[18 Feb 21 21:55 UTC] No.26186205[source]▶

>>26185939 #

GA modified their constitution in 2011 in order to make non competes broadly applicable and enforceable. Software engineers probably fall under their "company professionals" category that allows for non-competes. They also removed time limits on the non-compete; non-competes can be valid for as long as the trade secrets you were exposed to are still trade secrets (so can be forever).

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6. forgotmysn ◴[18 Feb 21 22:17 UTC] No.26186506[source]▶

>>26182952 (TP) #

that article is outdated. non-compete clauses are unenforceable in california now

7. Xcelerate ◴[18 Feb 21 23:54 UTC] No.26187557{3}[source]▶

>>26186205 #

> GA modified their constitution in 2011 in order to make non competes broadly applicable and enforceable

How on earth did that ever pass??

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8. monocasa ◴[19 Feb 21 00:03 UTC] No.26187633{4}[source]▶

>>26187557 #

GA in general bends over backwards for corporate rights at the expense of the commons. It's probably one of their biggest issues holding them back economically these days IMO as someone who grew up in GA.

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