Is being an tech entrepreneur in the midwest impossible? Do I have to move to the coast?

Is being an tech entrepreneur in the midwest impossible? Do I have to move to the coast? –@kernicus

I gave a talk last year at a venture capital conference in Des Moines, Iowa sponsored by John Pappajohn, an 83 years “young” entrepreneur himself who I write about here in a post written on my birthday last year (there’s a specific reason I wrote it that day) http://bit.ly/fsqzE2.

The room was filled with potential entrepreneurs, each with amazing ideas for tech, energy, marketing, and other sectors.

I absolutely think being on the coasts is the worst way right now to be an entrepreneur. There’s a million little startups begging for money from VCs and angels. The problem is there’s also a billion little parties, meetups, tech meet-ups, etc. where everyone parties, listens to boring talks, etc. All of this is a distraction.

The Midwest is ½ as cheap as the coasts. Here’s what you do:

A)    Stay in the Midwest so you can live as cheaply as possible

B)    Build your product or service

C)    Get a customer or traction. Begin to learn what can go wrong in your business.

D)    Get revenues

Then decide if you need the coasts or not. Chances are you don’t.