[mchannon]

1. CTO-grade developers aren't cheap, but they aren't scarce either. You either need to pay for their skills (employee/contractor) or convince them to spend their time on your idea (prove you can sell, market, and/or fund the enterprise as a cofounder).

2. Stay in Buffalo until you have something to show investors. Maybe even stay there afterward. Rents will bleed your company dry before it makes it out of the crib.

3. Use your imagination. Many coders of skill don't have compsci degrees and none would bat an eye at your background if you claimed you were an expert developer. Much more impressive would be the ability to sell and market and get funding for your ideas.

4. Computer History Museum, Google's campus (a little networking can net you a free lunch there), Land's end, Ocean Beach, 2nd & Market (SF).

5. If you can't sell to save your life, commit to building a project yourself and avail yourself to online code courses to learn the craft as you build.

[rak00n]

Why 2nd & Market? That sticks out from that list.