Ask HN: Building a team in Berlin vs. the rest of Germany

[rhsimplex]

I've recently been offered a position to become a technical lead of a new startup in Berlin, a city where I've worked as a developer for the last four years. For context, our product will involve large-scale data processing and analysis for heavy industry. I had assumed I would build up the team in Berlin, but talking to founders/CTOs/engineering managers in other companies here has convinced me to also consider other options.

My question is to anyone who has done a bit of hiring or managed a team in Berlin AND somewhere else. Was it easier/harder here, everything else being equal? Would you do it again? Are there hiring/personnel problems unique to Berlin that might have been invisible to me as a individual contributor?

We are particularly interested also in Munich due to some pre-existing customer relationships, but comparisons to anywhere else in Germany/Switzerland/Austria are welcome.

[montypython12]

I am a technical lead in Walldorf, Germany. This area and surroundings of around 15-20 km radius (Walldorf, Heidelberg, Speyer, Schwetzingen) can also be an option with some of the reasons mentioned: -Good concentration of people working in SAP having technical experience as well as specific industry and business experience - Not in a very big city but still close(driving distance) to Frankfurt and Stuttgart and close enough to stay in mid cities like Heidelberg, Karlsruhe and Mannheim - Startup scene is not that developed so less competition and can be quite attractive to talent from big companies like SAP, Bosch, etc. - Available pool of students from universities in Heidelberg, Karlsruhe and Mannheim - Traffic and congestion in this area is quite manageable - Not a very happening nigh life like Berlin but there are good party and night life options in above college towns - Decent cost of living and rental options ranging from very expensive (Heidelberg Altstadt, Walldorf) to economical (small towns like Bad Schonborn) in 15-20 km radius - Tolerant, peaceful, family-friendly neighborhoods in numerous small towns with people from different nationalities

Maybe someone in this area can also add other points.

[rhsimplex]

Thanks for the detailed reply!