[noahc]

SV is a special place that combines all sorts of things: talent, capital, ideas, culture. Most places lack one or two of these things. For example, where I live I'd say all but the ideas are lacking. The point is that Portland could be the biotech, health care systems, green energy, transportation,etc powerhouse with capital. The lack of capital effects all industries equally.

[dariusmonsef]

For the sake of conversation I might say that you can replace "Portland" with any city in the US. As I mentioned in the post (A Startup Community Needs 4 Things: Ideas, Talent, Ambition, and Capital.) You can probably find greater and lesser amounts of each in any city. And like Portland, most will be shortest on the Capital. But the capital world is changing and I think there will be more opportunities for startups to get off the ground wherever they are based.