Can't agree enough with @twog here.<p>we were funded in Chattanooga over a year ago and have had an incredible experience. We started as a completely green 3 man startup spread across the country, recruited a cofounder from UT Knoxville CS, and have since been able to bring on 8 amazing people.<p>PG says, 'If you can just avoid dying, you get rich'. Now, obviously there is a lot more to it - but taking that sentiment at its face, being in Chattanooga is one of the best business decisions your startup can make.<p>Sure, you'll have to travel further to conferences or won't meet the latest A16Z founder at the coffee shop (well, until they invest in us), but think of the benefits...<p>We have 12 incredibly talented people... and what we've spent in 20 months is what most Valley startups burn through in 6. Thus, our 'avoid dying budget' metrics are pretty healthy for a 'seed' payroll.<p>Cost of living is incredible. I bought a house a mile from our downtown office, and my mortgage is ~ 30% of what people are scrambling to pay in rent in SOMA - with a park and an awesome tavern less than a 1 minute walk.<p>Which brings up the next crucial piece, Quality of Life. Simply amazing. Yes, to catch an NFL or NBA game, you'll have to make a 90 minute trip - but that is not much worse than SV, and much better than Austin. Downtown Chattanooga is incredibly accessible with a great bar/ music scene, a rapidly redeveloping former industrial area with lofts, coffee shops, etc, and is literally 20 minutes from some of the best climbing/ hiking in the world.<p>To wrap up, if you want an amazing quality of life, great startup culture and energized scene, great community support, and <i>most importantly</i> want to survive longer than your east or west coast competition, check out Chattanooga.