Secrets of Silicon Valley

Silicon Valley

The Santa Clara Valley – now more popularly known as Silicon Valley – is a heavily populated corridor south of San Francisco Bay, California. Writer Don Hoefler popularized its nickname, which refers to the area’s numerous manufacturers of silicon chips for microprocessors. Silicon Valley’s culture features hard workers who eschew hierarchy, celebrate creativity, strive to achieve their passions and recognize the importance of a healthy working environment. The Valley’s remarkable record of innovation stems from three core factors: high-tech advances, technological entrepreneurs’ ability to accept “risk and failure,” and brilliant innovators, including scientists, engineers, academics and entrepreneurs drawn to the area by its resources.

Eight primary factors explain how Silicon Valley came into being and why it continues to thrive year after year:

1. Stanford University – Dedicated to science’s “direct usefulness in life,” Stanford University is Silicon Valley’s guiding spirit. From its earliest days, the university encouraged professors to consult with corporations, an unusual idea at the time. Today, Stanford academics credit...