This is Part V of how I came to write “The Secret History of Silicon Valley.” Read Part I here, Part II here, Part III here, Part IVa here and Part IVb here. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend. – The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance I always had been curious about how Silicon Valley, a place I had lived and worked in, came to be. And throughout my career as an entrepreneur I kept asking questions of my VC investors and friends; Where did the valleys entrepreneurship culture come from? How did Silicon Valley start? Why here? Why now? How did this culture of “make it happen” emerge, etc. And the answer came back much as it did in my past jobs; Who cares, get back to work.
Interesting article. When I was at Teledyne Microwave (1979-1983) in Mountain view, we joked that all one needed to create a microwave components company was a kid on a bike (to take blueprints to the 100's of machine shops and plating companies, and then pick up the parts). By then semiconductors had started to emerge, but by far, even by 1980, the focus was on microwaves.
As a strategic planner focused "technology-based economic development" I've found this series fascinating. But perhaps missing, or I have not found you commenting on: President Eisenhower's speech warning of the "perils" of the "military industrial complex" as he left office. Have you opined on his speech, pro or con? Please help put that in context of the progression from Vannevar Bush to the new 1950's R & D paradigm.
The book Chip War that was recently published tells a similar story of the Valley. Fascinating to read about the organizational heritage of these great companies and over time they have given our country an absurd competitive advantage. No country can possibly mimic the path dependency of being the worldwide birthplace of modern technological entrepreneurship. Steven Klepper has some interesting research in this area.
Interesting article. When I was at Teledyne Microwave (1979-1983) in Mountain view, we joked that all one needed to create a microwave components company was a kid on a bike (to take blueprints to the 100's of machine shops and plating companies, and then pick up the parts). By then semiconductors had started to emerge, but by far, even by 1980, the focus was on microwaves.
Margaret O'Mara's book actually did a decent job covering the earlier era of Silicon Valley, the political winds that brought funding for defense work. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42403122-the-code
As a strategic planner focused "technology-based economic development" I've found this series fascinating. But perhaps missing, or I have not found you commenting on: President Eisenhower's speech warning of the "perils" of the "military industrial complex" as he left office. Have you opined on his speech, pro or con? Please help put that in context of the progression from Vannevar Bush to the new 1950's R & D paradigm.
The book Chip War that was recently published tells a similar story of the Valley. Fascinating to read about the organizational heritage of these great companies and over time they have given our country an absurd competitive advantage. No country can possibly mimic the path dependency of being the worldwide birthplace of modern technological entrepreneurship. Steven Klepper has some interesting research in this area.