Startup ecosystems are thriving in growing tech hubs like Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and Nashville, drawing in new investments and fresh talent as they continue to advance. To continue these investments in growing tech hubs, OAW is partnering with Comeback Capital to provide pre-seed investments to over 80 companies across the country, and particularly in underserved regions of America.

Remote work is setting the stage for a redistribution of wealth away from the hands of a few select cities. Instead, it is going toward smaller towns and suburbs that were traditionally left out of the wealth produced in America’s greatest economies.

Demand for diversity, equity, and inclusion continues to be top of mind for many business leaders. And this includes various levels of diversity including racial, gender, class, and even geographic diversity that add value to companies’ economic, social, and environmental bottom lines.

Location bias has long been an issue for tech companies, and it’s stunted their ability to access qualified candidates from a larger, more diverse talent pool. Now facing the future of work, companies should consider building a diverse workforce in order to promote growth and innovation.

To make it easier for growing companies and talented individuals to research potential cities, and learn about up-and-coming tech hubs, we created the City Selector Tool. The tool has several metrics for determining quality of life in a way that works for you. Learn more about quality of life in this issue of The Mid-Point.

Part of a fast-growing company? It may be time to open a second office in a thriving tech hub. One America Works created a City Selector Tool to help businesses find the ideal location for expansion. The algorithm factors in four main categories: Talent, Connection, Quality of Life, and Affordability.

There is a lot that goes into choosing a location for company expansion. Businesses look at a number of factors including cost, talent availability, quality of life, and connectivity. To make it easier for growing companies to research potential cities and highlight up-and-coming tech hubs, we created the City Selector Tool.

When thinking about Nashville, most people envision the infamous country music destination or good Tennessee barbecue. Many do not immediately think of a growing hub of healthcare technologies or the home to several top universities developing next-level talent. But that is the Nashville we see.

When is the right time to expand into a new location? Whether you’re a company ramping up hiring or someone who is thinking about the next phase of their career, expanding to a new location is a strategic move and will come with opportunities and challenges. To minimize potential setbacks, there are some key things to consider in selecting the new location.

There has never been a more interesting time to start or grow a company. With all of the uncertainty and change that the last year brought, many companies had the opportunity to think strategically about their future. And it turns out, they are looking beyond the Valley for their growth.

Looking forward to a new calendar year, we have the opportunity to reflect on 2020 and bring insights with us into 2021. One of the biggest trends of 2020 for growing companies was a sudden transition to working from home. In this issue, you’ll find numerous examples of companies and cities that are embracing remote work and the geographic distribution of their talent.