11 Reasons Why Boston Is America's Underdog Tech Hub

Courtesy of StartUp Boston
Courtesy of StartUp Boston
Natasha Chang

Though all eyes focus on established tech havens like San Francisco and New York, Boston has been fostering and nurturing a tech ecosystem well worth its long winters. Here are 11 reasons why you should keep an eye out for Boston as an emerging tech hub.

Melting pot of global talent

The city and its surrounding areas contain 57 colleges and universities, including Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which bring students from around the country and the world to innovate the arts, science, and technology industries.

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CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
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1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

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CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
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2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
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CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
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3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
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SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
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1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

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SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
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2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
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Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
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1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

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Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
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2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
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Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
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3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
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Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
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1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

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Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
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2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
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Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
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3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
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Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
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1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

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Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
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2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
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Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
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3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
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University resources

With world-class universities comes world-class resources and connections. Student clubs, organizations, events, and competitions take place to support student entrepreneurship both on campus and around Boston.

IDEA: Northeastern University’s Venture Accelerator

City support

Mayor Martin J. Walsh continually supports the startup community because he recognizes their ongoing contribution to Boston’s innovative economy, so he’s kept an ear to the ground for how they can work together to make Boston the tech capital of the world. His commitment to bolstering this sector is evident in the increase number of business spaces, startup portals, and entrepreneur and small business events around the city.

Citywide initiatives

Immense support from the city means programs and initiatives are implemented every year to get startups off the ground. One notably puts women in the spotlight: Walsh’s Women Entrepreneurs Boston (WE BOS) provides Boston’s female entrepreneurs with resources that include technical assistance, panels, and networking events.

Courtesy of Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement

Workshops and courses

Education is the backbone of the city, so it comes to no surprise that many organizations actually offer workshops and courses for entrepreneurs and business leaders. Organizations like Startup Institute Boston, Girls who Code, General Assembly, and many others are here to help turn ideas into reality.

Courtesy of StartUp Boston

Affordability

With low-cost living options for startup entrepreneurs while they get off the ground and more affordable real estate and labor prices, Boston provides an all around cheaper alternative to Silicon Valley and the Big Apple, allowing entrepreneurs to focus on their company and grow it effectively and efficiently.

Venture capitalist funding

Boston has a supportive early-stage investing community. While there are old-time players in the area, new crops of venture funds like underscore.vc have emerged to back each new wave of tech startups. With less competition than in Silicon Valley, companies with good plans have a better chance of getting funded.

Courtesy of underscore.vc

Co-working spaces

Co-working spaces are perfect environments for entrepreneurs to collaborate, network, and thrive, and they are all around Boston. These allow a range of freelancers, remote workers, and staff employees of a variety of businesses and projects work in a shared, organic space.

Boston WeWork South Station Conference Room

Networking

Unsure of where to begin? Check local community centers for events, community groups, and coffee shop meetups to attend to navigate the local startup scene. So for those hoping for some advice and support, seek and ye shall find.

Industry events

A number of conferences held in Boston focus on kindling the entrepreneurial spirit. Some notable names include TEDx, TUGG (Technology Underwriting the Greater Good), and BIG (Boston Innovators Group). BIG, formerly WebInno, is the city’s biggest and longest running tech event and invites early-stage startups to showcase their demos and presentations. But perhaps the can’t-miss summer event is the Boston TechJam, a block party and innovation meetup of the city’s tech minds. It’s filled with live music, local food trucks, and interactive challenges.

Courtesy of Boston Techjam

Tech giants and home-grown companies

With so much young talent in the tech field exploring different options post grad, it’s no surprise that tech giants like Google, IBM, Facebook, Amazon, and Uber are drawn to Beantown. These giants joining the local companies setting up in Boston slowly sets the tone for an upcoming tech haven.

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