15 Real Reasons Why Minnesota is Dope for Tech Start Ups…

…And 3 irrelevant ones.

(This article is part two, in a continueing series on launching Vugo, a rideshare advertising startup. Read part one, here about why we had to leave Chicago to start our business.)

This is a photo of a shirt I picked up at Familia Skate Shop when they were located in Saint Paul

Minnesota Nice, has many meanings, depending on who you ask. For some, it means being passive aggressive, for others it means just being friendly. One thing we knew for sure was that Chicago didn’t want us to start our business in their city. That much was clear from their rideshare ordinance, which protects big taxi from losing advertising revenue. Minnesota was looking really nice as Vugo was forced to look for a new home.

I went to school in Minnesota, I knew that when it comes to business, pound for pound, Minnesota gets things done. It has been the home of more Fortune 500 companies per capita than anywhere else in the US including 3M, Medtronic, General Mills, Target and others. Minnesota was calling us, as it is a great mid-sized city to launch considering Chicago was no longer an option. It is the land of frozen air, as well as education, literacy, entrepreneurship, and innovation. It’s all fair and you don’t have to worry about government interference. However, that isn’t the only reason why we chose Minnesota.

I would never choose a city or a state based on what it doesn’t have alone. What many Millennials may not be aware of is that unlike much of the Midwest, Minnesota actually has a lot going for it and should be a viable contender for those seeking an alternative to Silicon Valley and New York City. Silicon Prairie is alive and well in The North.

Why Minnesota is The Best Start To Launch Your Tech Startup.

· Minneapolis, Minnesota has the fastest INTERNET in the world at 10GBPS from US Internet.

· Minneapolis, Minnesota is ranked the Best City for Millennials. Via @Voxdotcom & @CityPages.

· Minnesota is the Best State in the Country for Overall Quality of Life. Via @Politico.

· Minnesota has 2 of the top 5 cities for quality of life. via @NerdWallet

· Minnesota is only surpassed by California as the Most Innovative State via @HarvardBiz.

· It’s home to the Minnesota Cup @UMNews and the Fowler Business Concept Challenge @UofStThomasMN

· We have a great community of Tech Reporters that support us via @TechdotMN

· Minnesota pays the bills and then some. MN reported a $1 Billion Dollar Surplus in 2014 @GovMarkDayton @MNCommerce

· Ranked 4th Best City for Young Entrepreneurs according to @NerdWallet

· Coolest Co-Working Space in America. via Business Insider @CoCoMSP

View of downtown Minneapolis from St. Anthony Main.

· Minneapolis-St.Paul the best parks of any large city in America via @StarTribune

· MN is filled with fit and healthy people, despite our love of butter sculptures and food on a stick according to the American College of Sports Medicine. #1 in 2013, #2 in 2014

· 8th Best City to Start a business according to @NerdWallet

· Minneapolis was ranked #5 — Best Cities for Recent College Grads via Livability.com

· The Minnesota High Tech Association — Who’s goal is to make Minnesota one of America’s Top 5 Technology States. @MHTA

· Smartest and 5th Most Attractive: According to Travel+Leisure. Because, why not…

· Two Words. Party Buses for those really cold nights.

· Minnesota has found red light cameras unconstitutional. via @PioneerPress

Message to #Chicago #Youdonthavetoputintheredlightcameras

Come join the Miracle of the Midwest:

The bottom line is that in our global and connected world. We need to start voting with our feet and our businesses. I love Chicago, but no matter how much I enjoy music in Millennium Park, Chicago isn’t the only city for millennials. In fact, it isn’t even the best city for millennials. I challenge the belief that Chicago is the undisputed star of the mid-west. Minnesota has a room for a Tech giant and Vugo intends to fill that void.

James Bellefeuille is co-founder of Vugo, a Rideshare Advertising Platform. You can sign up to be a driver or advertiser at www.GoVugo.com You can follow our story @Go_Vugo and @JLBellefeuille.

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Originally published at www.rideshareadvertising.com on February 19, 2015.