When Young separated from his former business partner, he had to scramble to find a new one. Phoenix is becoming a hot spot for budding startups to set up shop. In the last decade, Phoenix has transformed into an attractive destination. With low costs and a tight-knit atmosphere, the ecosystem allows startups to test their mettle and has shown itself to be a sandbox for startups of all stripes, not just a bubble for one market. Brad Jannenga, cofounder of WebPT and CEO of SaaS Industries, said even the city officials encourage the positive sense of community by making Phoenix as hospitable to incoming entrepreneurs. A startup is always looking for ways to breathe better at its genesis, whether it’s community support or lowering the barrier to entry. For Scott Ferreira, founder of MySocialCloud and FreeBike Project, it might actually be harder to find success in a startup mecca like San Francisco or New York. As entrepreneurs are starting to take advantage of Phoenix’s fertile grounds, the city is opening up in a way that makes this ecosystem a serious contender moving forward. Entrepreneurs like Young agree:
