Silicon Valley is the base for much of VC investment and has been the center of innovation for decades.Nearly half of all VC investment comes into California with the bulk of that into SV.Stanford University is a key driver of the success of the broader innovation economy.California is home to around 329 unicorns, which represents about 51% of all U.S.-based unicorns.As AI becomes the largest driver of startup valuations and investments, California is leading the way.The value of VC investments made in California was $81 Billion during 2023 nearly 4X over New York.Big Tech companies are both an outcome and a contributor of the Silicon Valley Ecosystem.An ecosystem as successful and diverse as Silicon Valley requires more than 1 or 2 R&D drivers.SVB was a key provider of Venture Debt, that non-dilutive venture funding that startups often used to build new products or launch into new markets.Silicon Valley offers the absolute best ecosystem for startups in the world.