Do surging new tech hubs weaken Silicon Valley’s global dominance?

Like nearly every U.S. city in the country, Philadelphia has a technology community it’s billing as a major part of its future. That may be the biggest macro change from the 1990s dot com boom, which was dominated by Silicon Valley, to today, which is led by the Valley, but joined by regions across the United States.

The ‘Rise of the Rest’ is a long-established concept in geopolitics to describe economic growth in the developing world, but earlier this year Aol cofounder Steve Case brought it to bear on the phenomenon that has seen tech become a staple of every region’s economic development strategy of the moment. His Startup America bus tour conveys it.

In Philadelphia, there is hope that what is being built here by technologists and entrepreneurs will last, in a bigger way than the 1990s.

One might make the case that diffusing tech and innovation talent across the country could over time weaken the incredible unrivaled depth that Silicon Valley has, ultimately injuring our country’s prominence by way of a global leader.

“That would be a great problem to have,” said Scott Case, brother to Steve and himself an established technology entrepreneur, before a speaking event in Baltimore. “For now, we’re just making it easier for more people to launch ideas, which will bring us better results.”

His point: if the United States wants to continue to be a global leader for new industries, then it better strengthen its pipeline, and the rise of the rest is a great junior varsity program.

Or as Monetate CEO David Brussin said when asked if the rise of the rest is bad for the country during Philly Tech Week: “the answer is so easy and the question is such a softball that it sounds like a Phillies pitcher is throwing it.”