What is Silicon Alley?

Whereas the term Silicon Valley refers to the South San Francisco Bay Area, which is home to many of America’s most prominent technology companies, Silicon Alley refers to New York City’s tech ecosystem.

The origins of the name are disputed, but many attribute it to Jason Denmark, a developer who included the term in an e-mail in the mid-nineties seeking to lure programmers to NYC instead of California.

Also disputed are the boundaries of said “Alley.” While originally thought by many to refer specifically to the Flatiron District, or even a specific avenue, it’s now largely used to refer to the tech community in New York City as a whole. If you want to see a debate, head to DUMBO, a tech-rich neighborhood in Brooklyn and ask if the area is Silicon Alley; you’ll hear a bunch of different views on the boundaries of Silicon Alley.

While the term has generally fallen out of use in recent years, it still does come up on occasion.