The Great Tech Migration: How It All Began

Back in 2013, Reno Nevada was best known for slot machines, cowboy poetry, and a whole lot of empty space. The economy was still licking its wounds from the Great Recession, and job prospects were about as exciting as a tumbleweed rolling through town. But the folks at the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN) had a wild idea. Why not turn this high desert expanse into the next big thing in tech?

With a master plan that focused on advanced manufacturing, data centers, and fostering startups, they set out to lure the tech world away from the sky-high rents and gridlocked freeways of California. And guess what? It worked. Big names started rolling in, and before long, Northern Nevada was transforming into a bona fide tech hub.

The Reno tech scene is absolutely blowing up right now! Over 2,000 tech companies have moved from California to Nevada in the last five years, transforming Reno into a major tech hub.

Silicon Valley East: Meet the Heavy Hitters

The real turning point came when some of the world’s most influential tech giants decided to stake their claim in the region. If Northern Nevada were a high school, these would be the cool kids who suddenly made it the place to be.

Tesla and Panasonic made a major impact when they set up the Gigafactory in 2015 at the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center (TRIC). It was like throwing a match into a fireworks factory. Things took off fast.

Apple built a serious data center presence in the area, proving it was not just about iPhones and fancy stores.

Google, always on the hunt for prime real estate, planted its flag at TRIC.

Amazon didn’t just stop at shipping your late-night impulse buys. Northern Nevada became a major logistics hub.

Switch, led by Rob Roy, set up one of the largest data operations in the world, cleverly named Tahoe Reno One.

These companies didn’t just bring jobs and money. They brought credibility. Suddenly, Northern Nevada wasn’t just another flyover spot. It was a tech hotspot.

Startup Stampede: The Little Guys Making Big Moves

While the corporate titans grabbed headlines, a startup revolution was quietly brewing. In 2021, Northern Nevada startups pulled in a jaw-dropping $1.4 billion in funding. That was a massive jump from the previous year. Clearly, investors were starting to see the potential hiding in those sagebrush-covered hills.

The startup scene is now buzzing, fueled by investment, talent, and a supportive business environment. The days of thinking you had to be in San Francisco to launch the next big thing are over.

Tech Boom Meets Population Boom

With all this innovation comes one thing: people. Lots of them. Since 2013, Northern Nevada has added over 90,000 residents, and another 61,500 are expected by 2033. And these aren’t just folks looking for a quiet retirement. Many are highly skilled tech workers chasing opportunity and a better quality of life.

The job market reflects this growth. In 2024 alone, EDAWN helped bring in 22 companies, accounting for nearly $3 billion in investment and over 1,900 new jobs, with an impressive average salary of $85,000. Not too shabby for a region that was once better known for its truck stops than its tech talent.

The Lithium Loop: Powering the Future

One of the biggest game changers in Northern Nevada’s tech boom is its central role in the Lithium Loop, a burgeoning supply chain focused on lithium battery production and recycling. As the demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy storage skyrockets, Northern Nevada is positioned as a critical hub for this next industrial revolution.

The region is home to some major players in the lithium supply chain:

Redwood Materials is leading the charge in battery recycling, ensuring that valuable materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel are reclaimed and reused.

Lithium Americas is developing the Thacker Pass lithium mine, one of the largest known lithium deposits in North America.

Tesla and Panasonic continue expanding Gigafactory Nevada, producing battery cells at scale.

ABTC (American Battery Technology Company) is refining extraction and recycling methods to create a domestic lithium supply.

Why does this matter? Right now, much of the world’s lithium is mined and processed overseas, making the U.S. dependent on foreign sources. By creating a self-sustaining Lithium Loop in Northern Nevada, the region isn’t just benefiting from the EV boom, it’s helping to secure the nation’s energy future.

With government support, private investment, and a growing skilled workforce, Northern Nevada is poised to become a global leader in lithium battery technology. This isn’t just a passing trend—it’s a long-term shift that could redefine the region’s economic landscape for decades to come.

A High-Tech High Desert

If there was any doubt that Northern Nevada was in this for the long haul, 2023 put it to rest. That year, the United States Department of Commerce designated Nevada as a Regional Technology and Innovation Hub. Translation: The federal government sees big things ahead, especially in lithium battery production and electric vehicle materials.

Some key developments from this game-changing designation include:

Workforce development programs expanding to meet the growing demand for skilled tech workers.

A Nevada Lithium Campus in the works, aiming to make the United States less reliant on foreign battery production.

Not only does it reinforce Northern Nevada’s growing reputation in tech, but it also places the region at the center of the nation’s push for sustainable energy solutions. The message is clear: This isn’t just a passing trend. It’s the future.

A little over a decade ago, the idea of Northern Nevada as a tech hub might have sounded like the setup to a joke. Today, it’s reality. What started as a strategic push to diversify the economy has turned into a full-blown transformation. Major tech players have set up shop, startups are thriving, and job opportunities are booming.