We are in the midst of the tech revolution. Startups. Innovation. Technologies. These are all buzzwords. With the rise of new technologies and changing attitudes about jobs and career paths, startup culture becoming the new norm. Startups are coming up all around the country, but New York, the city where people have always gone to make it big, has quickly become the hub of startup activity. More and more startups are choosing to be “made in New York.”

Let’s follow the money. New York is ranked second in the amount of invested venture capital. Silicon Valley, as you probably expected, is the first.

Last year, $2.6 billion dollars was invested in New York’s startups. Money’s not the only measure, we can look at the tech sector as well. Since 2007, New York’s tech-information center has grown by 11%. According to Bloomberg analysis service, the tech sector is the second largest force in the New York economy, providing over 262,000 jobs in the city. The tech industry is responsible for one-third of private sector job growth.

(See this infographic from TechCrunch)

Why New York? Well, there are several factors. In the past few years, New York has seen the rise of amazingly successful startups including Tumblr, Foursquare and Kickstarter. Venture-backed accelerators have funded young startups to help them get off the ground, and the city government of New York has taken steps to encourage tech innovation. New York is also the center for finance, media, fashion – all industries that startup founders can draw from.

Startups and the technology industry are changing the career path – it’s an exciting prospect. It’s not about working 9-5 or logging in years to match a retirement fund. Think of technology and the startup industry as an equalizer. Anyone and everyone can jump in and prove their worth. It’s yours for the taking. This is the beginning, and YOU are here for it.