Silicon Heartland

Journalist Fannin (Tech Titans of China) delivers a spirited account of her road trip through the Midwest to survey the region’s tech-driven revitalization. The Rust Belt, she contends, “is making a comeback” in the form of a burgeoning tech industry that has benefited from a recent increase in remote workers who have moved inland from coastal cities, bringing experience and funding with them. Fannin tells the stories of those helping to lead the tech boom, such as a young woman who makes eyeglass frames out of recycled water bottles in Flint, Mich., and a man in Indianapolis who runs a startup that develops sales software for midsize companies. Reporting on the financing of the tech boom, she notes that investors are becoming more willing to fund projects outside Silicon Valley and that tech bigwigs are contributing money to scholarships at Rust Belt schools that boost local talent. To fully capitalize on this economic transformation, she calls for “bolder government plans, increased private capital funding, and a shift to Silicon Valley–type visionary thinking,” in addition to retraining blue-collar workers for tech jobs. As an Ohio native, Fannin’s deep empathy for Midwesterners is palpable, and the frank look at the Rust Belt’s resilience inspires while being realistic about the work ahead. This short but meaty travelogue packs a punch.

—Publishers Weekly

Rebecca A. Fannin is a journalist, author, and media entrepreneur who grew up in Lancaster, Ohio. After graduating from Ohio University, she worked at Dayton’s morning newspaper before moving to New York City and Silicon Valley. She became a contributor for CNBC and wrote for Forbes and Harvard Business Review.

Her research and writing on China’s entrepreneurial boom resulted in three books, published in multiple languages: Silicon Dragon, Startup Asia, and Tech Titans of China. In 2010, she launched the media and events platform Silicon Dragon Ventures, which focuses on startup investment.

Fannin’s books established her as a commentator and public speaker. She has been a guest on BBC, Bloomberg, Fox News, and NPR, and her expertise has been cited in The New York Times. She has also spoken at the Brookings Institution, Asia Society, and universities including Harvard, Yale, and Oxford.

Rebecca divides her time between San Francisco and New York City, and frequently visits her hometown in Ohio.

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