Everyone tells aspiring entrepreneurs — especially those in tech — that San Francisco is the only place they can be successful. After building a company in North Dakota and finding all the talent and funding I needed there, I’d like to offer an alternative perspective.

When it comes to small towns, it can be easy to think that the grass is greener somewhere else. There are small-town myths like you can’t find the right talent or you can’t raise funding away from the coasts. There is also a shortage of belief in success in small towns. But common startup concerns aren’t fixed by moving somewhere with more of everything.

In fact, with everyone crammed in the same place, startup necessities from money to quality hires to community support and ...