Silicon Valley is a global center of technological innovation located in the South San Francisco Bay Area of California. The area was named after the primary material found in computer microprocessors. Silicon Valley is home to dozens of major technology, software, and internet companies.

Still, the term Silicon Valley has grown to largely encapsulate the entirety of the tech community in the Bay Area in casual conversation. Cities that officially comprise Silicon Valley include San Jose, Menlo Park, Palo Alto, Mountain View, Cupertino, Santa Clara, Redwood City and Sunnyvale.

As the world's tech powerhouse, Silicon Valley embodies more than a geographic location. It's the amalgamation of some of our most powerful ideas, carving its name into the interior of our global economy. The region has planted some of the most profitable seeds of intellect and transformation we've ever seen.

Originally Answered: Are any of the characters in HBO's "Silicon Valley" based off real people? Peter Gregory is a mix between Peter Thiel (college dropout encouragement) and Paul Graham (incubator-style investment, and initials). Gavin Belson is a mix between Brin, Page, and Schmidt.