Hightouch, a San Francisco-based data activation startup, just put a $2.75 billion exclamation point on that rebuttal. And they're not hedging their bets — the company is moving into a bigger SF office, which in this city is basically the corporate equivalent of getting a face tattoo. You're committed.

The founders' argument is straightforward and, frankly, refreshing in a landscape drowning in AI hype: the rise of artificial intelligence doesn't replace the need for robust software infrastructure — it amplifies it. Someone still has to move, clean, and activate all that data the AI models are chewing on. That's not a disruption story. That's a growth story.

Here's what we like about this: a company betting on San Francisco with real money, not just vibes. For a city that's spent the last few years watching startups flee to Miami, Austin, and the metaverse, Hightouch expanding its physical footprint here is a genuine vote of confidence. No tax incentive package required. No sweetheart deal from City Hall. Just a company that apparently thinks San Francisco is still worth building in.

And that gets at something we talk about a lot at The Dissent — the best economic development strategy isn't more government programs or another task force. It's creating an environment where businesses want to stay and grow. Low friction, predictable rules, safe streets, functioning transit. Hightouch didn't need a ribbon-cutting ceremony with a supervisor. They needed a city that works.

The SaaS doomsayers will keep writing their hot takes. Meanwhile, companies like Hightouch will keep hiring, keep growing, and keep paying rent — in San Francisco. We'll take the tax revenue over the think pieces any day.