In 2018, Investors Will Look Outside Silicon Valley for the Next Big Startup Thanks to technology, entrepreneurs no longer need to be on Sand Hill Road to catch an investor's eye.

For 2018 trends, we asked an expert on what entrepreneurs can expect this coming year in fundraising.

It's never been cheaper to start a company, but competition has never been fiercer. Only a few years ago, being in Silicon Valley gave startups a leg up. It was instant access to the world's best network. But the ecosystem has been shifting -- a decentralization of knowledge, capital and networks that's enabling entrepreneurs to attract great investors no matter where they're based. And this will be the big story of 2018: It'll be the year that shift becomes a permanent state.

Related: How to Start a Business: a Step-by-Step Guide to Growing Your Big Idea Into a Successful Company