Clearpath Robotics

[tomh009]

For software, whether an ecosystem is local or around the world really doesn't matter much.  For hardware products, supplier networks are much more important.

But I don't think the SF Bay area has much in terms of an actual manufacturing cluster.  Or am I wrong?

It has companies that are involved in electronics and hardware, like Apple. And it has shorter flights to China.

While Apple is "involved in" hardware, I believe they don't actually manufacture anything: they are basically just a marketing and distribution company.  Their supplier network is entirely in China.