h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

What is the key ingredient to super villain success? Nerd power! Super Villains always take the wrong approach to designing an evil lair, underestimating the importance of getting nerds on your side. Therefore the good guys have all the nerds. Just as America "borrowed" Einstein from the Germans in WWII so must the budding super villain. Now there are a few key things that are essential to know about attracting prime nerds.

1) It is vitally important that there is some sort of title to your lair that will attract the nerd. Titles containing the words "convention, free computer software, exam, and club” will attract them. Avoid using such words as "bully, hot girls, virus, or physical work."
e.g. Good Name "The Free Computer Software Exam and Club Convention Lair"
Bad Name "The Bully Virus Gets Hot Girls While You Do Physical Work Lair"

2) Once you’ve lured them there you must offer them bait too powerful to resist: The chance to crush their tormenters. I recommend greeting the prospective nerds with a couple of jocks or cheerleaders who are tied and gagged and saying something along the lines of “These are our enemy. Will you join with me brothers in our quest for dignity?” Then after the nerds have been whipped to a frenzy toss the bait to them. This can get pretty messy so you definitely want to make sure you have a good custodial staff.

3) Now that you’ve got a long list of nerds who would willingly survive a dodge ball tournament for you, you must select your henchmen. The best nerds are those who are so wrapped up in their own minds that they still think it is 1989. These nerds are capable of intense focus and can go long periods without food, rest, or recreation.

4) You’ve got your nerds now keep them happy. Offer them unlimited doughnuts and coffee and they will never revolt. To increase productivity cloth them in authentic Star Trek uniforms and provide them with unlimited internet access. They will be whipping out genius inventions in no time.

IMHO, the best super-villains ARE nerds.
(Well, I prefer the term "Geek" actually - the N-word should be deprecated.)

But you're absolutlely correct - without Geekery, you're doomed.

UG.