Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by rebel19 5351 days ago
This is all great until you actually try to raise money in one of these towns. Atlanta is a great example of that. There are a lot of ideas, and very few people that can actually execute on them. Also, even if you have a viable product you will still play hell getting a decent round of funding in Atlanta which is why a lot of startups and talent have left for the Valley.
3 comments
Sato 5351 days ago
The Atlantic offers a couple of opportunities.

"First, if you're an entrepreneur with a company in the South, we'd like to invite you to record your "Creation Story" as an audio clip"

"Second, if you represent a region, say the Greater Bossier Economic Development Foundation, and you want to make a pitch for your area, whether or not it's on our route, you can write us 300 words"

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/10/in-sea...

link
thomaslangston 5351 days ago
Memphis also has had some trouble funding start-ups, but we've at least got some start-up support organizations trying to fix that.

http://www.launchmemphis.com/ http://www.emergememphis.org/

link
paulfreet 5351 days ago
Great startups can and do raise money in Atlanta. It's only harder for the stupid ideas to raise money. Have to got to the Valley for that. :-)
link
rebel19 5351 days ago
I'm sure that was the reason why Appcelerator went out to the Valley....it was a pretty stupid idea.

http://blog.jeffhaynie.us/whats-wrong-with-the-atlanta-start... Yes this is a couple of years old, but sadly not a lot has changed.

If you have a product that is low risk and already earning revenue you will get funding in Atlanta.....with terms requiring you to give up a lot more of your company, a lot of extra overhead with financials etc..

I would like to see this change, but this is the state of things today and if it is going to get fixed people need to be honest about how bad the problem is. The first step to recovery is admitting that you have a problem.

link
paulfreet 5351 days ago
That was three years ago. One company. Can you name any others?

Meanwhile a hundred technology companies have received VC money and remained in Atlanta.

link