Comments on: How to build a successful startup environment in Atlanta http://blog.jeffhaynie.us/how-to-build-a-successful-startup-environment-in-atlanta.html Jeff Haynie on business and technology in Silicon Valley Wed, 30 Jun 2010 03:47:02 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Curtis http://blog.jeffhaynie.us/how-to-build-a-successful-startup-environment-in-atlanta.html/comment-page-1#comment-179 Curtis Mon, 17 Sep 2007 05:50:54 +0000 http://blog.jeffhaynie.us/?p=156#comment-179 oops... the quote about *innovation* should read "seeing what everyone else SEES and thinking what no one else thought". oops… the quote about *innovation* should read “seeing what everyone else SEES and thinking what no one else thought”.

]]> By: Curtis http://blog.jeffhaynie.us/how-to-build-a-successful-startup-environment-in-atlanta.html/comment-page-1#comment-178 Curtis Mon, 17 Sep 2007 05:48:11 +0000 http://blog.jeffhaynie.us/?p=156#comment-178 Jeff... nice post. Birmingham went through this thought process about 6-7 years ago and created a non-profit, TechBirmingham, to take on the challenge of a coordinated effort to grow its already healthy tech ecosystem. I left the VC space in Atlanta a bit less than 5 years ago to come over here and pursue many of the things you describe, but admittedly in a smaller community than Atlanta. My best suggestion for Atlanta is to look at micro-regions... much as you suggest that a group of 500 members should splinter, so should allied entrepreneurs. How can an entrepreneur from Norcross effectively network with the guys in Buckhead or Marietta or Midtown if you're spending an hour driving each way? Also, having worked for Billy Payne I can attest that every community needs dozens (there may not actually BE hundreds) of such ambitious dreamers who can LEAD the way. Innovation, it is said, is seeing what everyone else thinks and thinking what no one else thought. But, without execution it's all just talk. Good luck with pushing forth your ideas and count Birmingham in on the southeastern regional effort for an improved startup environment. Come hang out sometime... y'all are invited to our version of the Startup Weekend -- see http://www.BirminghamStartup.com for details. Jeff… nice post. Birmingham went through this thought process about 6-7 years ago and created a non-profit, TechBirmingham, to take on the challenge of a coordinated effort to grow its already healthy tech ecosystem. I left the VC space in Atlanta a bit less than 5 years ago to come over here and pursue many of the things you describe, but admittedly in a smaller community than Atlanta. My best suggestion for Atlanta is to look at micro-regions… much as you suggest that a group of 500 members should splinter, so should allied entrepreneurs. How can an entrepreneur from Norcross effectively network with the guys in Buckhead or Marietta or Midtown if you’re spending an hour driving each way?

Also, having worked for Billy Payne I can attest that every community needs dozens (there may not actually BE hundreds) of such ambitious dreamers who can LEAD the way. Innovation, it is said, is seeing what everyone else thinks and thinking what no one else thought. But, without execution it’s all just talk.

Good luck with pushing forth your ideas and count Birmingham in on the southeastern regional effort for an improved startup environment.

Come hang out sometime… y’all are invited to our version of the Startup Weekend — see http://www.BirminghamStartup.com for details.

]]> By: RustyZ http://blog.jeffhaynie.us/how-to-build-a-successful-startup-environment-in-atlanta.html/comment-page-1#comment-187 RustyZ Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:26:43 +0000 http://blog.jeffhaynie.us/?p=156#comment-187 Hi Jeff, I really like what you have to say. I was disappointed with the AtlatanWebEnt. group when it was turned into more of a frat boy club than a community effort. I've been a musician in Atlanta for more than a decade (less so the last few years) and can tell you that the social charge is missing in Atlanta. People are very transient in Atlanta. They come and go quickly and it is hard to get people to really feel like they belong. I think a place like San Fran or New York has an advantage because people there walk. When you walk, you are a part of the breathing city. They are no less transient but they drink in the urban atmosphere and this gives them energy, ideas and the feeling of belonging. In Atlanta, we all sit in our cars and talk on our cell phones. One of two things, if not both, are needed to grow community here: 1) a trendy, hip and energizing culture surrounding the growing community 2) a strong champion(s), ideally with resources to impress. One thing that Mike S of AtlantaWebEnt did really well was to put on a great show. He really made each meet a valuable experience that justified an evening away from family. There's the other side of Atlanta tech community... I think more of us are in our 30's with family than you find elsewhere. Atlanta's a small town with a lot of people. You have to try harder than you do elsewhere. Just like our music scene, its hidden and very hard to find but its there. The problem is that talented, mobile people are likely to gravitate toward where the energy is so we, the old family guys who make up themiddle 80%, have to build the base for what can become a top technology city, not just in IT jobs, but in energy and innovation. I'm game Hi Jeff,

I really like what you have to say. I was disappointed with the AtlatanWebEnt. group when it was turned into more of a frat boy club than a community effort. I’ve been a musician in Atlanta for more than a decade (less so the last few years) and can tell you that the social charge is missing in Atlanta. People are very transient in Atlanta. They come and go quickly and it is hard to get people to really feel like they belong. I think a place like San Fran or New York has an advantage because people there walk. When you walk, you are a part of the breathing city. They are no less transient but they drink in the urban atmosphere and this gives them energy, ideas and the feeling of belonging. In Atlanta, we all sit in our cars and talk on our cell phones. One of two things, if not both, are needed to grow community here: 1) a trendy, hip and energizing culture surrounding the growing community 2) a strong champion(s), ideally with resources to impress. One thing that Mike S of AtlantaWebEnt did really well was to put on a great show. He really made each meet a valuable experience that justified an evening away from family. There’s the other side of Atlanta tech community… I think more of us are in our 30’s with family than you find elsewhere. Atlanta’s a small town with a lot of people. You have to try harder than you do elsewhere. Just like our music scene, its hidden and very hard to find but its there. The problem is that talented, mobile people are likely to gravitate toward where the energy is so we, the old family guys who make up themiddle 80%, have to build the base for what can become a top technology city, not just in IT jobs, but in energy and innovation. I’m game

]]> By: Ed Grasing http://blog.jeffhaynie.us/how-to-build-a-successful-startup-environment-in-atlanta.html/comment-page-1#comment-186 Ed Grasing Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:55:45 +0000 http://blog.jeffhaynie.us/?p=156#comment-186 Jeff, to say that this is right on really doesn't do it justice. Atlanta lags behind other urban technology hubs because we aren't focused enough as a community. If everyone did a tiny amount as part of an overall collective effort, we surely could begin to create some positive movement that we would all benefit from. Good job...and welcome back to the blog. Jeff, to say that this is right on really doesn’t do it justice. Atlanta lags behind other urban technology hubs because we aren’t focused enough as a community. If everyone did a tiny amount as part of an overall collective effort, we surely could begin to create some positive movement that we would all benefit from.

Good job…and welcome back to the blog.

]]> By: Knox http://blog.jeffhaynie.us/how-to-build-a-successful-startup-environment-in-atlanta.html/comment-page-1#comment-185 Knox Mon, 20 Aug 2007 17:44:47 +0000 http://blog.jeffhaynie.us/?p=156#comment-185 Nice post, Jeff. But a scarlet letter? Ouch. We're here to build the entrepreneur community, not the other way around. Nice post, Jeff. But a scarlet letter? Ouch. We’re here to build the entrepreneur community, not the other way around.

]]> By: SpaceyG http://blog.jeffhaynie.us/how-to-build-a-successful-startup-environment-in-atlanta.html/comment-page-1#comment-184 SpaceyG Mon, 20 Aug 2007 17:12:54 +0000 http://blog.jeffhaynie.us/?p=156#comment-184 This was so right-on I had to blog it. This was so right-on I had to blog it.

]]> By: Rusty http://blog.jeffhaynie.us/how-to-build-a-successful-startup-environment-in-atlanta.html/comment-page-1#comment-183 Rusty Fri, 17 Aug 2007 13:25:16 +0000 http://blog.jeffhaynie.us/?p=156#comment-183 Great post Jeff. I think you bring up an interesting point about Tech and other institutions training people to move to other states. That isn't a unique phenomenon in this state. My alma mater, Tennessee, has one of the best logistics and transportation programs in the country...and then sends its graduates elsewhere because there's nothing for them in Knoxville. I wonder how to address that... Great post Jeff. I think you bring up an interesting point about Tech and other institutions training people to move to other states. That isn’t a unique phenomenon in this state. My alma mater, Tennessee, has one of the best logistics and transportation programs in the country…and then sends its graduates elsewhere because there’s nothing for them in Knoxville.

I wonder how to address that…

]]> By: Scott Burkett http://blog.jeffhaynie.us/how-to-build-a-successful-startup-environment-in-atlanta.html/comment-page-1#comment-182 Scott Burkett Fri, 17 Aug 2007 12:10:46 +0000 http://blog.jeffhaynie.us/?p=156#comment-182 Jeff - well written! With regard to #1, I think a huge part of the problem is the fact that most regional venture capital firms are not engaged within the entrepreneurial community. I agree with the sentiment that a resourceful entrepreneur should be *just that* - resourceful. However, the regional (and certainly local) venture players have a public relations problem on their hand. Whether they choose to agree with the rationale behind it is immaterial. It exists - and perception is reality on the street. They can (and hopefully will) go a long towards fixing it by becoming a part of this new undercurrent that is flowing through the region. IMHO, they need to become more engaged with things like BarCamp, StartupLounge/CapConn, et al. Once the regional players are perceived as being part of the *solution* rather than the *problem*, I think people will be surprised to see how quickly things begin to shift ... Great post, and I thank you for taking the time to put your thoughts together! Cheers. Scott Jeff – well written!

With regard to #1, I think a huge part of the problem is the fact that most regional venture capital firms are not engaged within the entrepreneurial community.

I agree with the sentiment that a resourceful entrepreneur should be *just that* – resourceful. However, the regional (and certainly local) venture players have a public relations problem on their hand. Whether they choose to agree with the rationale behind it is immaterial. It exists – and perception is reality on the street.

They can (and hopefully will) go a long towards fixing it by becoming a part of this new undercurrent that is flowing through the region. IMHO, they need to become more engaged with things like BarCamp, StartupLounge/CapConn, et al.

Once the regional players are perceived as being part of the *solution* rather than the *problem*, I think people will be surprised to see how quickly things begin to shift …

Great post, and I thank you for taking the time to put your thoughts together!

Cheers.
Scott

]]> By: Ceptera Information Security http://blog.jeffhaynie.us/how-to-build-a-successful-startup-environment-in-atlanta.html/comment-page-1#comment-181 Ceptera Information Security Fri, 17 Aug 2007 04:49:21 +0000 http://blog.jeffhaynie.us/?p=156#comment-181 And music? Atlanta the hip-hop capital. Man, if I were in the same room with you, I'd dap you up for writing that! My wife and I often lament the fact that none of these millionaire rap artists have invested in tech startups. I wonder what it'll take to convince them that investing $100K in yet another baggy jeans and t-shirts company is not the road to serious wealth. That same $100k (as an angel investor) could get them a serious equity position in the next...IT! And music? Atlanta the hip-hop capital.

Man, if I were in the same room with you, I’d dap you up for writing that! My wife and I often lament the fact that none of these millionaire rap artists have invested in tech startups. I wonder what it’ll take to convince them that investing $100K in yet another baggy jeans and t-shirts company is not the road to serious wealth. That same $100k (as an angel investor) could get them a serious equity position in the next…IT!

]]> By: Amber http://blog.jeffhaynie.us/how-to-build-a-successful-startup-environment-in-atlanta.html/comment-page-1#comment-180 Amber Fri, 17 Aug 2007 03:58:04 +0000 http://blog.jeffhaynie.us/?p=156#comment-180 Great post, Jeff. And I need to re-read it at a time when I'm not about to fall asleep! One thing for now, though: <blockquote>While we’re good at creating similar events like Barcamp, we’re certainly not “innovating” in these types of community-based efforts on our own right. Atlanta has done a decent job of eventually creating environments that are similar to other areas - but only after we’ve seen it happen in other parts of our larger community outside of the Southeast.</blockquote> I think I am definitely innovating with <a href="http://sex20con.com" rel="nofollow">Sex 2.0</a>, but unfortunately that may be too "pink ghettoized" for some of the entrepreneur types. *shrug* Great post, Jeff. And I need to re-read it at a time when I’m not about to fall asleep!

One thing for now, though:

While we’re good at creating similar events like Barcamp, we’re certainly not “innovating” in these types of community-based efforts on our own right. Atlanta has done a decent job of eventually creating environments that are similar to other areas – but only after we’ve seen it happen in other parts of our larger community outside of the Southeast.

I think I am definitely innovating with Sex 2.0, but unfortunately that may be too “pink ghettoized” for some of the entrepreneur types. *shrug*

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