Several weeks ago a group of city officials from Clarksville, TN visited our fair city of Durham to see what we were up to. They didn't expect to find a blossoming entrepreneurial ecosystem and wanted to know more.Chris Heivly (Triangle Startup Factory), Bob Walker (8 Rivers Capital), and I were asked to spout off our thoughts on how things get done. As I sat there I wondered, "How many venture capital firms are in Clarksville, TN?" We all know the answer to that one. But does that mean all is lost for Clarksville and every other mid size city in America? Absolutely not. There is no relationship between early stage investors and an area's ability to innovate and make things happen.
Does capital help? Of course. But bootstrappers can stir the pot in any given city. May each of us go forth and do so.
Posts
