20 karma · joined February 5, 2011
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.
Sadly, the Atlanta startup scene has way too many Wordpress designers doing basic websites, MBA/Marketers looking for technical co-founders and MBA/Marketers who are looking for funding to hire a inexpensive team in (select your favorite low cost development country). Atlanta has a lot of Agencies etc., but if the Atlantic is mentioning SCAD as a highpoint of their visit that says it all right there.
I am hopeful that will change, but the first step to solving this is getting over the Stockholm syndrome, admitting to how bad the problem is and not just accepting the status quo. Saying that at least we have some organizations forming is great, but not enough.