The South is attracting significant attention from tech entrepreneurs, with Atlanta emerging as a leading force. Beyond established corporations like AT&T and Dell SecureWorks, the city hosts over 150 mobile tech startups and a thriving small-business entrepreneurship scene, ranking 12th nationally for tech startups.
New co-working spaces, incubators, and funding organizations are collaborating to develop and retain local talent. Atlanta Tech Village represents a major force — a co-working hub that expanded from 20 to 300 members. Founder David Cummings, who sold his company to Salesforce.com, purchased a midrise building and "developed one of the largest entrepreneurship centers in the country." The facility operates on core values: "Be nice, dream big, pay it forward and then work hard and play hard."
Mobile technology drives significant growth through the Metro Atlanta Chamber's mobility initiative. Mike Zeto, the task force co-chair, relocated to Atlanta after founding a mobile tech company.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, published February 2014.