Comments on: DC Needs a Fred. Any Takers?

By: rcapece

rcapece — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:04:48 +0000

Ouch! Some would beg to differ, but you make good points, and a heat map of DC vs NY vs CA would probably bear them out. Considering that a lot of Web 2.0 creativity comes right out of school (and yeah, we don't have the Stanfords, etc.), it's still a bit of chicken-and-egg: no money, no companies, no companies no money. Launchbox Digital was a watershed . . . maybe will help get to critical mass. Anyway . . . glad you're based here!

By: rcapece

rcapece — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:55:19 +0000

yeah, should have said sad commentary. . . as I posted, I was hoping you wouldn't take it the wrong way. I'm sure you know I thought it was a great meetup (or you wouldn't have twittered, thx!) So when's the next one?

By: rcapece

rcapece — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:32:06 +0000

You bet. Launchbox was a good start on proving our credibility & elevating our profile. Our best shot may be a NY or SiValley firm to open an office and seize the opportunity . . . unless there's a local dark horse ready to surprise us all.

By: Jared Goralnick

Jared Goralnick — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:30:42 +0000

Amen–someone who would cheerlead and elevate early-stage investment with not only energy but money would be a huge help to our technology scene.

By: vanderwal

vanderwal — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:28:54 +0000

Firms like FirstRound pay attention to DC and the region, but the quality of start-ups are not up to the level of other areas. VCs like Valhalla Partners does investment in local start-ups and they really understand the type of expertise and knowledge that the DC area has. I have tried to help VCs find talent to fill out teams that are local in the DC area and surrounding areas, but they often find the talent in RTP, NYC or Boston. The technical depth is not a strength here. There is a lot of copying in the DC area, but very little innovation. There are a few exceptions to this, but they are funded or are moving closer to talent. Part of the DC area problem is cost, lack of talent draw (AOL is no longer a talent draw and Fed Govt is not a solid draw for the top people outside of the intelligence community). The past 15 years I have watched top DC area talent move out to Bay Area or elsewhere to get closer to larger talent pools that understand start-ups. All but 2 of the start-ups I advise are outside the DC area.

By: jer979

jer979 — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:49:03 +0000

Kind of sad for the DC meetup of Fred fans? I'm hurt ;-)