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  • From: Bill Gargan <billg AT wgaprc.com>
  • To: InterNetWorkers <internetworkers AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: the triangle as startup-friendly region
  • Date: Thu, 14 Oct 1999 13:58:34 -0400


Sorry about "whining." That was not in line with the tone of the group.

Here's a constructive offer. My firm will write releases, make editorial
contacts, etc.
if the group can come together and do some things that are newsworthy. We are
members of
PR Newswire and will make that service available at cost.

Now, what can a group like this do to make news? It can't be your own company
or
organization news. That's not fair to everybody else. Maybe a competition? A
site? A
manifesto and revolution? I really don't know enough about ya'll's goals and
vision. What
are they?

Bill
WGA Public Relations Counsel

"Heather A. Hesketh" wrote:

> At 01:01 PM 10/14/1999 -0400, Thomas Beckett wrote:
> >
> > Another thing I noticed is that while the article itself was
> > generally
> >favorable in tone and content, the headline "Wrong Way RTP" and the
> >subject headings were quite negative. It struck me as a spin applied by
> >Upside's editors, sneering down their noses at us from the lofty
> >Valley. (The author, Jason Kelly's main gig is at DigitalSouth, which
> >is based in Atlanta.)
>
> Not to set the tone for my posts as being "me too", but the title and
> subheadings really jumped out at me. Regardless of anything positive in
> the article, the title and subheads reinforced an idea that this area is
> backwoods, which irritates me to no end. The attitude is pervasive in and
> outside the Triangle.
>
> All too often I've seen companies with no money talk local services
> providers into giving them a break, because the big one is coming (when
> they get funding). Then as soon as they get funding, they engage agencies
> in Boston, San Fran, NYC, etc. This is true for Web development,
> marketing, branding, and visual design. It's probably also true in other
> service sectors. One of the driving forces behind this is that the VC
> don't value the work of the local service folks. Another factor is that to
> attract other VC, the initial investors force the companies to use
> agencies that the "big time" VCs know. It gives the company third-party
> validation.
>
> What we have to do to change the trend of taking your money out is to
> educate the initial stage VC and other decision makers that local firms do
> the same (or better) quality work. Of course, this means that we have to
> do that same (or better) quality work, because nothing convinces like hard
> evidence in the form of a strong portfolio. It also means talking about
> it. Shamelessly.
>
> For those of you who label yourselves entrepreneurs, don't forget the CED.
> It's their mission to increase VC participation in this area and they're
> open to suggestions on how to do that. I think part of doing that is to
> also ensure not just VC backed companies are strong. A strong region is a
> balanced region.
>
> hesketh.com has also taken the tact of working from the outside in. As
> Steven said earlier, we're better known outside the Triangle than inside.
> Our clients include folks in Tel Aviv, NYC, and other points around the
> globe. We've had as much exposure in national press outlets as we have
> from local folks. It's an easier sell for us now within the Triangle,
> because we can point to the work we've done outside the region. So,
> there's obviously a perception problem all around. Our big names in the
> region *don't* pull the same sales punch that our big names outside the
> region.
>
> Talking about there being a problem isn't whining, because you need to
> name the beast before you can attack it effectively. Coming together as we
> are trying to do here, is a great first step in attacking the problems at
> hand.
>
> I *really* liked Rachel's point that she wanted to see the area get
> recognition because she likes it here and doesn't want to move. Obviously,
> any of us--employees and business owners alike--could move to one of the
> "hot spots". We've chosen, for whatever reason, to plant roots in the
> Triangle.
>
> Heather
>
> --
> Heather A. Hesketh ! hesketh.com/inc
> Web consultant ! vox: 919.854.1570
> http://www.hesketh.com ! fax: 919.854.1579
>
> ---
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