In the last year, Birmingham has been abuzz around startups. Between the sale of Shipt, the Velocity Accelerator’s success, and Alabama Launchpad’s ongoing support of startups, there’s a lot to talk about. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, high-growth startups account for over 70 percent of net new job growth.
However, with only half as many startups per capita as Chattanooga and Atlanta, and a third as many as Nashville, Birmingham is challenged. While our overall economy is strong, when compared to peer cities, Birmingham’s technology-based ecosystem could and should be much stronger.
Image: Bob Crutchfield is the executive director of Innovate Birmingham. CHRISTINE PRICHARD
