#StartupsEverywhere profile: Brian Moyer, President and CEO, Greater Nashville Technology Council
This profile is part of #StartupsEverywhere, an ongoing series highlighting startup leaders in ecosystems across the country. This interview has been edited for length, content, and clarity.
Creating a Tech Hub in Middle Tennessee
From its conception in 1999, the Greater Nashville Technology Council has been focused on bolstering the region’s entrepreneurial community by advocating for and supporting tech startups across Middle Tennessee. The member-based organization works with a variety of local stakeholders—including tech professionals, policymakers, and other state-based entrepreneurial organizations—to promote local workforce development and tech education initiatives. We recently spoke with the Greater Nashville Technology Council’s President and CEO, Brain Moyer, to learn more about the organization’s work, the region’s startup ecosystem, and what policymakers can do to further support local entrepreneurs.
Tell us a little about yourself. What made you interested in entrepreneurship?
I am fortunate to have broad experience with a variety of startups, providing many opportunities to learn. I taught myself to code when launching my first tech startup. That venture not only uncovered a passion for technology but also introduced me to healthcare, which eventually led me to Nashville.
I have worn many hats over the years including founder, advisor, programmer, CTO, CIO, and CEO. During this journey, the most important lesson learned has been the importance of lifelong learning. Gone are the days of graduating high school or college and working at the same place for the rest of your career. The world is constantly changing, and success is dependent on one’s ability to learn new skills and adapt.
Tell us more about the Greater Nashville Technology Council. How many members do you represent, and what are you doing to strengthen the city’s entrepreneurial community?
The Greater Nashville Technology Council is a membership-based trade association with 530 corporate members. We are the leading voice and advocate for Middle Tennessee’s $8 billion information technology ecosystem; and the 50,000 technology professionals who design, implement, manage, and safeguard the technology that powers our region’s economy. Our vision is to serve as the catalyst for creating America’s premiere collaborative and inclusive tech community with the mission of leading greater Nashville to the world that is becoming.
The entrepreneurial community is key to the future success of our region. We work with our local, state, and federal elected officials to advocate on behalf of the tech and entrepreneurial communities. We work closely with community partners such as LaunchTN, the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, and others to support their efforts and introduce startups to our member companies. We work with the economic development agencies at the local and state level to recruit new business and grow our economy. And we invest heavily to promote tech education and workforce development to assure our startups have the talent they need to grow and succeed.
What makes Nashville’s startup and tech community so unique?
Nashville has the most expansive music industry concentration in America, an example of the creativity that has been part of Nashville’s DNA for almost 100 years. This unparalleled creative community—with a mashup of musicians, artists, writers, developers, and designers—translates into a tech scene unlike any other.
Our startup scene is directly linked to this creative community as most of our musicians, artists, and writers are entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship is built into the fabric of Nashville. Likewise, the skills and traits of a musician translate very precisely to software development and other tech occupations. Both entrepreneurs and techies are more likely to excel in Nashville because of the creative community they can plug into.
What are some of the issues that Nashville’s entrepreneurs are dealing with that should receive more attention from state and federal policymakers?
From a state perspective, the top priority is maintaining Tennessee’s business friendly environment. That includes ensuring equal opportunity and support for all citizens, entrepreneurs, and businesses. We are fortunate in that Tennessee has made several strategic moves over the years in support of the startup community.
LaunchTN, created as a public-private partnership in 1998 and funded by the state of Tennessee, has a vision to make Tennessee the most startup-friendly state in the nation. LaunchTN partners with entrepreneur centers across the state to offer entrepreneurs what they need to succeed and stay in Tennessee to build companies and create jobs. In 2009, Tennessee formed TNInvestco, which allocated $200 million dollars in tax credits to a cross section of venture capital funds for the purpose of investing in Tennessee startups and helping Tennessee companies grow.
The Angel Tax Credit was passed by the Tennessee General Assembly and became active in January of 2017. The ATC provides a tax credit for angel investors who make a direct investment in qualifying early-stage Tennessee companies. We need to continue support for these programs.
What steps can local, state and federal officials take to further empower Nashville’s growing tech ecosystem?
Having a quality, educated workforce is the key to our future economic growth and success. That is most evident when it comes to our tech workforce. We need programs that support the reskilling of our underemployed workers so they can move into higher paying tech jobs. It’s all about the workforce.
What is your goal for NTC moving forward?
Our mission is to lead greater Nashville into the world that is becoming.
The world is fundamentally changing. Technology has shattered barriers and shrunk the world, reducing the distances between industries and societies. And this decade will host the most dramatic workforce transition ever seen in the history of our nation. In a world driven by devices and technology, we must remember that the future is not about technology, but people. The World Economic Forum’s 2018 Future of Jobs report suggests that, by 2022, no less than 54 percent of all employees will require significant reskilling and upskilling. Technology can play a role in reducing racial, gender, and economic inequalities for vast numbers of people.
Nashville is incredibly well positioned to lead this transformation. The Nashville region has become a premier destination for innovation and creativity. Over the last decade, Nashville has emerged as one of our nation’s leading growth cities. By training a new army of workers to find and solve critical problems, we can shape the future of our world.
The future is bright, but true success will only come by creating an inclusive community with opportunities for all—regardless of race, gender, or class.
All of the information in this profile was accurate at the date and time of publication.
Engine works to ensure that policymakers look for insight from the startup ecosystem when they are considering programs and legislation that affect entrepreneurs. Together, our voice is louder and more effective. Many of our lawmakers do not have first-hand experience with the country's thriving startup ecosystem, so it’s our job to amplify that perspective. To nominate a person, company, or organization to be featured in our #StartupsEverywhere series, email edward@engine.is.
