Nashville 'feels like Silicon Valley 10 years ago'

Eventbrite co-founders Julia and Kevin Hartz told the 36|86 conference Wednesday that Nashville feels "like Silicon Valley 10 years ago."

They picked Nashville for the company's second domestic office last year, and the technology power couple sees Music City as a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship.

"It does feel like Silicon Valley 10 years ago," Kevin Hartz said. "We hope to keep that ball rolling, and I definitely see the seeds of growth for a thriving tech industry."

Eventbrite is a global marketplace for the purchase and sale of tickets and the promotion of live events. It has 100 Nashville employees, whom Julia Hartz calls "Nashbrites."

Although Julia Hartz admitted Nashville was not an obvious choice for the tech company, Eventbrite has worked hard to be different from other tech companies. For example, at its inception in 2006, Eventbrite chose to settle in San Francisco instead of the popular Silicon Valley.

"If everyone is swimming one way, you want to be swimming the other," Kevin Hartz said.

The low cost of living, the vibrant events community and the bright talent made Nashville a good pick for the company, Julia Hartz said.

The area's innovative and entrepreneurial environment encourages growth in the technology industry.

Twenty-three percent of Nashville residents are entrepreneurs, five percent higher than the national average, according to a Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce report. In addition, the state's recent education initiatives, such as the Tennessee Reconnect grant program and the Tennessee Promise plan providing free community college, promote talent by allowing many to receive free higher education.

"It is a really, really big deal to us that we be that state that is a center for creativity and innovation because we think that will bring far beyond just the jobs and investments," Gov. Bill Haslam said at the 36|86 conference Wednesday at Marathon Music Works. "It will bring a life and spirit to our state that is really, really important to us."

The Nashville area continues to attract new businesses and investments, but the amount of capital for startups here is significantly lower than in Silicon Valley. Julia Hartz said startups should maintain a sense of "eternal optimism."

Eventbrite made no profit in its first four years, but the couple believes a lack of funding helped build Eventbrite into a strong, durable company.

"Starvation is a good thing. The lack of resources is a good thing. It gives that environment to create and do so with very little resources," Kevin Hartz said.

Reach Reade Pickert at 615-259-8836 and on Twitter @Readep.