Recruiting time

The South is faring pretty well in attracting Inc 500 founders, according to Kauffman Foundation’s report, “The Ascent of America’s High-Growth Companies: Founder Mobility.” Second only to the West, during the 8 year period of 2000-2008, the South had a net flow of 328 of 865 Inc. 500 founders, representing only 24 fewer founders than the West’s net flow of 352 founders. The report examines founders of the Inc 500 who moved away from the cities where they received a college degree. (Infographic)

Attracting founders is a critical component of the cross-pollination of ideas and talent. High growth companies, such as the Inc. 500, are key to job growth, as most net new job growth occurs in high growth firms.

What’s disturbing is a look at a map of these fast-growing companies reveals that only one Baton Rouge Parish-based company made the Inc. 500 list in the 2000-2010 timeframe.

High growth startup founders are moving South, just not to Baton Rouge.

To read the full Kauffman report, click here (opens in .pdf format).