Last week, I quoted NBJ Editor Lance Williams as saying that Nashville needs to do a better job connecting its capital with its entrepreneurial community. At least one local venture capitalist, John Chadwick, agrees. According to him, he’d welcome the competition because it would strengthen Nashville’s economy:

Chadwick said that while he enjoys Claritas’ singular standing in Entrepreneur’s annual ranking, he believes that in the longer term it’d be better for everyone if there were more early-stage investors active in Nashville. Sharpening the point, Chadwick explained that more Tennessee funds making more early-stage investments – with an eye for good deals in their own backyard – would strengthen the state’s entrepreneurial “ecosystem,” deepen the pool of capital and create a bigger pipeline of the talented executives and specialists who are so critical to early-stage success.

I think Chadwick is right that increased investment in local startups would have a snowball effect here, and I’d like to see that happen.