BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA — Though it first rose to prominence as the only place in the world where iron ore, coal and limestone — the three materials to make steel — are in close proximity, Birmingham, Alabama’s population exploded with the growth of heavy industry as it became known as the Magic City, and the “Pittsburgh of the South.”
Then in the 1960s, after it struggled during the Great Depression then recovered during World War II, the city rose to prominence once again as a center for the Civil Rights movement. Protests led by local and national leaders and a notorious church bombing put the city at the forefront of the national effort to pass the Civil Rights Act.
Now, the city is looking to write a new chapter as a hub for technology. It has flown under the radar compared to some of its better-known peers, but has startup incubators, world-class research, an educated workforce and a supportive government, while venture capital is flowing for the next generation of founders. That excitement was palpable last month, as the city hosted its Sloss Tech conference at various venues, highlighting its growth, new companies and investment opportunities…