Before anyone could ask a question, the Raleigh-bound South by Southwest recruiting team bolted from HQRaleigh in a motor home early Thursday, speeding off on a multi-day road trip.

So why is Raleigh sending a team, including Mayor Nancy McFarlane, and why is Justin Miller taking some time off from startup WedPics?

WRALTechWire checked in with the team and “the tattooed guy” Miller, who is the Raleigh ambassador, while they are burning up miles on I-85.

First, Derrick Minor, who works in the city’s Economic Development Office.

  • What are the goals of the SXSW trip?

One. Promote the city as a destination for creatives, designers, and entrepreneurs.

Two. Try to recruit those same people (tech talent, entrepreneurs, startups, others) to Raleigh.

Three. Showcase our local startups while at SX.

Now, the Justin Miller story. Justin, who jokes that he is known to investors as the “tattooed guy” for his colorful body art, submitted a zany video that was judged the winner in a content put on by the City and its partners to pick a “Raleigh Ambassador” for the trip.

Miller won.

  • Why did you pick Miller?

Several reasons. 

One. Justin was one of the video submissions for the contest to win the trip to SXSW to represent the city as a Raleigh Ambassador.

two. Justin is the perfect representation of everything we were hoping for in an Ambassador: runs a local startup company, has a great social media presence, and has a love for Raleigh that he is willing to share with others.

Miller is traveling with Minor, his Raleigh teammate James Sauls, and Jason Widen, one of HQRaleigh’s founders. HQRaleigh is helping sponsor the trip. The mayor says she’ll join the team in a few days in Dallas.

So it’s all guys for the monet, cruising nearer to the South Carolina border as Miller and I traded email.

  • I know you are checking your email. How’s the trip?

Yep, we’re about 30 mins outside of Charlotte – of course we had to stop at a Smithfield’s for some Chicken & BBQ before heading all the way out of town 🙂

  • What’s your reaction to Derrick’s praise?

Awesome praise from Derrick – I’m really excited that it worked out and plan to do my part (however weird/wild it may be) repping the city down in Austin.

  • Did you blush?

Nah, no blushing happened – through years of fundraising I’ve learned that I have to maintain my emotionless poker face at all times. haha

  • Any plans to blog about the trip?

We will be shooting short video “diaries” along the way and uploading them on www.Raleigh4u.com.

Back to Minor …

The mayor and team see the SXSW trip as a chance to cash in on a variety of opportunities.

  • How has this benefited the city?

This is the second year and it benefits the city by helping to put Raleigh on the same level as Austin in the minds of creatives, designers, and tech talent. Talent is a key component to Raleigh’s current and future growth and this is a top priority for us.

Final Note …

Miller will be getting a new tattoo while in Austin. He promises to keep Raleigh posted.

One sure thing – it won’t be boring.