Looking for firsthand input from folks who’ve sourced or closed $2–6M EBITDA deals as independent sponsors. **Specifically NOT looking for tech related deals** BACKGROUND: Acquired a healthcare company in Orlando in 2022 using personal equity + SBA; now focused on sourcing the next deal as an independent sponsor. Married with 2 kids (ages 4 & 9), used to live in NYC, Los Angeles and currently Orlando. We're evaluating moving to Atlanta vs. Austin as a long-term base, with the goal of having a thriving ecosystem for independent sponsor and opportunities for proprietary dealflow. My current (imperfect) take: ATLANTA appears to have deeper LMM infrastructure (brokers, IBs, advisors) AUSTIN seems easier socially and culturally, with strong operator/transplant density, but potentially thinner on pure LMM intermediaries (may require regular Dallas/Houston travel). Plus a lot of tech and VC emphasis, which is not relevant to what I'm doing. QUESTIONS Which city was easier to break into as an independent sponsor (not a fund)? In Atlanta, which neighborhoods or sub-markets actually matter for being in the deal flow? In Austin, is local sourcing sufficient, or does it realistically require a Dallas/Houston overlay? If your goal is one closed deal in 6–12 months, which city would you choose and why? Thank you!