Companies
Step into the spotlight
What to Expect
For 15 years, Venture Atlanta has been selecting the most promising tech companies from across the Southeast and bringing in top investment firms from across the nation to hear them pitch. Our alumni companies have collectively achieved over $6.5B in funding raised and $17B in exits.
This year, the conference is fully in person and will take place at The Woodruff Arts Center (the third-largest arts center in the nation!). Don’t miss this opportunity to stand on the prestigious Atlanta Symphony Hall stage and pitch your business to hundreds of investors and corporate leaders at our biggest and best Venture Atlanta yet!
OUR COMPANIES MAKE NEWS
PRESENTING COMPANIES
These companies will pitch live on the Venture Atlanta stage. Here are the benefits of being a Venture Atlanta Presenting Company:
SHOWCASE COMPANIES
The Venture Atlanta Showcase gives early-stage or pre–revenue companies the opportunity to get on the radar of investors. Here are the benefits of being a Venture Atlanta Showcase Company:
WHO SHOULD APPLY
We are looking for companies that are…
- Tech-enabled
- Anywhere in the Southeast (as far as west as Texas and as far north as D.C.)
- Looking to raise sometime within the next 18 months
- In any startup stage (we will have angel investors, VCs, and PEs in attendance, so we are looking for everything from seed stage to growth stage)
DATES & EVENTS
Dates to Remember
- Company Apps Open: June 1st
- Meet & Greet #1 Hosted by Grant Thornton: July 12th
- Meet & Greet #2 Hosted by Grant Thornton: July 25th
- Company Apps Close: August 12th
- Companies Notified if in TechOperators Pitch Off: August 18th
- TechOperators Pitch Off: August 30th
- Companies Notified Privately If Selected: September 2nd
- Companies Announced Publicly: September 20th
- Venture Atlanta 2022: October 19th & 20th
TECHOPERATORS PITCH OFF
The TechOperators Pitch Off is a way for the Venture Atlanta screening committee to narrow down the list of company pitch applicants. On August 18th, companies will be notified if they have made the TechOperators pitch off. The pitch off will take place on August 30th. Please mark your calendars!
GRANT THORNTON MEET & GREET
Last year, a record-breaking 400 companies applied to pitch at Venture Atlanta, and less than 25% were selected. If you’re considering applying to pitch at VA 2022, here is your BEST chance to get your questions answered and learn how to make your application stand out!
Join one of these FREE upcoming sessions hosted by Grant Thornton:
July 12th, 10-11 am: Virtual
July 25th, 10 - 11:30 am: In Person at Grant Thornton’s Office
These sessions will cover:
- What we’re looking for in prospective pitch companies
- How to tell your best story and make your application stand out
- What you can expect from the application and selection process
Supporting Diverse Founders
Goodie Nation, Metro Atlanta Chamber, and Venture Atlanta are bringing back the Creating Momentum initiative that we launched last year. Powered by Silicon Valley Bank, we’re hosting five events in five different cities all in one week. Join us for complimentary cocktails and light bites as we discuss opportunities to strengthen the diverse tech startup community across the Southeast.
- Atlanta: Monday, July 18
- DC: Tuesday, July 19
- Dallas: Tuesday, July 19
- Miami: Thursday, July 21
- Austin: Thursday, July 21
COACHING PROCESS
We make sure you’re ready for the big event
Investor pitches are some of the most important and impactful things you’ll do for your company as an entrepreneur. And pitching live can be intimidating. That’s why we pair you with the very best in the industry so you are confident to deliver a winning pitch. Here’s how it works:
- If selected, you’ll be matched with dedicated coaches who will work with you throughout the entire process.
- You’ll get coaching and training (virtually if necessary) on how to develop a memorable pitch.
- Historically coaching has been reserved for Pitch Companies, but for the first time ever, we will be providing coaching to our Showcase companies as well.
- Pro Tip: Often these coaches are also investors - so you’ll have one-on-one time with people who could invest in your business, even before the event happens.
REVIEW PROCESS
There’s nothing to lose
Curious to know how the top companies are picked? We have a multi-step review process with some of the industry’s top leaders, investors, and innovators. That means your application will be seen by potential investors regardless of whether or not you're selected. So why not apply? Here’s our process:
- Every application is reviewed first by our screening committee.
- The narrowed applications are then graded by our experienced investor and voting committee.
- The top applicants for the Early Stage / Venture category are then invited to our Pitch Off where they will have a 50/50 chance of being selected.
If you’re ready, submit your application here!
STAY AHEAD OF THE COMPETITION
Get all the answers here
This year, the conference is fully in person and will take place at The Woodruff Arts Center (the third-largest arts center in the nation!). Don’t miss this opportunity to stand on the prestigious Atlanta Symphony Hall stage and pitch your business to hundreds of investors and corporate leaders at our biggest and best Venture Atlanta yet!
Applications are open June 1 - August 12. The deadline will not be extended for any reason. To apply, simply fill out this application. If you have any specific questions while going through the application process, contact us here.
Pitch companies must be looking to raise within the next 18 months and must be located in the Southeastern U.S. (as far west as Texas and as far north as D.C.) We are looking for all levels of startup stages (from pre-revenue seed stage all the way through growth stage). We have a broad range of technology that we accept and have featured all kinds of companies from wearables to electric cars. The majority of our pitch companies fall into the following categories:
- B2B Marketplace
- B2C Marketplace
- Blockchain / Crypto
- Consumer
- Cybersecurity
- Digital Health
- Digital Media
- Enterprise / B2B Software
- Environmental, Social, & Governance
- Fintech
- Hardware
- Real Estate & Property tech
- Supply Chain & Logistics
NOTHING! It’s a great opportunity for entrepreneurs to get on stage and receive excellent exposure for their business. You have nothing to lose!
YES! Venture Atlanta is known for its quality coaching. We provide two rounds of coaching in various formats to best fit your needs. You’ll receive exposure to top CEOs who have raised money and been in your shoes as well as investors to give invaluable feedback and help with your pitch. All selected companies MUST go through at least one round of coaching.
We will have 1:1 meetings that companies can set up through our app, there will be designated meeting areas set up at the venue, AND all companies will be invited to attend our Investor Dinner. This is BAR NONE the best networking of the conference. Fostering networking is one of our top goals!
YES! We understand that it’s not practical for every investor to watch every pitch live. For that reason we record all of the pitches and house them on our on-demand platform for a full year after the event. And you will be able to make updates to your company information at any time after the fact.