Walking into Venture Atlanta for the first time can feel electric—crowded halls, packed sessions, and chance encounters that can change your career. With so much happening across the premier Southeast tech conference at the Woodruff Arts Center and Symphony Hall, having a plan makes all the difference.
This startup conference guide walks you through how to prepare, where to focus your time, and the best ways to make the most of your Venture Atlanta experience, whether you’re pitching, investing, or attending for the first time.
Conference Packing List
Before you arrive at this year’s Venture Atlanta conference, make sure you pack:
- Smart casual, business casual, or business professional clothes (You can’t go wrong with any of these - we always see a mix! Check out our Instagram for pictures from past years).
- Comfortable shoes (you’ll be on your feet a lot)
- Portable charger and charging cords
- Business cards
- Pitch deck or one-pager (digital + print)
- A notebook or notes app for quick takeaways
Tips for First-Time Conference Attendees
If you’re new to Venture Atlanta, welcome! Attending your first venture capital conference can feel overwhelming, but it’s also one of the best opportunities to grow your network, meet investors, and see some of the region’s most promising startups.
Here are a few tech conference tips to keep in mind:
1. Leverage the Venture Atlanta App
The Venture Atlanta app is used by the majority of our attendees, so if you’re not using it, you’re missing out on valuable networking. It also serves as your command center for the week. Any info you need to access can be found in the app!
New in 2025: You can now add all sessions open to you directly into your schedule, keeping everything in one place. The app also makes it easy to message attendees, book meetings, and keep track of your networking follow-ups.
Pro Tip: Make sure to download and log in before you arrive so you can hit the ground running without any roadblocks. Starting 10/1, you can access the event platform app on a web browser or mobile. The web link and mobile link will be sent out to event registrants, and the mobile app will also be available through the Apple App Store or Google Play.
2. Do Your Homework
The attendee list is shared before the event, so figure out who you want to meet. Then use the app to reach out and book time with them in advance. Everyone is here to connect—take advantage of that!
Pro Tip: Our most successful attendees start setting meetings before the conference even starts!
3. Connect With VA Ambassadors
NEW this year, in addition to the volunteers, we’re having VA ambassadors who will help newcomers make the most of the Venture Atlanta experience. Connect with M. Cole Jones, who will be leading the charge!
4. Look For Lanyard Buttons
This year, founders and investors can use special buttons on their lanyards to make it easier to find the right people! Seed stage, growth stage, early stage, angel investors, and even students will have identifiers.
5. Make a Game Plan
Check out the Venture Atlanta conference schedule and figure out which sessions you’re eligible for and interested in. Once you know which sessions you want to attend and who you want to meet, map out where you need to be and when. Directories, signage, and our incredible volunteers will be available to guide you, but planning ahead helps you maximize every hour.
Pro Tip: Sign up for these sessions ASAP! Some sessions require separate signup, and spots fill up quickly. You can do so through the conference app (which you have access to once you register for the conference) starting 10/1! If you have any questions, contact us here.
6. Be Open
Don’t only target investors. You’ll meet corporate buyers, service providers, mentors, and even potential hires. Some of the most valuable connections come from unexpected conversations. Join a table at lunch and sit with people you don’t know. They may just be able to introduce you to the person you want to meet.
Don’t Miss the Mini Events
This year brings more breakout opportunities than EVER before. Beyond the main stage pitches, Venture Atlanta offers intimate, small-format sessions where the best and most valuable conversations happen. If you’re not attending these, you’re not getting the full conference experience!
The best part? All of these events are included with your conference ticket! This year’s highlights include:
- Executive Breakout Sessions: Take advantage of these intimate opportunities to learn from CEOs who have been there and done that. They won’t just tell you how they scaled a business, but how they failed, scaled, and pivoted.
- Procurement Palooza: This is a brand-new panel designed to demystify selling to enterprise procurement leaders. At this session, you get to speak directly to enterprise buyers and ask them all of your burning questions about the procurement process. This truly is a can’t-miss event.
- Investor & Founder Breakfast: This is a kickoff networking opportunity for you to meet potential investors before the conference starts!
- Founders Breakfast: This is a great time to have more intimate conversations with fellow founders, where you get to build your tribe and your network.
Pitching at Venture Atlanta
If you’re one of the companies pitching on stage, congratulations! Preparation is everything. Investors want to know that not just your brand is worth backing, but that YOU are worth backing as well. Here are our tips for how to prepare for startup events:
1. Practice Your Pitch and Your Follow-Up
Your pitch is definitely important (take a look at our tips for pitching to investors), but it’s just the first step. Whether participating in the judges' Q&A on the VA stage or meeting 1:1, be prepared to answer these questions from investors to start building your relationship with them.
2. Learn From Past Winners
Read how alumni like Ortez Gude of Citiri, Tevin Harrell of SmartWiz, and Josh Levy of Document Crunch prepared and won their pitch competitions from last year’s conference. Their stories, lessons learned, and advice are invaluable to the creation of your own pitch!
3. Have Your Materials Ready
Your pitch deck, one-pager, and business cards should be polished and easily shareable. The more effortless you make it for investors to learn about you, the more they’ll lean in.
How Investors Can Make the Most of Venture Atlanta
If you’re an investor attending the Venture Atlanta conference, there are a couple of ways you can maximize your time at the conference.
1. Do Your Research
Our company lineup page lists all of the companies that were selected to pitch at this year’s conference. To make it easy to navigate, we’ve built the page so that you can search by name, growth stage level, industry, and location.
2. Watch the Pitches
These annual pitches are must-attend events, spotlighting the best up-and-coming startups from across the Southeast. This year, 560 companies applied to pitch, and only 86 were selected. Meaning, you truly do get to see the best of the best in the region. Pitches are only 3 minutes long, and all companies have been coached ahead of time on the most important info to share to make it easily digestible for you.
3. Attend the Mini Events
Attend the breakfasts, the lunches, the dinners, the thought leadership sessions, and the networking opportunities. These smaller gatherings are where networking at venture capital conferences really pays off!
4. Network With Other Investors
The Venture Atlanta conference is a valuable opportunity to network with fellow investors. We host exclusive, investor-only events (like the pickleball experience and investor dinner) designed for you to build relationships, exchange insights, and collaborate with other investors.
To make the most of these opportunities, be sure to check the event schedule and Venture Atlanta app ahead of time. You can see which investor-only sessions, panels, and networking mixers are planned, allowing you to strategically plan your day and ensure you don’t miss out on key chances to connect with peers.
Attend the Venture Atlanta Conference
The Southeast tech conference that sets the tone for the year is almost here. Whether you’re a founder seeking capital, an investor scouting your next big deal, or just looking for tips for first-time conference attendees, Venture Atlanta is the place to be.
And if you haven’t registered yet, click here to register and secure your spot at Venture Atlanta. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this dynamic event that shapes the future of innovation and investment in the Southeast!
Frequently Asked Questions
What should first-time attendees know about Venture Atlanta?
Do your homework in advance, download the app, and plan your schedule. Everyone is here to connect, so don’t be shy about reaching out.
How do I use the Venture Atlanta app to book meetings?
Search the attendee list, send meeting requests, and add sessions to your schedule. The app is the easiest way to stay organized during the event.
What are the best networking opportunities during Venture Atlanta?
The best networking opportunities at VA are the mini events, investor/founder breakfasts, lunchtime, and the cocktail party, which are all standout moments to connect beyond the main stage. This year, we will have a closing lunch in the tent with BBQ, gelato, and lots of fun. This is a great time to meet folks outside of those in the sessions with you.
What should I wear to the Venture Atlanta conference?
Business casual works best. Think comfortable but polished with shoes you can walk a long time in, layered outfits for venues, and something you feel confident in!
Where is the Venture Atlanta 2025 conference being held?
The Woodruff Arts Center and Atlanta Symphony Hall in Atlanta, Georgia.
What is the best way to prepare for pitching at Venture Atlanta?
To prepare for your pitch, rehearse your pitch, anticipate investor questions, and have your materials ready. You should also learn from past winners and tailor your story to your audience.
If I’m not pitching, why should I attend?
Many founders attend without pitching and still set up dozens of investor meetings. This was one of our favorite testimonials from a founder last year: “Even though we weren’t selected to pitch this year, just attending Venture Atlanta was invaluable. It led to new opportunities to chat with several key customers and I’m thrilled to share that we even secured an investment. Thank you Venture Atlanta team!”
Are all events open to everyone?
No. Some events are private or invite-only. Check your app and printed schedule for access details.
Is the Investor Dinner open to all investors?
Yes. All registered investors and hosting sponsors are welcome.
What’s the event I shouldn’t miss?
Don’t skip the opening keynote with Mayor Andre Dickens and Garrett Langley, the 50+ company pitches, or the cocktail party, which is the ultimate networking session.
How can I navigate VA?
There will be volunteers (in easy-to-spot volunteer shirts) throughout the venue who can answer questions and help you find your way. This year we’re also introducing VA Ambassadors who will help newcomers make the most of the Venture Atlanta experience.
