Venture Atlanta has always been an event that is near and dear to my heart. I always look forward to attending the conference and this year is no exception.
Venture Atlanta’s mission is a simple one: connect companies to capital. The benefits aren’t limited to just funding, though. The conference also connects companies to other resources they need to grow, including mentors and advisors who can help to shape their businesses. Venture Atlanta gives entrepreneurs access to a peer network, talent and potential partnerships. The application process for fledgling companies that wish to be showcased is competitive, as you might expect given the magnitude of the opportunity for those in the startup phase.
When Venture Atlanta began in 2007, there were only a couple hundred attendees and 20 funds. Last year, the conference celebrated its 10th anniversary with 880 attendees and 135 funds. Even more, in the last 10 years, the conference has earned a reputation for consistently identifying cutting-edge technologies while helping to launch over 400 companies and secure over $2.6 billion in funding to date. Venture Atlanta is expecting record attendance this year—confirmation that it is showing no signs of slowing down.
As I prepare for this year’s event, I find myself reflecting on the Venture Atlanta conferences of the past. Each year, entrepreneurs from our region continue to come up with great ideas and work hard to get themselves in front of investors and others who can help them bring their dreams to fruition. I leave every conference in awe of these great companies. It reminds me that you can’t put a cap on creativity.
While Venture Atlanta has continued to flourish through the years, the world around us hasn’t remained constant. While these brilliant tech innovators have been creating solutions, generating a customer base and pitching their businesses to venture capitalists, the world around them has gone through changes. The state of economy over the last ten years has fluctuated. The political environment has changed. Yet, these innovators remain steadfast in their desire to build and grow companies. These entrepreneurs simply can’t help themselves. Being creative is what they do, it’s who they are. Venture Atlanta celebrates these companies and provides them with the tools to develop into something incredible.
This year’s presenting company lineup is packed full of exciting new ideas. Venture Atlanta does a great job of highlighting both presenting companies with a revenue stream as well as companies in their very early stage, pre-revenue. These latter companies are given the chance to get on the radar of investors from their very beginnings as part of the Venture Atlanta Startup Showcase.
In addition to all the great company presentations and showcases, Venture Atlanta always has a stellar roster of speakers. Here’s an overview of this year’s keynote and fireside chat speakers.
This year’s conference will take place October 16-17. Come to the event expecting to be inspired! You can register for it here. Or, if you are unable to attend, you can count on a comprehensive recap from Venture Atlanta. Get ready for this year’s event by reading the recap of Venture Atlanta 2017.
Hope to see you there!