The 16th annual Venture Atlanta 2023 is now in the books, having heralded new technologies and trends to watch as well as a high-energy experience that kept the sold-out venue abuzz.
This year, there were over 1,400 entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders in attendance at The Woodruff Arts Center and Atlanta Symphony Hall, with highlights including a keynote by Robert Herjavec of “Shark Tank” and a seed-stage Startup Showcase Live pitch event with a take-home purse of $500,000.
Following are a few of my observations from the two-day event:
Word Of The Day Is AI. Artificial intelligence played a huge role in the panel discussions and presented technologies—I’m estimating about 75 percent of every technology pitched to judges had some AI element.
Solutions That Make Life Easier Are Key. These ran the gamut from practical technologies that automate common tasks to those that improve the human condition. One such practical solution was Everykey, which eliminates the need to keep up with passwords and physical keys. Importantly, the winner of the $500,000 was Enrich.ly, which uses ML and gamification to make self-esteem improvement fun for children. This winner designation enforced to me that above all, people matter.
It’s About More Than Money. In Herjavec’s keynote and in panel discussions, the importance of startups finding the “right” investor was emphasized. Investors typically specialize in an industry (such as cybersecurity, for example) and are likely to be most interested in companies in that category, which means founders should do their research before pitching in order to fundraise successfully. Similarly, they should partner only with those investors experienced in their industry to gain the right expertise, track record, and connections. The founder-investor relationship can be lengthy, and considerations should go beyond just financial.
#VA2023 Breaks Another Record
This year, there were 550 presenter applications for Venture Atlanta—the most ever. Also, a significant portion (more than 60 percent) of companies that applied were based outside of Georgia, reflecting the growing awareness and pull of Venture Atlanta. In all, 83 companies were chosen, with only a select number making the stage to pitch in front of A-list judges.
In addition to those previously mentioned, some of the other presenting companies at #VA2023 that caught my attention include:
- AdPipe, a platform that helps marketers create, distribute, and track custom motion graphics built from existing videos
- Betty’s Co., offering an integrative care model and superior healthcare experience geared toward Gen Z females
- Bleach Cyber, a cybersecurity platform specifically for small and medium-sized businesses
- Care Sherpa, a platform that guides patients through healthcare complexities, resulting in new patient consults and treatment conversions for elective medical providers
- CareYaya Health, which matches students interested in healthcare career paths with families in need of caregiving services such as meal preparation, housekeeping, and companionship
- Limitless Minds, which provides live and on-demand mental fitness coaching and mindset training led by world-class coaches and experts
An Elevated Experience
As a long-time attendee and sponsor of Venture Atlanta, I noticed that this year’s event had an especially high-energy mood—something reinforced by such touches as a DJ for the opening session, “Shark”-style pitch experiences on stage, and an almost nightclub-like atmosphere.
One non-business observation I also have to make was the upping of attendees’ “shoe game.” The men in particular were sporting less staid, more stylistic (and comfortable) footwear choices in the form of brighter and, in some cases, “blinged out” sneakers. Definitely a point of conversation!
All in all, Venture Atlanta 2023 was its typical well-executed self that this year offered some new twists to keep us all on our (sneakered) toes! Shout-out to Venture Atlanta CEO Allyson Eman, this year’s event chair Mark Flickinger of BIP Ventures, the board of directors, and additional committee chairs. We also look forward to Joey Womack of Goodie Nation taking up the reins as chair of next year’s Venture Atlanta. We’re certain even more great things are yet to come! On to 2024!