Business & Tech

Invest Atlanta Launches Start Up Atlanta

Program brings together Atlanta's ecosystem to increase entrepreneurship

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and Invest Atlanta, the City's economic development agency, announced Tuesday the launch of a new program called Start Up Atlanta to help the local startup community engage,interact and create new businesses and jobs. Start Up Atlanta is one of Invest Atlanta’s initiatives to make the city nationally and internationallyrecognized for entrepreneurship.

“Atlanta's entrepreneurial spirit has always been strong and with the launch of Start Up Atlanta, companies will have a direct link to some of the most valuable resources needed when starting a business,” said Reed in a news release. “This initiative not only will pair entrepreneurs with a vast array of talent and potential funding, but also will help create jobs and grow Atlanta’s economy."

A press conference detailing the program will be held today at the Technology Square Research Building (TSRB) at the Georgia Institute of Technology from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Keynote speakers include Mayor Reed, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Director David J. Kappos, Invest Atlanta President and CEO Brian McGowan and Georgia Institute of Technology President Bud Peterson. The event will be streamed live and online for offsite participants to view and interact via chat. Learn It Live, Atlanta's own technology startup, is hosting the online event and can be found here.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

“This is a really exciting initiative,” said USPTO Director David J. Kappos in the release. “If our country is going to maintain its competitive edge in the global economy, we’re going to need more efforts like Start Up Atlanta to help unleash the full innovative and entrepreneurial potential of our nation’s great cities.”

Start Up Atlanta’s goal is to introduce, connect, support and expand the entrepreneurial, investment and talent ecosystem within all industries of Atlanta, and the surrounding region. The program includes a web-based platform that visually maps out valuable resources such as incubators, accelerators and service providers, and connections to create and support a network for entrepreneurs tosucceed in launching a startup or building a business in Atlanta.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

By supporting collaboration and innovation, Start Up Atlanta provides an opportunity for entrepreneurs to assess their startup ideas. Local tech and startup leaders, as well as Atlanta’s Fortune 500 companies, can participate by providing feedback in the areas of business and market strategy, fundraising, team development and more. Start Up Atlanta will also leverage resources to expand financing options for startups by connecting entrepreneurs with business advisors, investors and customers in the market.

“Start Up Atlanta will help interconnect Atlanta’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and provide an opportunity to build partnerships and access local resources, as well as help raise Atlanta’s profile as a place where entrepreneurs from around the world can succeed,” Brian P. McGowan, president and CEO of Invest Atlanta, said in a statement.

Invest Atlanta has partnered with organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to supporting the creation of jobs in their communities. Partner organizations include economic development agencies, entrepreneurial organizations, and state and local government entities.

During the event, Invest Atlanta, in partnership with the Tech Association of Georgia (TAG), will announce a video competition where participants will have the opportunity to tell why their company will change the world and what they like most about being in Atlanta.

Five companies will be selected to present their video at the 2nd annual Venture Atlanta, Georgia’s largest investor showcase, conference in October. The grand prize winner will receive $10,000 in cash and a year subscription to iMeet from PGi. All participants will receive a free three-month subscription to iMeet, courtesy of PGi.

For more information on Start Up Atlanta, visit www.startupatlanta.com.

- Invest Atlanta contributed to this report


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Midtown