There are plenty of new faces within the Techstars Atlanta workplace today.
Tim DorrCEO of Techstars Atlanta Powered by Cox Enterprises, joined in February and instantly went to work recruiting startups for the accelerator. Anastasia Simon joined this Might as chief funding officer after spending 15 years crisscrossing the startup ecosystem with roles in Retail saledigital media, edtech, music tech, and early-stage enterprise capital.
Now, 10 new founders will be a part of the Ponce Metropolis Market-based accelerator program.
Techstars Atlanta Powered by Cox Enterprises shall be absolutely in-person this yr after a number of years of distant or hybrid programming.
Whereas purposes have been open to startups from throughout the nation, seven of the ten startups on this yr’s cohort are already from Atlanta. Kim Mackenzie, Atlanta enterprise lead for Cox Enterprises, mentioned “it did not occur accidentally; once we launched the decision for purposes, Atlanta got here ahead and introduced the very best.”
The Class of 2022 additionally represents an enormous milestone for the native Techstars group, as they’ve now reached 100 startups collaborating in Techstars Atlanta or Techstars Influence.
Meet the Startups of 2022
COOKONNECT – An Atlanta-based startup targeted on rising entry to residence meal preparation providers.
“Whereas most individuals want home-cooked meals, few have the time or need to organize meals each week. Cookonnect helps customers eat properly and comfortably at residence by making the private kitchen extra accessible to each prospects and cooks offering meals providers,” the staff instructed Hypepotamus.
ILLOOMINUS – An Atlanta-based knowledge analytics firm within the DE&I area. When requested why the time was proper to affix such an accelerator, the staff mentioned: “We firmly imagine that no startup builds itself. A group round you is required. To launch a startup, construct a staff, develop a product, and entice prospects, you are shifting extremely quick. Techstars is that “decelerate (however actually quick)” alternative to problem your assumptions with world-class mentors and consultants and get the suitable infrastructure to get you on top of things once more.”
MEDSEMBLY – An Atlanta-based software program firm that connects healthcare college students with professionals and mentors.
“School college students lack steering of their profession path, particularly in well being care, the place the stakes are excessive. We resolve this downside by connecting pre-health college students instantly with skilled professionals to supply steering, readability and assist as they transition into their professions,” the staff instructed Hypepotamus.
METRIC MATE – An Atlanta-based startup serving to individuals higher observe stats round their exercises.
When requested why the time was proper to affix Techstars, they mentioned, “The market began to vary. After we began selling Metric Mate to the general public, the necessity for knowledge monitoring and distant steering for power coaching was unclear. Individuals interacted and met head to head regularly. Because the world started to vary with the pandemic, the advantages of Metric Mate started to indicate and customers turned extra receptive to our expertise and keen to pay for it. TechStars is an apparent associate and the reference to Cox will present insights that shall be an integral a part of our progress.”
MY PANDA – An Atlanta-based startup that connects individuals with on-demand private assistants.
The staff participated in the Atlanta Founder Catalyst program with JP Morgan final fall and mentioned becoming a member of this new cohort is about making ready the staff to scale.
“We have now been working and rising on a shoestring funds with a small staff. Our consumer retention price is superb, our income has been rising, and we’re prepared to start out scaling and rising our staff. As a first-time, non-tech startup founder, the construction and assist of a Techstars accelerator is strictly what we want proper now.”
PALMLY – A two-sided market primarily based in Atlanta to attach individuals in search of new religion communities.
The staff seeks to resolve a singular downside. “On this post-pandemic period, church buildings are in search of revolutionary methods to develop their congregations, and an estimated 115 million adults within the US alone are in search of hope, religion, and a group to discover these items. Our answer takes a two-sided market strategy the place we curate a group for individuals exploring religion and join them with a church that matches their distinctive wants.”
PAYVMNT- A final-mile supply knowledge platform that has moved to Atlanta.
“There’s a large hole between routing/supply software program and market demand. We’re constructing an answer to alleviate the ache factors supply drivers face every day, from real-time optimization to how they receives a commission. We’re constructing the way forward for what was lacking in final mile logistics,” the staff instructed Hypepotamus.
REVELER – A New York-based software program startup targeted on the fan expertise.
Techstars Atlanta is a bit like a homecoming or the staff, made up of Savannah natives and graduates of Georgia Tech and South Georgia. “To attach companies and native communities, we envision Reveler because the framework that drives expertise as an enhancement of human connection throughout the sports activities area. We all know that to attain this, it might require assist, capital, and a community outdoors of our present means,” the staff added.
THEIA DATING – A matchmaking service designed to create “significant connections inside communities.”
The idea began as Relationship Deacons at Wake Forest College. “In a courting trade affected by shallow profiles, countless swipes, and no actual connection, Theia provides a singular and common strategy,” the staff instructed Hypepotamus.
VARKN – A cell app for unbiased valet drivers that launched in late 2021.
The staff described the app as a technique to remove the challenges related to off-airport parking.
“I’m new to the enterprise setting of expertise and the choices made on the early stage of a startup can set the tone for how briskly it can develop within the years to return. Once I utilized, the startup was at a stage the place correct mentoring and funding was required to maneuver to the following stage. Making use of to Techstars Atlanta is the best choice I’ve taken to make sure the correct launch of the startup,” mentioned the staff.
What to anticipate from Techstars Atlanta 2022
Rounding out the Techstars staff is Hannah Turnerthe returning funding affiliate for her fifth cohort of this system.
The startups on the staff shall be working with Dorr, Simon, Turner and a gaggle of native mentors for the following a number of months. This system will culminate on October 17 with its Demo Day.
Simon instructed Hypepotamus that she is able to convey her distinctive startup and funding expertise to the native Techstars ecosystem.
“The one fixed [in my career] It has been being one of many first staff who was in a position to work facet by facet with the founders of the corporate,” she mentioned. “I’ve additionally been a perpetual facet hustle queen supporting small enterprise house owners since I graduated from LSU in 2007. What I realized is that it is not about being the neatest or most revolutionary founder, it is about being persistent, passionate, humble, and intellectually curious concerning the world round you. Entrepreneurship is not straightforward, whether or not you are operating a boutique or growing a SaaS platform to make buildings extra power environment friendly. If you cannot experience the ups and downs, ask for and settle for assist, and pivot once you want it, it does not matter how good you might be at writing code.”
Whereas many of the startups are already primarily based in Atlanta, she additionally sees the assist of Cox Enterprise as key to serving to these founders acquire nationwide traction.
“With our program partnering with Cox Enterprises, an trade chief that’s deeply dedicated to persevering with to develop Atlanta’s startup ecosystem, how might I not see this as the proper alternative to create tangible change regionally and globally? , as a result of everyone knows Atlanta influences all the pieces,” added Simon.