If You Could Change Your Business for the Better in Two Days, Would You?

There was a time when Venture Atlanta was something I had to explain to everyone. A venture conference outside of Silicon Valley? And not just outside of Silicon Valley — but in the heart of a city most known for a handful of key Fortune 500 companies and insane traffic? The idea that Atlanta was a nurturing environment for tech startups puzzled many.   

It never puzzled me. 

As a business owner here in Atlanta, I know the caliber of this community, and more importantly, the opportunities that exist here for talent. 

For the past three years, I’ve had the pleasure of working with Venture Atlanta, and it has been incredible to see the conference take off in tandem with the growth of Atlanta’s startup and technology ecosystem. Venture Atlanta has long been a place for early-stage startups, but in recent years, it’s become a place for late-stage companies, and everyone in between, as well. 

By gathering the top entrepreneurs, business leaders, and tech enthusiasts from across the Southeast to interact with 350+ of the leading investment firms across the nation, VA has done something crucial and necessary. It has built a community of capital, talent, leadership, and advisement all in one place. And it only happens once a year. 

At past events, entrepreneurs have connected with attendees who went on to become investors, partners, mentors, customers, and more for their business. Every year, I’m surprised by the connections that I make, but more importantly, how much of a difference these relationships mean for not just my business, but for all companies who attend. My favorite success story is the Car360 / Carvana story (definitely worth a read), but there are many others like it. 

I don’t get behind things I don’t believe in, but I believe in Venture Atlanta’s ability to change the next wave of tech entrepreneurship not just in the Southeast, but for the nation. So for any founders, cofounders, or business leaders reading this, I hope you’ll consider applying to present. And seriously, there is no reason to miss this chance — it’s free and fast to apply, making it the easiest way to get in front of the top investors in the nation. 

So my question to you is this: Why not? 

If you have any questions, feel free to comment below. The deadline for applications is August 2 at midnight EST, and I look forward to seeing you on October 16-17 at Southern Exchange.