Innovation Resources

Over the last two decades, metro Atlanta has reinvented itself as a technology hub, evolving from its traditional finance, professional services and industrial roots. Our thriving innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems continue to drive the region's transformation. Recent tech company locations and expansions solidify the metro’s position as a digital leader as corporate powerhouses - from the likes of Airbnb and Visa to Panasonic and Microsoft - locate their newest, most technologically advanced business units to Atlanta.

• Thriving innovation & technology ecosystem
• Top location for corporate innovation centers
• Strong corporate and academic R&D activity

Curious and Inventive Spirit

Atlanta is a place of "firsts" for global brands. Minds craft next-generation products and services here. Atlanta invented the 24-hour news cycle when Ted Turner launched CNN and the region also introduced us to the first internet bank (Security First Network Bank). Atlanta gave the world a Coke, the first conceived headache tonic, and started the "do-it-yourself" revolution with the Home Depot. Now these minds are setting-up shop together in places like Georgia Tech's "Tech Square" to innovate and learn from each other.

Notable Technology Companies Founded in Atlanta:

• AirWatch
• Internet Security Systems (now IBM Internet Security Systems)
• Ionic Security
• MailChimp
• OneTrust
• Pardot
• Pindrop Security
• Silverpop

Recent Technology Announcements:

• Airbnb
• Amazon Music
• Cash App
• FanDuel
• Google
• Intel
• Mastercard
• Nike
• Visa

Innovation Centers

Corporate innovation centers provide highly accessible entry points for early stage companies to form customer relationships. Most innovation centers are concentrated at Georgia Tech’s “Tech Square” in Midtown Atlanta, taking advantage of the synergy between business and students on the college campus. A sampling of the region's corporate headquarters with innovation centers include:

• Delta Air Lines "The Hangar" Innovation Center
• Georgia-Pacific Innovation Institute
• KPMG "Ignition" Center
• NCR Innovation Lab
• Micron Technology Memory Design Center
• thyssenkrupp Elevator Americas Research Innovation Center

Strong R&D Activity

The Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) supports the state's tech industry through research funding. Founded in 1990, the GRA has generated $13.2 billion in research grants, venture capital, matching funds, and other forms and helped launch more than 195 companies statewide.

In Atlanta, you are also near leading research universities. According to the National Science Foundation, Georgia institutions collectively attracted $3.26 billion in research funding in 2022, with several Atlanta schools among top funding recipients.

• Georgia Tech ranks 2nd for engineering R&D funding nationally and has seen an 153% uptick in total R&D funding since 2010.
• Emory University is a top recipient of federally-funded medical research dollars, ranking among the top 20 universities nationwide.

Accelerators & Incubators

Over 40 business incubators offer nearly half a million square feet of space to emerging businesses across the region. Two of the region's largest include:

Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) at Georgia Tech

• Recognized by BusinessWeek and Forbes magazines as one of the nation’s top nonprofit incubators
• Serves 150+ companies in their portfolio program at any given time and has helped raise more than $12 billion in funding since 1986

Atlanta Tech Village (ATV)

• Village startups have raised more than $3.2 billion since inception
• Notable exits include: Bitpay, SalesLoft and Calendly

Venture Capital Activity

As startup activity continues to accelerate, the region attracts more funding, investors and opportunities to connect with other entrepreneurs. Notable rankings include:

• Approximately 65 emerging technology companies across Georgia
• Venture capital investment in Georgia reached $1.6 billion in 2023
• 237 venture capital deals were made in Georgia in 2023
• 280 VC investors headquartered across metro Atlanta

Source: PitchBook, 2024

Atlanta is home to several venture-backed startup companies that have reached the $1 billion valuation mark, including: Kabbage, GreenSky, Rubicon Global and Sharecare.