The Blueprint for a Thriving Startup Ecosystem: A Conversation with Venture Atlanta CEO Allyson Eman

A thriving innovation ecosystem has many components that work together to create progress. They include the businesses building there, the visionary entrepreneurs, and the support system comprised of legal, financial, accelerators and incubators, consultants, and mentors. Among all the contributing factors to a startup's ability to build and grow, access to capital may be one of (if not the) most important for an early-stage company. The right growth capital and post-investment support can help a founder transform an idea into reality. It can mean the difference between a lingering problem and a breakthrough solution.

In this episode with Venture Atlanta CEO Allyson Eman, we talk about the state of startups and venture investing in Atlanta and across the Southeast. She shares the history of Venture Atlanta, which has grown into the largest venture capital conference on the East Coast. Allyson also details how Atlanta's venture community supports entrepreneurs by providing access to funding, resources, and connections with industry leaders. Lastly, she shares some compelling trends and technology innovations she has seen in preparation for Venture Atlanta 2024, happening October 7th and 8th.

Timestamps:

• [00:01] Intro and introduction to Allyson Eman
• [02:29] About Venture Atlanta
• [05:07] How Venture Atlanta's objectives in the innovation ecosystem have evolved
• [10:39] Overview of how the venture space has grown in the Southeast
• [13:30] How Atlanta is rising in the ranks as a national innovation ecosystem
• [18:16] A sneak peek into the 2024 Venture Atlanta conference
• [22:00] Why founders should be excited about growing their startups in Atlanta
• [27:44] How funding contributes to startup progress
• [31:30] Why collaboration is central to Atlanta's success
• [36:21] What is on Allyson's bucket list

Points of Wisdom:

• "Connecting to talent and easy access to capital can easily propel a region to the top in innovation."- [08:31]
• "A rich network of accelerators and incubators can overwhelm startup founders on what support system to go to." [15:01]

About Allyson Eman:

Allyson Eman is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience in marketing, communications, sales leadership, and business development. Since 2007, she has served as Executive Director, and later CEO, of the Venture Atlanta Conference , the largest venture capital conference on the East Coast. Under her leadership, the conference has grown significantly, attracting over 1,500 attendees and helping emerging technology companies raise over $7.5 billion. Before Venture Atlanta, Allyson was key in expanding SouthStar Funding from a small team to a nationally respected mortgage lender and managed marketing for SouthTrust Bank's Georgia branches. She holds a BS from the University of Florida.

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