Techstars Atlanta & Cox Enterprises Demo Day 2024

For this week's Demo Day, I joined the Techstars Atlanta & Cox Enterprises Demo Day. This event marked the culmination of a 13-week Techstars program for ten startups from the Southeast region.

Unlike many of the Techstars Demo Days I've attended previously, the startups pitched live and in person. This added energy, allowing the audience to engage with the founders’ stories, ideas, and potential through real-time applause.

Pitching Founders

Tay Folwell from DressyClub

• Connecting college students through shared closets.

Mina River from BetterCEO

• Making life easier for neurodivergent business owners.

Keylem Collier from Aayats

• The AI-powered marketplace connecting musicians with industry professionals.

Kiana Mincey from SWITCH

• Connect with real people in a live audio speed-date.

Chrystal Graves from Liquid

• The decision engine helping you grow your salon business.

Riean Knight from Honey to Cocoa

• Leveraging AI to help people of color match makeup to their unique skin tones.

Sed Joseph from StageWing

• An event production equipment-sharing community where members can rent the best pro gear.

Cesar Flores from Hearthmates

• A mobile app for roommate matchmaking and collaborative housing search.

Ben Norment from Stork Exchange

• An easy way for parents to buy and sell secondhand baby goods.

Jilea Hemmings from Nourish and Bloom

• AI-powered cashier-less checkout technology for any retail store.

Key Takeaways

• Share Economy: Many of the startups today are diving headfirst into the sharing economy model. It’s a modern twist on older concepts, adding layers of technology, security, and ease of use to drive adoption.
• Decline of Thrift Stores: This is something I've noticed personally and it was evident during the event. Thrift stores just don’t have the same allure anymore. People want convenience and curated options, and platforms like Stork Exchange and DressyClub are finding ways to get secondhand products into the hands of consumers in smarter, more efficient ways.
• AI Everywhere: Almost every startup had an “AI engine” driving its product. The key challenge will be ensuring these teams have the technical capabilities to back up their AI claims. It’ll be interesting to see which startups deliver on the promise of their tech.

Investment

?? DressyClub ??

My Scoring: 46/50

• Technology/Product: 9.5/10
• Founder and Team: 9/10
• Market Fit: 10/10
• Revenue Model: 8/10
• Pitch: 9.5/10

?? Watch the full recording here.