Curated list of startup incubators and accelerators from Atlanta and guides to their programs
Atlanta has rapidly emerged as one of the most dynamic and diverse startup ecosystems in the United States, often called "Silicon Peach." The city combines Southern hospitality with world-class infrastructure, serving as a major hub for fintech, logistics, media production, and enterprise software. Home to Fortune 500 companies like Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, Home Depot, and UPS, Atlanta offers startups unparalleled access to corporate partnerships while maintaining a significantly lower cost of living than coastal tech hubs. Local startup incubators in Atlanta and accelerator programs reflect the city's inclusive culture, strong HBCU connections, and commitment to building a diverse innovation economy.
Engage is an accelerator designed for B2B enterprise startups, connecting founders with Fortune 500 corporations, research universities, and industry experts to help scale world-changing technologies. The program focuses on six strategic themes: customer experience, supply chain and manufacturing, future of work, big data/analytics/security, logistics and mobility, and climate tech/sustainability.
Engage runs two cohorts per year, each featuring 6–8 startups ranging from seed to Series B. Participants receive hands-on guidance from corporate executives and subject-matter experts to identify emerging trends, refine strategy, and form high-value commercial partnerships.
Startups also receive $250,000 in funding through Tech Square Ventures, which manages the Engage investment fund. With a strong focus on enterprise innovation, Engage helps founders accelerate adoption, strengthen go-to-market execution, and scale within complex corporate ecosystems.
Entrepreneur Organization (EO) Atlanta is designed for revenue-generating startups ready to scale past the $1 million mark. EO supports founders throughout the entire business lifecycle, and its accelerator program specifically focuses on helping first-stage companies build sustainable models and achieve rapid growth.
Participants gain access to seasoned advisors, hands-on mentorship, and a broad range of educational opportunities that strengthen leadership, operations, sales, and strategy. The accelerator is open to startups with annual gross revenue between $250,000 and $1 million, ensuring that participating companies are already gaining traction and poised for expansion.
The program costs $1,750 per participant and does not include direct funding, but it provides deep guidance, accountability, and a powerful entrepreneurial community to help founders break through their next growth milestone.
Founder Institute Atlanta is a pre-seed accelerator designed to help founders take their ideas from concept to a scalable startup. Part of the global Founder Institute network, the Atlanta chapter guides entrepreneurs through a structured pathway—from early ideation all the way to fundraising and growth.
The journey begins with the FI Core Program, where founders validate their ideas, refine their business models, and receive hands-on mentorship. Graduates can then join the Founder Lab, which focuses on achieving product–market fit and preparing for funding. The program includes access to a vast network of 3,500+ mentors and investors, along with valuable discounts on essential tools and services.
Alumni also gain entry to the FI Venture Network, which provides demo days and connections to angels, accelerators, and micro-funds investing in early-stage companies.
Across its global footprint, the Founder Institute has helped its cohort companies raise more than $1.75 billion—and the Atlanta chapter offers founders a local, supportive community to take their startup from idea to investable reality.
Atlanta Tech Park is an accelerator and innovation hub designed for tech and IT-focused startups, led by a team with more than 30 years of industry experience. The program emphasizes business fundamentals and provides customized support for each founder, including personalized introductions, pitch reviews, and strategic guidance tailored to the needs of each startup.
A standout feature of Atlanta Tech Park is its 43,000-square-foot facility, offering coworking space, meeting rooms, event areas, and a collaborative environment where founders can work and connect with other innovators.
While the accelerator does not provide direct funding, it offers access to investors, mentors, and a wide professional network—giving early-stage tech companies the resources and connections needed to grow and scale effectively.
The Emory Goizueta Startup Launch Accelerator is an eight-week program designed to help early-stage founders become investment-ready. Offered through Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, the accelerator provides structured training in business model validation, customer acquisition, problem discovery, and other core fundamentals needed to build a scalable startup.
To participate, at least one founder must be an Emory student, alumnus, or faculty member. Throughout the program, teams receive guidance from experienced mentors and refine their strategy in preparation for growth.
The accelerator culminates in a demo day, where founders pitch their startups to the Emory and Atlanta entrepreneurial community, gaining visibility and potential investor interest.
The Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) is Georgia’s leading technology incubator, supporting tech and science-based startups across the state. Backed by Georgia Tech, ATDC delivers a powerful combination of coaching, curriculum, community, and connections—helping founders access critical resources like capital, customers, and talent.
With six locations across Georgia, ATDC has supported over 150 startups, providing opportunities for collaboration, investor introductions, and direct engagement with industry partners. The incubator’s structured programs and statewide network make it one of the most influential launchpads for technology-driven ventures in Georgia.
ATDC equips startups with the expertise and relationships they need to accelerate development, strengthen strategy, and scale with confidence.
Atlanta Tech Village is a membership-based startup hub that supports founders at every stage through accelerators, community programs, and hands-on learning experiences. As one of the largest tech communities in the Southeast, it offers multiple programs—including Women + Tech, a Pre-Accelerator, Startup Summer School, and Atlanta Startup Village—each designed to help entrepreneurs build skills, gain traction, and grow their companies.
Members of Atlanta Tech Village receive access to mentorship and advisory support, collaborative office space, workshops, networking events, and significant discounts on essential tools and services. The ecosystem is designed to connect founders with peers, experts, and opportunities that accelerate progress.
The Village has supported over 300 startups, with its community collectively raising more than $3.2 billion in funding. It remains one of the most influential and inclusive environments for startup growth in Atlanta.
Comcast NBCUniversal SportsTech is a global accelerator dedicated to identifying, funding, and scaling the most innovative startups shaping the future of sports. Focused on breakthrough technologies that transform how fans experience sports and how athletes, teams, and organizations operate, the program supports founders driving next-generation sports innovation.
A major advantage of the accelerator is the unmatched industry access it provides. Participating startups collaborate directly with influential leaders and decision-makers across Comcast NBCUniversal’s extensive network. Partners include major sports brands such as NBC Sports, Sky Sports, Comcast Spectacor, and Golf, as well as top organizations like NASCAR, WWE, PGA TOUR, U.S. Ski & Snowboard, USA Swimming, and USA Cycling.
Through hands-on support, deep industry insights, and exclusive partnership opportunities, Comcast NBCUniversal SportsTech empowers sports-focused startups to scale their technologies and make a lasting impact on the global sports ecosystem.
Invest Atlanta supports women-led startups through the Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative (WEI), a 15-month incubator designed to foster business growth, sustainability, and long-term success. Selected entrepreneurs gain access to a modern, resource-rich environment that provides educational programming, mentorship, funding assistance, and a supportive ecosystem tailored to the needs of women founders. At the end of the program, businesses transition back into the broader Atlanta community equipped for expansion.
Entry into the WEI incubator is highly competitive. Applicants are evaluated not only on the scalability, investability, and sustainability of their business models, but also on key founder qualities—such as passion, focus, and a commitment to building purpose-driven companies. WEI also looks for alignment with Atlanta’s values of diversity, inclusion, integrity, and professional excellence, as well as an openness to mentorship and constructive feedback.
Invest Atlanta’s WEI program empowers women entrepreneurs with the resources and support they need to grow resilient, impactful businesses.
CREATE-X is a Georgia Tech–backed accelerator built to help student founders turn bold ideas into real, viable startups. Launched in 2014 with support from alumni donor Chris Klaus and the Marcus Foundation, the program has become a cornerstone of Georgia Tech’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and a major driver of student-led innovation.
CREATE-X offers a fully immersive experience that typically runs over the summer. Participants receive up to $5,000 in funding, along with structured coursework, hands-on mentorship, and experiential learning designed to guide them through every stage of early company building. The program covers ideation, product development, market validation, business fundamentals, and investor readiness.
By combining education, expert support, and a strong founder community, CREATE-X equips students with the skills and confidence needed to launch successful startups—leaving a lasting impact on Georgia Tech’s innovation landscape.
Goodie Nation provides a comprehensive set of accelerator and post-accelerator programs designed to support tech founders from pre-seed through Series A—especially those building in AI and emerging technologies. Its programming spans multiple tracks, including Next Generation Pre-Seed Startups, Next Generation AI Startups, a Seed Stage Program, and a Series A Circle Program, ensuring that founders receive targeted support based on their stage and industry.
Across all programs, participants benefit from events, workshops, mentorship, education, community support, and funding opportunities. Goodie Nation equips early-stage and scaling founders with the guidance, structure, and network they need to grow faster and overcome the barriers that often slow down startup progress.
Atlanta Ventures is a venture capital firm and venture studio designed to help idea-stage founders validate, build, and scale disruptive startups. As a studio, it partners directly with entrepreneurs to shape early concepts into sustainable, high-growth companies. As an investor, it backs promising teams with flexible funding and long-term support. Its portfolio includes standout companies such as Calendly, Salesforce Pardot, and Interlock.
Atlanta Ventures provides founders with a wide range of resources, including free bi-monthly pitch practice, sales and marketing tools, customer acquisition support, and hands-on strategic guidance. Startups funded by the firm typically receive $250,000 to $5 million, along with access to the studio environment where they can build their companies from the ground up.
Atlanta Ventures equips idea-stage founders with the structure, capital, and expertise needed to transform early ideas into successful startups.
Next on the list is Techstars, which has backed more than 3,500 startups, including well-known names like Uber, Twilio, and DigitalOcean.
Techstars invests up to $120,000 in each company. This includes $20,000 upfront plus the right to purchase 6% of your fully diluted shares at your next qualified financing round (typically when you raise $250,000+). The 6% common stock is issued right before that financing event. Full investment terms are available on the Techstars website.
You apply through an online form, which usually takes 2–5 hours to complete. Many founders speak with Techstars mentors beforehand to make sure their application communicates their startup clearly and effectively.
If your application makes it through the initial review, you’ll receive an invitation to a two-round interview, usually within four weeks. Common interview questions include:
If I gave you $200K to hire people, who would you hire?
Who are your target customers?
What outcome are you hoping to achieve by joining Techstars?
What are your most important leading indicators or KPIs this week?
How did you validate this market, and how big is the opportunity?
If you pass the interview rounds, you’ll meet with the Techstars screening committee, which includes the managing director, program manager, mentors, and corporate partners. Clear that stage, and you officially join the three-month Techstars program.
Month 1 is all about building your network. You’ll meet around 100 mentors from the Techstars ecosystem—experts across product, marketing, leadership, hiring, fundraising, and more.
Month 2 is about execution. You’ll use what you learned to push your startup forward: building product milestones, hitting KPIs, onboarding early users, or sharpening your business model.
Month 3 focuses on storytelling and fundraising. You’ll polish your pitch deck, develop investor materials, and practice communicating your vision to customers, investors, and future team members. The month ends with Demo Day.
After the program, Techstars continues supporting founders through its alumni network and ongoing mentorship.
Atlanta stands out among major tech ecosystems for its genuine commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The city's startup incubators actively work to support founders from underrepresented backgrounds, creating pathways to entrepreneurship that have historically been limited in the tech industry. This isn't just rhetoric—Atlanta's programs demonstrate measurable impact in supporting Black founders, women entrepreneurs, and diverse teams.
Programs like Collab Capital, Greenwood, Fearless Fund, and Goodie Nation specifically focus on supporting Black and minority entrepreneurs. These programs provide not just capital and mentorship but also address systemic barriers that diverse founders face in accessing networks, funding, and resources. They create safe spaces where founders can bring their whole selves and build businesses that serve diverse communities.
Atlanta's diversity advantage extends beyond specific programs. The city itself is majority-minority, creating a cultural environment where diverse founders don't feel like outsiders. Major corporate partners in Atlanta actively seek diverse suppliers and startup partnerships, creating business opportunities that might be harder to access in less diverse markets.
Atlanta accelerators approach diversity through multiple dimensions:
– Race and ethnicity: Strong support for Black, Latino, and Asian founders
– Gender: Programs specifically supporting women entrepreneurs
– Geography: Access for founders outside traditional tech hubs
– Industry: Support for sectors beyond typical tech categories
– Socioeconomic background: Reducing barriers for founders without existing wealth or networks
Organizations like Atlanta Tech Village, ATDC (Georgia Tech's startup incubator), and Engage have made explicit commitments to diversifying their cohorts, mentor networks, and investment portfolios. They track diversity metrics, hold themselves accountable, and continuously work to reduce barriers to participation.
What makes Atlanta's approach particularly powerful is that diversity isn't treated as a separate initiative but as fundamental to building a stronger ecosystem. Diverse founders bring different perspectives, serve underserved markets, and build solutions that benefit broader populations. Atlanta's incubators recognize that diversity isn't just fair—it's good business that creates competitive advantages and larger addressable markets.
For founders from underrepresented backgrounds, Atlanta offers an ecosystem where their success is actively supported, celebrated, and seen as central to the region's economic future.
Atlanta's startup accelerators benefit uniquely from the city's concentration of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), including Morehouse College, Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, and Morris Brown College. These institutions produce exceptional talent, foster entrepreneurial mindsets, and create networks that strengthen Atlanta's startup ecosystem in ways that other cities cannot replicate.
Programs like Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE) and ATDC have built formal partnerships with Atlanta's HBCUs to create pipelines for student entrepreneurs, technical talent, and business development support. These partnerships help students see entrepreneurship as a viable career path and provide resources to turn their ideas into companies while still in school or immediately after graduation.
Atlanta accelerators leverage HBCU connections to help startups:
– Recruit technical and business talent from institutions like Morehouse and Spelman
– Access research and innovation from HBCU labs and programs
– Engage with student entrepreneurs through pitch competitions and mentorship
– Tap into powerful HBCU alumni networks for customers, investors, and advisors
– Build products that serve communities connected to HBCUs
– Partner with HBCU entrepreneurship programs for co-programming and events
The HBCU influence extends to Atlanta's entrepreneurial culture. Many successful Atlanta founders, investors, and executives are HBCU graduates who actively give back to the next generation. This creates a powerful cycle where HBCU alumni success stories inspire current students, who then build the next wave of successful companies.
Atlanta's HBCUs also contribute to the city's distinctive approach to business. The emphasis on community, social impact, and lifting others up—core values at many HBCUs—influences how Atlanta startups think about success. It's not just about individual wealth creation but about building businesses that create opportunities and serve communities.
Major companies in Atlanta recognize the value of HBCU talent and actively recruit from these institutions. This creates pathways for HBCU students to gain corporate experience before joining or starting their own ventures, bringing valuable skills and industry knowledge to the startup ecosystem.
For founders who value diversity, social impact, and community-oriented business building, Atlanta's HBCU-connected ecosystem offers resources and networks that are difficult to find elsewhere.
Atlanta has established itself as a major fintech hub, processing roughly 70% of all payment transactions in the United States. This concentration of payments expertise—driven by companies like NCR, FIS, Fiserv, and numerous payments processors—creates exceptional opportunities for fintech startups. Atlanta's incubators leverage this expertise to help founders navigate the complex world of financial services, payments, and banking technology.
Programs like Fintech Atlanta, ATDC, and specialized accelerators connect fintech founders with mentors who have deep experience in payments processing, banking regulations, card networks, fraud prevention, and financial services technology. These aren't generalist tech mentors—they're executives who've built payment platforms processing billions of transactions and understand the unique challenges of fintech.
Atlanta incubators help fintech startups with:
– Navigating regulatory requirements and compliance (PCI-DSS, banking regulations, AML/KYC)
– Understanding payment rails and transaction processing
– Building relationships with banks, credit unions, and financial institutions
– Connecting with card networks (Visa, Mastercard, American Express)
– Accessing sandbox environments and testing platforms
– Understanding risk management and fraud prevention
– Securing partnerships with payment processors and gateway providers
– Accessing fintech-focused investors who understand the space
Atlanta's fintech ecosystem includes not just payments but also digital banking, lending platforms, insurtech, wealth management technology, and cryptocurrency. The city's programs support founders across this entire spectrum, connecting them with specialized mentors for their specific fintech vertical.
Major financial institutions with significant Atlanta presence—including SunTrust (now Truist), several Federal Reserve operations, and numerous payment companies—create opportunities for pilot programs and corporate partnerships. Atlanta accelerators facilitate these connections, helping fintech startups access potential customers and distribution channels that would take years to develop independently.
Atlanta also benefits from being a more affordable location for fintech startups compared to New York or San Francisco. Engineering talent costs less, office space is cheaper, and the overall cost structure allows fintech companies to achieve profitability faster—a critical advantage in a heavily regulated industry with high compliance costs.
For fintech founders, Atlanta offers a unique combination of deep industry expertise, corporate access, regulatory guidance, and cost advantages that make it one of the best places to build financial technology companies.
Atlanta's position as a major logistics and supply chain hub—home to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (the world's busiest), UPS's global headquarters, and numerous logistics companies—creates exceptional advantages for startups building in supply chain, logistics, e-commerce, and related sectors. Atlanta's incubators help founders leverage this expertise and infrastructure to build better products and access major enterprise customers.
Programs like ATDC, Atlanta Tech Village, and corporate accelerators connect founders with supply chain executives, logistics operators, and distribution experts from companies like UPS, The Home Depot, Delta Air Lines, and major retailers with significant Atlanta operations. These mentors understand the complexities of moving physical goods, managing inventory, optimizing routes, and coordinating global supply chains.
Atlanta accelerators help supply chain and logistics startups with:
– Understanding enterprise logistics operations and pain points
– Building relationships with major shippers, carriers, and 3PLs
– Accessing pilot programs with logistics companies
– Navigating transportation regulations and compliance
– Understanding warehouse operations and fulfillment
– Connecting with retail and e-commerce decision-makers
– Leveraging Atlanta's distribution infrastructure for testing and operations
– Understanding last-mile delivery challenges and solutions
The concentration of logistics expertise in Atlanta means that startups can quickly access operators, executives, and technical leaders who understand supply chain challenges deeply. Whether building software for route optimization, warehouse automation, inventory management, or freight matching, founders can get feedback from people managing actual logistics operations at massive scale.
Atlanta's airport and transportation infrastructure also provide practical advantages. Startups testing physical products, hardware, or logistics solutions can leverage Atlanta's connectivity to move products quickly and efficiently. The city's central location in the Southeast provides access to major population centers and distribution networks.
The Home Depot, headquartered in Atlanta, has been particularly active in the startup ecosystem through innovation programs and partnerships. For startups building solutions for retail, construction, home improvement, or B2B distribution, access to Home Depot executives and operations provides invaluable insights and potential pilot opportunities.
For founders building in supply chain, logistics, e-commerce infrastructure, or related categories, Atlanta offers expertise and access that is difficult to replicate elsewhere. The combination of major logistics operators, airport infrastructure, and experienced mentors creates an ecosystem uniquely suited to supporting these types of companies.
Atlanta's startup incubators place exceptional emphasis on sales, business development, and customer acquisition—reflecting the city's strong business culture and the practical reality that successful companies must generate revenue. Unlike some ecosystems that focus primarily on product development or fundraising, Atlanta programs help founders build the sales skills and business development capabilities needed to create sustainable, revenue-generating businesses.
Programs like Engage, ATDC, and Atlanta Tech Village provide structured sales training, go-to-market strategy workshops, and connections to experienced sales leaders. These programs recognize that many technical founders lack sales experience and need explicit guidance on how to find customers, close deals, and scale revenue.
Atlanta accelerators help founders with:
– Developing sales strategies and go-to-market plans
– Building sales processes and methodologies
– Hiring and training sales teams
– Understanding enterprise sales cycles and procurement
– Creating effective sales materials and presentations
– Practicing pitch delivery and objection handling
– Negotiating contracts and pricing strategies
– Building partnerships and channel relationships
– Understanding customer success and retention strategies
What makes Atlanta distinctive is the quality of sales mentorship available. The city has produced numerous successful sales leaders from companies like Coca-Cola, Delta, Home Depot, and major technology companies. These executives understand consultative selling, enterprise sales, partnership development, and building sales organizations. They provide practical, actionable guidance rather than theoretical frameworks.
Atlanta's business culture—influenced by Southern hospitality and relationship-building traditions—emphasizes authentic connections and long-term relationships over transactional interactions. This approach translates well to modern B2B sales, where trust, credibility, and relationship quality often matter more than aggressive tactics. Atlanta mentors help founders understand how to build genuine business relationships that lead to sales and partnerships.
The city's concentration of corporate headquarters also provides opportunities for founders to practice enterprise sales with sophisticated buyers. Atlanta accelerators facilitate introductions and help startups navigate corporate procurement processes, understand buying cycles, and position solutions effectively for enterprise customers.
Atlanta's emphasis on revenue generation helps startups build sustainable businesses rather than relying solely on venture capital. Many successful Atlanta companies have achieved profitability relatively quickly by focusing on sales effectiveness and customer acquisition efficiency. This approach creates more options for founders and reduces dependence on continuous fundraising.
For founders who want to build strong sales capabilities and revenue-generating businesses, Atlanta's incubators provide training, mentorship, and practical experience that can accelerate growth and improve chances of long-term success.
Building a startup in Atlanta offers exceptional advantages—from diversity and inclusion to corporate access, fintech expertise, and significantly lower costs than coastal tech hubs. Whether you're launching a fintech platform, enterprise SaaS company, or logistics technology, here are practical tips to help you succeed in Atlanta's dynamic ecosystem.
Embrace Atlanta's Diversity
Atlanta's diversity is a competitive advantage. Build diverse teams, seek perspectives from different communities, and create products that serve diverse markets. The city's inclusive culture helps diverse founders succeed—take advantage of programs and networks specifically designed to support underrepresented entrepreneurs.
Atlanta's startup scene spans several key areas:
– Midtown: Georgia Tech, ATDC, major tech companies, walkable urban environment.
– Buckhead: Corporate headquarters, upscale business district, established companies.
– West Midtown: Atlanta Tech Village, creative spaces, growing startup hub.
– Downtown: Corporate access, government connections, emerging innovation district.
– Perimeter/North Fulton: Suburban setting, corporate offices, lower costs.
Consider your team's preferences, industry focus, and commute patterns.
Atlanta's Fortune 500 companies are surprisingly accessible. Attend corporate innovation events, leverage accelerator connections, and be proactive about reaching out. Atlanta's business culture values relationship-building—warm introductions and genuine connections open doors to pilot programs and partnerships.
Georgia Tech produces exceptional technical talent. Build relationships through ATDC, attend career fairs, and offer internships. Don't overlook HBCU talent from Morehouse, Spelman, and Clark Atlanta—these institutions produce outstanding graduates who bring diverse perspectives and strong work ethics.
Atlanta combines Southern hospitality with serious business ambition. People value relationships, respect, and authenticity. Take time to build genuine connections rather than rushing transactions. Follow up on commitments, be respectful of people's time, and understand that many business relationships develop over meals and informal settings.
Atlanta's cost of living is significantly lower than coastal tech hubs. Your runway extends further, you can hire larger teams, and you can achieve profitability faster. Use this advantage to build sustainably rather than burning through capital on expensive perks or excessive spending.
Atlanta traffic can be challenging. Consider this when choosing office location and scheduling meetings. Many startups embrace remote-friendly policies to reduce commute burdens. MARTA (public transit) serves some areas well—locate near transit if possible.
Atlanta has an active investor community including Panoramic Ventures, BIP Capital, TechSquare Labs, Collab Capital, and numerous angels. Attend pitch events, demo days, and networking sessions. Local investors understand Atlanta's advantages and can provide strategic value beyond capital.
Join Atlanta Tech Village, participate in Startup Riot, attend Venture Atlanta, and engage with community organizations. Atlanta's startup community is collaborative and welcoming. Show up consistently, contribute value, and build authentic relationships. The community supports those who actively participate.
Atlanta values businesses that create positive social impact. Think about how your company can contribute to the community, create opportunities for underserved populations, or address social challenges. This authentic commitment resonates with customers, employees, and investors in Atlanta.
If you're building in fintech, logistics, media/entertainment, or enterprise software, leverage Atlanta's specific industry strengths. The city's expertise in these areas provides mentorship, customers, and partnerships that accelerate growth in these categories.
Atlanta rewards founders who embrace the city's diversity, build authentic relationships, focus on revenue and sustainability, and contribute to building an inclusive innovation economy. Take advantage of Atlanta's unique strengths, stay connected to the community, and build businesses that create lasting value and opportunity.
Explore Atlanta's vibrant startup and business community.