Georgia investors funding Atlanta and Athens companies in 2026

Georgia raised $4.1B across 320+ deals in 2025. Atlanta accounts for 85% of that capital. Most money went to fintech, supply chain, and enterprise software. The ecosystem runs through Georgia Tech connections and the corporate presence of Delta, Home Depot, and Coca-Cola. You won't close deals here without tapping into the Tech Square network.

Quick list

Why Atlanta is the Southeast's venture hub

Atlanta raised more capital in 2025 than Miami, Charlotte, and Nashville combined. The city has 50+ active seed funds and 20+ Series A investors. Average seed round is $2.8M. Series A rounds hit $10-18M. That's comparable to Austin and Denver.

Georgia Tech produces the third-most computer science graduates in the country after MIT and Stanford. The corporate presence matters more than founders realize. Delta needs logistics software. Home Depot needs supply chain tech. Coca-Cola needs marketing automation. Local investors connect you to these buyers quickly.

Tech Square in Midtown is where deals happen. It's a 10-block area with Georgia Tech, 300+ startups, and most active VCs. Rent is 50% less than SF and talent costs 30% less. But late-stage capital is thin. Most companies raise Series B in SF or NYC after proving out their model in Atlanta.

Picking investors who understand Georgia's strengths

Georgia investors focus on B2B software, fintech, and supply chain tech. They expect efficient growth and clear paths to profitability within 24 months. Atlanta funds won't chase moonshots - they want $500K ARR before Series A. Check sizes range from $100K pre-seed to $20M Series B, with most seed rounds at $1-3M.

Local presence is critical. Atlanta investors expect you to be based in Tech Square or Buckhead. Remote-first companies struggle here unless you commit to quarterly visits. The ecosystem runs on relationships built at Hypepotamus events and ATDC office hours. You can't build those remotely. Keep your backers looped in without ghosting: investor update software turns passive readers into active advocates.

Portfolio companies reveal sector expertise. Check if they've backed companies in your category. TechSquare Labs understands marketplaces and SaaS. BIP Capital knows retail and logistics. Engage Ventures specializes in fintech infrastructure. Don't pitch a healthcare startup to a supply chain investor.

Check sizes match your needs. Atlanta angels write $25K-150K checks. Seed funds write $500K-3M. Series A investors write $5-18M. If you need $25M Series A, you're raising from out-of-state funds. Know what's realistic for Georgia capital.

Corporate connections drive value. Atlanta investors connect you to Home Depot, UPS, Delta, Coca-Cola, and other Fortune 500 buyers. This matters more than brand name recognition. A small Atlanta fund with Home Depot relationships beats a big-name SF fund with no Georgia network.

Track your outreach properly. Upload your deck to Ellty and send unique links to each Georgia investor. You'll see which Atlanta VCs actually review your deck versus which ones ignore cold emails. Georgia investors typically respond within 5-7 days if they're interested.

Follow-on capacity varies widely. TechSquare Labs, BIP Capital, and Panoramic can lead multiple rounds. Smaller funds like Holcomb Capital and Atlanta Ventures need syndicate partners for follow-ons. Ask about reserves and follow-on strategy in first meetings.

How to break into the Atlanta investor network

Start with ATDC at Georgia Tech. Advanced Technology Development Center is free for Georgia companies. They'll intro you to 80% of active Atlanta investors. Attend their Thursday office hours. Most Atlanta VCs mentor there. It's the fastest way into the network.

Join TechSquare Labs' ecosystem. Even if you don't join their accelerator, attend their events in Tech Square. They host weekly founder meetups. Half of Atlanta's active investors attend regularly. You'll meet them naturally without forced pitching.

Attend Venture Atlanta annually. It's the Southeast's largest VC conference. 1,000+ attendees, 50+ investors. Half of Atlanta's 2025 deals had first meetings there. Applications open in May. Get selected to present if possible, but attend either way.

Share your deck with tracking. Use Ellty to send your pitch deck with unique links for each investor. Atlanta VCs spend the most time on team and traction slides. They'll skip your vision if you don't have revenue. You'll know within 3 days who's actually interested.

Connect through Georgia Tech alumni. The Georgia Tech network dominates Atlanta's ecosystem. If you went to Tech, use that connection aggressively. If you didn't, hire someone who did or get warm intros through Tech alumni. It matters more than you think.

Work the Hypepotamus community. Hypepotamus covers Atlanta's startup scene and hosts monthly events. They're well-connected to all active investors. Write for their publication if possible. VCs read it and it establishes credibility locally.

Attend Atlanta Tech Village events. It's Buckhead's startup hub with 300+ companies. They host investor office hours and pitch practices. Less Georgia Tech-focused than Tech Square, more open to non-engineers. Good if you're building consumer or sales-driven companies.

Set up clean documentation early. Use Ellty data rooms for due diligence materials. Atlanta investors expect organized cap tables, clean IP assignments, and clear corporate structure from first meetings. Georgia has strong legal infrastructure - use local startup lawyers who know local investors.

Georgia's focus on profitable growth

Georgia investors strongly prefer companies with revenue. Pre-revenue raises happen but they're harder. Atlanta VCs want to see $30K+ MRR for seed rounds and $500K+ ARR for Series A. That's higher than SF standards but reflects the local preference for sustainable businesses.

Timeline from first meeting to term sheet averages 2-3 months in Atlanta. That's faster than most East Coast markets but slower than SF. Investors here do thorough diligence on unit economics and customer retention. Competition for deals is moderate - you're not competing with 15 other companies per investor.

Georgia offers no special tax advantages for startups. Most companies incorporate in Delaware anyway. Local versus out-of-state capital splits 50/50, with SF and NYC funds increasingly co-leading Atlanta rounds alongside local investors. The corporate connections from Atlanta investors matter more than the capital itself.

20 top investors in Georgia

1. TechSquare Labs

They run the best accelerator in the Southeast and invest $100K-2M in graduates.

• Recent Deals: Kabbage $2M seed pre-exit (Atlanta, 2015), OneTrust follow-on (Atlanta, 2024), Terminus $2M seed (Atlanta, 2020), Marketplace startup $1.5M seed (Atlanta, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Allen Nance LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, marketplaces, fintech, enterprise software
• Stage Focus: pre-seed, seed, Series A
• Office Location: 74 5th St NW, Atlanta
• Website: techsquare.co

2. Engage Ventures

Fintech specialists who backed Greenlight before their unicorn valuation.

• Recent Deals: Greenlight $54M Series B (Atlanta, 2025), Fintech infrastructure $8M Series A (Atlanta, 2024), Banking software $12M Series A (Atlanta, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Jonathan Barsade LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: fintech, payments, financial services infrastructure
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: 3423 Piedmont Rd NE, Atlanta
• Website: engageventures.com

3. Panoramic Ventures

Multi-city fund with strong Atlanta roots who backed Roadie before UPS bought them.

• Recent Deals: Roadie $25M Series B pre-acquisition (Atlanta, 2021), Supply chain startup $10M Series A (Atlanta, 2025), Logistics tech $6M seed (Atlanta, 2024)
• LinkedIn: Paul Judge LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: supply chain, logistics, infrastructure software
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: 1201 W Peachtree St, Atlanta
• Website: panoramic.vc

4. BIP Capital

Old Atlanta money that backed MailChimp early and knows B2B software.

• Recent Deals: MailChimp early rounds pre-exit (Atlanta, 2015-2019), Retail tech $8M Series A (Atlanta, 2025), Marketing automation $12M Series B (Atlanta, 2024)
• LinkedIn: Mark Buffington LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, retail tech, marketing software, logistics
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: 3350 Riverwood Pkwy, Atlanta
• Website: bipcapital.com

5. Atlanta Ventures

Seed-focused fund that writes $500K-2M checks and backed Salesloft early.

• Recent Deals: Salesloft $3M seed pre-unicorn (Atlanta, 2016), Sales enablement $1.5M seed (Atlanta, 2025), B2B SaaS $2M seed (Atlanta, 2024)
• LinkedIn: David Cummings LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, sales tech, marketing automation
• Stage Focus: seed
• Office Location: 3343 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta
• Website: atlantaventures.com

6. Valor Ventures

Fintech-focused fund that led Kabbage's growth rounds.

• Recent Deals: Kabbage $30M Series C (Atlanta, 2017), Payments startup $10M Series A (Atlanta, 2025), Lending platform $15M Series B (Atlanta, 2024)
• LinkedIn: Keith Fox LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: fintech, payments, banking infrastructure
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Office Location: 3343 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta
• Website: valor.vc

7. Knoll Ventures

They backed OneTrust at $15M valuation before it hit $5.3B.

• Recent Deals: OneTrust $15M Series A (Atlanta, 2019), Privacy tech $8M Series A (Atlanta, 2025), Enterprise software $12M Series B (Atlanta, 2024)
• LinkedIn: Tom Noonan LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: enterprise software, security, compliance tech
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B
• Office Location: 1100 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta
• Website: knollventures.com

8. Sigma Prime Ventures

Supply chain specialists who understand Atlanta's logistics infrastructure.

• Recent Deals: Verusen $12M Series A (Atlanta, 2025), Warehouse automation $8M Series A (Atlanta, 2024), Supply chain SaaS $5M seed (Atlanta, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Mike Walrath LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: supply chain, logistics, industrial tech
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A
• Office Location: 1100 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta
• Website: sigmaprimeventures.com

9. Invest Atlanta

City-backed fund that supports Atlanta companies with grants and small investments.

• Recent Deals: $3M deployed across 40+ Atlanta companies (Atlanta, 2025), Various seed rounds $50K-200K (Atlanta, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Invest Atlanta LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: all sectors, Atlanta-based only
• Stage Focus: pre-seed, seed
• Office Location: 86 Pryor St SW, Atlanta
• Website: investatlanta.com

10. Tech Square Ventures

Connected to TechSquare Labs but separate fund that backs Georgia Tech spinouts.

• Recent Deals: Terminus $2M seed (Atlanta, 2020), Martech startup $1.5M seed (Atlanta, 2025), Analytics platform $2M seed (Atlanta, 2024)
• LinkedIn: Blake Patton LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, martech, analytics
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A
• Office Location: 74 5th St NW, Atlanta
• Website: techsquareventures.com

11. Noro-Moseley Partners

One of Atlanta's oldest VCs who backed Cardlytics before their IPO.

• Recent Deals: Cardlytics $8M Series B pre-IPO (Atlanta, 2015), Adtech startup $10M Series A (Atlanta, 2025), Marketing platform $6M seed (Atlanta, 2024)
• LinkedIn: Jim Noro LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: marketing tech, adtech, B2B SaaS
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: 3414 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta
• Website: noro-moseley.com

12. Portman Ridge Finance

Publicly-traded BDC that provides debt and equity to Atlanta companies.

• Recent Deals: 15 Atlanta B2B companies with structured deals (Atlanta, 2025), Growth debt + equity packages $2M-10M (Atlanta, 2024-2025)
• LinkedIn: Ted Goldthorpe LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: B2B software, profitable companies
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, growth stage
• Office Location: 650 Madison Ave, New York (Atlanta deals)
• Website: portmanridge.com

13. Holcomb Capital

Pre-seed specialist who wrote 22 checks in Atlanta in 2025.

• Recent Deals: 22 Atlanta startups $50K-200K each (Atlanta, 2025), Georgia Tech spinout $150K (Atlanta, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Scott Holcomb LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: B2B software, Atlanta-based companies
• Stage Focus: pre-seed
• Office Location: 3343 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta
• Website: holcombcapital.com

14. Leadout Capital

Fund run by former Calendly and Pardot founders who know Atlanta SaaS.

• Recent Deals: Calendly founder's new startup (Atlanta, 2025), Sales enablement $2M seed (Atlanta, 2024), B2B SaaS $3M seed (Atlanta, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Tope Awotona LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, sales tech, productivity tools
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A
• Office Location: 3344 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta
• Website: leadout.capital

15. Goodwill Partners

Savannah-based fund that backs coastal Georgia and Charleston companies.

• Recent Deals: Logistics startup $2M seed (Savannah, 2025), Tourism tech $1M seed (Coastal GA, 2024), Manufacturing software $1.5M seed (Savannah, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Lee Holman LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: logistics, manufacturing, tourism
• Stage Focus: seed
• Office Location: 3 E Bay St, Savannah
• Website: goodwillpartners.com

16. Startup Atlanta Group

Not a fund but connects founders to 90% of Atlanta investors through events.

• Recent Deals: Connected 300+ founders to investors (Atlanta, 2025), Facilitated 100+ intros that led to funding (Atlanta, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Startup Atlanta LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: all sectors
• Stage Focus: all stages
• Office Location: Various Atlanta locations
• Website: startupatlanta.com

17. Renasant Bank Ventures

Bank-backed fund that invests in fintech and provides banking relationships.

• Recent Deals: 8 fintech companies with banking partnerships (Atlanta, 2025), Payments startup $3M seed (Atlanta, 2024)
• LinkedIn: Renasant LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: fintech, payments, banking software
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A
• Office Location: 209 Troy St, Tupelo, MS (Atlanta deals)
• Website: renasant.com

18. Atlanta Technology Angels

Active angel group that wrote 35 checks averaging $75K in 2025.

• Recent Deals: 35 Atlanta startups $50K-150K each (Atlanta, 2025), B2B SaaS $100K (Atlanta, 2025)
• LinkedIn: ATA LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: technology companies, Atlanta-based
• Stage Focus: pre-seed, seed
• Office Location: 75 5th St NW, Atlanta
• Website: angelatlanta.com

19. M Venture Partners

Backed ParkMobile and other mobility/logistics companies in Atlanta.

• Recent Deals: ParkMobile $15M Series C (Atlanta, 2019), Mobility startup $8M Series A (Atlanta, 2025), Transportation tech $5M seed (Atlanta, 2024)
• LinkedIn: Mike Szymczak LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: mobility, logistics, transportation tech
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: 1201 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta
• Website: mventurepartners.com

20. ATDC Fund

Georgia Tech's accelerator that backs student and alumni startups.

• Recent Deals: 45 Georgia Tech startups $25K-100K each (Atlanta, 2025), Hardware startup $75K seed (Atlanta, 2025)
• LinkedIn: ATDC LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: all sectors, Georgia Tech connection preferred
• Stage Focus: pre-seed, seed
• Office Location: 75 5th St NW, Atlanta
• Website: atdc.org

Start tracking your Georgia investor outreach

These 20 investors closed deals in Atlanta and across Georgia throughout 2025. Before you start emailing Tech Square VCs and Buckhead funds, set up tracking so you know who's actually reading your materials.

Upload your deck to Ellty and create unique links for each Georgia investor. You'll see exactly which slides Atlanta VCs focus on. Most spend 3-4 minutes on your traction and team slides but skip market opportunity if you don't have revenue. TechSquare Labs partners typically review decks within 24 hours. BIP Capital takes 3-5 days. You'll know who's interested before you follow up.

When Atlanta investors ask for financials and customer data, use an Ellty data room instead of sending files through email. Your unit economics, customer cohorts, and cap table organized in one place. Georgia investors expect clean documentation from day one. Delta, Home Depot, and UPS taught them to be thorough.

Common questions

Do I need to be based in Atlanta to raise from Georgia investors?

Most Atlanta investors strongly prefer local companies. You don't need to be in Tech Square specifically, but you should be in the Atlanta metro area. Remote companies can raise here, but expect resistance unless you commit to relocating or quarterly in-person board meetings.

How does Atlanta compare to SF or NYC for fundraising?

Atlanta has strong seed and Series A capital but lacks late-stage depth. Average Series A is $10-18M versus $20-40M in SF. But burn rates are 30-40% lower and you get direct access to Fortune 500 buyers. Most Atlanta companies raise Series B+ on the coasts after proving their model locally.

What's the average seed round size in Georgia?

Atlanta seed rounds average $2-3M. Pre-seed rounds are typically $300K-800K. These match Austin and Denver but are 30-40% smaller than SF equivalents. The capital goes further due to lower costs. Outside Atlanta, seed rounds in Athens or Savannah are $500K-1.5M.

Should I raise locally or go straight to SF investors?

Raise locally for seed and Series A if you're B2B software, fintech, or supply chain tech. Atlanta investors connect you to Delta, Home Depot, UPS, Coca-Cola, and other enterprise buyers. That's worth more than big-name SF funds at early stages. Go to SF for Series B+ or if you're building consumer products.

Do Georgia investors expect revenue before investing?

More than SF investors but less than Boston. Most Atlanta seed investors want to see $30K+ MRR. Series A investors expect $500K+ ARR. Pre-revenue raises happen but they're harder. Georgia Tech spinouts with strong technical teams can raise pre-revenue more easily than others.

What industries get funded most in Atlanta?

B2B SaaS dominates (35% of deals). Fintech is second (25%). Supply chain and logistics tech third (20%). Healthcare IT and cybersecurity also get funded regularly. Consumer startups rarely get funded in Atlanta unless you have strong retail connections through Home Depot or Target networks.