ATL LIFERS AND GLOBAL14 MEMBERS ATTENTION!!!
Startup Rally hosts largest gathering of Georgia startups since 1895 When & Where:
Monday, February 18, 2013 3pm-7pm The Biltmore: Georgian Ballroom and Hypepotamus 817 West Peachtree St. Atlanta, GA 30308
What:
Startup Rally is a monumental celebration of Georgia’s entrepreneurial spirit that includes a startup exposition with over 100 startups exhibiting, a summer internship fair, and the launch of Startup Georgia, an entrepreneur-led, statewide initiative to promote the importance of startups as innovators and job creators that’s part of the national Startup America Partnership. “Atlanta is home to the best universities and colleges in the nation and we believe we should keep that talent in Atlanta,” explains Scott Henderson, Executive Director of Hypepotamus, “The next great wave of Georgia companies are being built today and it’s up to those of us in the startup community to create massive awareness of what we’re doing to help Georgia’s economy.”
Co-organized by Hypepotamus and Startup Georgia, Startup Rally marks a historical day in the Atlanta business community as the largest gathering of startups since the Cotton States and International Exposition in 1895. This event includes high profile Georgia entrepreneurs and investors including Jermaine Dupri (CEO So So Def Records and Global 14), Scott Case (former CTO, co-founder Priceline.com), Stephen Fleming (VP Enterprise Innovation Institute at GT), Sig Mosley (Mosley Ventures), Jim Flannery (4Athens), Paul Judge (CypherTrust, Pindrop, and Barracuda), and over 100 startups. “Given its unique business, research and diverse environments, Georgia is poised to unleash its potential to become a national leader in startup creation, economic growth, and job creation,” asserts Christopher V. Cook, Chairman of the Startup Georgia organizing team.
The Startup Expo and Internship Fair will feature Georgia’s next wave of great startups and some of Georgia’s leading Fortune 500 companies that are partnering with these emerging companies. Students are invited to meet startups in various industries to learn about summer internships available within the startup community. “The Startup America Partnership is focused on supporting regional startup ecosystems throughout the country,” states Scott Case, CEO of Startup America Partnership. “We’re thrilled to see Startup Rally come together to highlight Georgia’s young companies that are creating solutions to today’s biggest challenges.”
Capping off the event, Jermaine Dupri will take the stage 20 years after founding So So Def Recordings to share his entrepreneurial journey and for his passion for Atlanta as a place to do business. “My roots are in Atlanta, and so is my future,” explains Dupri, “I am excited to share the story about So So Def Recordings and Global 14 at Startup Rally and to support the growth of fresh ideas emerging from Atlanta.”
Startup Rally sponsors include MailChimp, Northwestern Mutual Insurance, Social Fortress, NationalBuilderSupply.com, KontrolFreek.com, and BLH Venture Partners. The event is part of Tech & Startup Week, a celebration of Atlanta Technology and Startups running Friday, February 15 to Monday, February 25.
About Startup Georgia: Startup Georgia is an entrepreneur-led, statewide initiative to celebrate Georgia’s entrepreneurial community. Startup GA promotes the importance of startups as innovators and job creators, and helps startups gain access to the relationships and knowledge they need to succeed. Launched at the White House in January 2011, the Startup America Partnership supports a national network of startup communities, by way of providing access to relationships, opportunities, and knowledge. Visit http://startupgeorgia.org for more information.
About Hypepotamus: Hypepotamus is more than a place. It’s a groundswell of people who believe the next great wave of Atlanta companies will come from creatives, coders, entrepreneurs, and students working together to drive massive awareness, diverse collaboration, peer-to-peer education. Learn about Georgia’s most collaborative non-profit corporation at: http://www.hypepotamus.com