
Venture Atlanta Startup Showcase Live
Pre-Seed + Seed Pitch Competition for $500K Investment!


Overview
Venture Atlanta Startup Showcase Live is a unique opportunity for pre-seed and seed-stage companies to step into the spotlight at the annual Venture Atlanta conference, present to well-known investors, and compete for a $500K investment prize! Venture Atlanta has partnered with some of the Southeast’s most active funds – Catalyst by Wellstar, Front Porch Venture Partners, Knoll Ventures, Las Olas Venture Capital, and TiE Atlanta Angels to host one of the largest pitch competitions to date.
"I applied to pitch at Venture Atlanta last year and had no idea that the decision to take 30 minutes to complete the application would lead to me winning $500,000 to help me scale my company Enrich.ly. The relationships that I gained from attending are priceless. The experience was invaluable. This was, by far one of the best decisions that I could've made as a founder."
Margo Jordan, Founder of Enrichly
Read MoreMargo Jordan, Founder of Enrichly

SEED-STAGE SHOWCASE QUALIFICATIONS
This pitch competition is for pre-seed or seed-stage companies in the Southeast (as far west as Texas and as far north as D.C.). In certain instances, "pre-revenue" companies may be selected to pitch if the company is building an advanced technology solution.
All software and tech-enabled service businesses are encouraged to apply. Eligible startups have a product/service that’s live or in beta form and have measurable performance indicators such as revenue, customers, successful beta results, etc. Generally speaking, companies that are generating less than $500K in revenue run-rate, have raised <$1M in external capital, and are seeking to raise $2M or less in the next 12-18 months.
See Terms and Conditions.
All software and tech-enabled service businesses are encouraged to apply. Eligible startups have a product/service that’s live or in beta form and have measurable performance indicators such as revenue, customers, successful beta results, etc. Generally speaking, companies that are generating less than $500K in revenue run-rate, have raised <$1M in external capital, and are seeking to raise $2M or less in the next 12-18 months.
See Terms and Conditions.
INVESTOR JUDGES
Startup Showcase Live will select 40 of the best startups in the Southeast through a competitive application process. These companies will participate in mentoring days, and intensive preparation, all culminating in an in-person, grand finale pitch competition in front of all-star judges. These are well-known investors from impressive funds, so it’s a great opportunity for participating companies to get valuable exposure.
Greggory
Bordes
Managing Partner, Front Porch Venture Partners
Stefanie
Diaz
Industry and Discovery and Venture Deal Flow Lead, Catalyst by Wellstar
Andrew
Dorman
General Partner, Knoll Ventures
Sid
Mookerji
Founder & Managing Partner, Silicon Road Ventures | President, TiE Atlanta
Mark
Volchek
Founding Partner, Las Olas Venture Capital

SCHEDULE
Prepare to pitch with dates for meet-and-greets, deadlines, announcements, and more.
5.9.24
Company Apps Open
8.2.24
Company Apps Close
8.14.24
Companies Notified if in TechOperators Pitch Off
The TechOperators Pitch Off is a way for the Venture Atlanta screening committee to narrow down the list of company pitch applicants.
8.21.24
TechOperators Pitch Off
8.23.24
Companies Notified Privately If Selected
9.9.24
Companies Announced Publicly
9.17.24
Showcase Mentor Day
All selected seed-stage companies are encouraged to attend in person!
10.8.24 & 10.9.24
Venture Atlanta 2024
FAQS
How do I apply?
What are the criteria to be considered?
What are the requirements for the prize?
Greggory Bordes
Managing Partner, Front Porch Venture Partners
Greggory Bordes has 20+ years of direct investment experience across venture capital, private equity and public market investment strategies. Mr. Bordes is the Managing Partner of Front Porch Venture Partners, which is based in North Carolina’s Research Triangle and provides LPs properly diversified exposure to the Southeast's top venture capital funds and startups.
Prior to co-founding Front Porch, Mr. Bordes helped oversee a multibillion-dollar family office's investment strategy where he was responsible for new private market investments. Prior to this role, he was the VP/Head of Research at venture backed Fintech Unicorn YipitData in New York City.
Previously, Mr. Bordes was a Partner at Hurley Capital in New York City, where he executed a long/short equity strategy in the public markets. Earlier in his career, Mr. Bordes was a hybrid public/private equity investor at Blum Capital Partners in San Francisco, as well as a private equity investor at Stone Tower Capital (now Apollo Global Management) and AEA Investors in New York City. Gregg started his career as an Analyst in the Merger & Acquisitions group at Merrill Lynch.
Gregg received a Master's in Business Administration, with honors, from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and a bachelor's degree in Finance and Economics, cum laude, from New York University’s Stern School of Business. Mr. Bordes grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of Eastern Kentucky.
Prior to co-founding Front Porch, Mr. Bordes helped oversee a multibillion-dollar family office's investment strategy where he was responsible for new private market investments. Prior to this role, he was the VP/Head of Research at venture backed Fintech Unicorn YipitData in New York City.
Previously, Mr. Bordes was a Partner at Hurley Capital in New York City, where he executed a long/short equity strategy in the public markets. Earlier in his career, Mr. Bordes was a hybrid public/private equity investor at Blum Capital Partners in San Francisco, as well as a private equity investor at Stone Tower Capital (now Apollo Global Management) and AEA Investors in New York City. Gregg started his career as an Analyst in the Merger & Acquisitions group at Merrill Lynch.
Gregg received a Master's in Business Administration, with honors, from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and a bachelor's degree in Finance and Economics, cum laude, from New York University’s Stern School of Business. Mr. Bordes grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of Eastern Kentucky.
Stefanie Diaz
Head of Industry Discovery & Venture Deal Flow, Catalyst by Wellstar
Stefanie Diaz leads industry discovery and venture deal flow at Catalyst by Wellstar. Investing in both early-stage startups and emerging fund managers, her reputation for advancing gender and racial equity extends to the White House. She is a notable figure in the Atlanta startup ecosystem, Host of the She Conquers Capital Podcast, and was named an “Atlanta Startup Wonder Woman.”
Andrew Dorman
General Partner, Knoll Ventures
As a General Partner at Knoll Ventures, Andrew has an established background in the technology sector, including more than a decade of structuring lead investments in Pre-Series A B2B startups. Andrew’s experience includes serving as a board director or observer at dozens of early-stage companies, where he works closely with founding teams to design and implement near-term growth strategies that drive growth and increase the odds of a successful outcome for all stakeholders.
Sid Mookerji
Founder & Managing Partner, Silicon Road Ventures | President, TiE Atlanta
Sid Mookerji is the Founder and Managing Partner of Silicon Road Ventures, a family of US funds with over $100M under management, investing in early-stage tech startups disrupting the retail, e-commerce, and CPG industries. Sid is also a General Partner in Bengaluru-based fund StartupXseed and has made many angel investments through his family office. In addition, Sid is co-founder and CEO of Silver Spirit Global LLC which operates tech parks in the US and India. Sid Mookerji is also a Founding Partner of the Atlanta chapter of the Creative Destruction Labs and President of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE Atlanta). Sid’s contributions to industry and the city of Atlanta were celebrated as he was inducted into the Kennesaw State’s Coles College Hall of Fame for 2019. Sid was also recognized as an Entrepreneurial Leader for South East USA by TechBridge in 2019.
Prior, in 1994, Sid founded Software Paradigms International (SPI) and served as its CEO and Chairman. SPI provided technology solutions to 350+ retail businesses on five continents. Under Sid’s leadership, SPI completed 14 acquisitions and employed over 3000 employees across the globe. SPI delivered tech services and products to marquee retail, e-commerce, and CPG firms such as Macy’s, Saks, Walmart, P&G, and GroupOn. In September 2016, Sid stepped down from his position of SPI’s CEO after 22 years at the helm, and the company was eventually acquired by IT giant Cognizant.
Apart from business pursuits, Sid supports philanthropies in the United States and India through the Mookerji Foundation. In the U.S., he led the foundation’s relief effort for communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and other natural disasters. The Mookerji Foundation made a substantial gift to the Georgia Tech Foundation in 2016 to establish a retail tech innovation program. The Mookerji Foundation also helped set up the “Mookerji Innovation Fund” for entrepreneurs at the Kennesaw State University.
Prior, in 1994, Sid founded Software Paradigms International (SPI) and served as its CEO and Chairman. SPI provided technology solutions to 350+ retail businesses on five continents. Under Sid’s leadership, SPI completed 14 acquisitions and employed over 3000 employees across the globe. SPI delivered tech services and products to marquee retail, e-commerce, and CPG firms such as Macy’s, Saks, Walmart, P&G, and GroupOn. In September 2016, Sid stepped down from his position of SPI’s CEO after 22 years at the helm, and the company was eventually acquired by IT giant Cognizant.
Apart from business pursuits, Sid supports philanthropies in the United States and India through the Mookerji Foundation. In the U.S., he led the foundation’s relief effort for communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and other natural disasters. The Mookerji Foundation made a substantial gift to the Georgia Tech Foundation in 2016 to establish a retail tech innovation program. The Mookerji Foundation also helped set up the “Mookerji Innovation Fund” for entrepreneurs at the Kennesaw State University.
Mark Volchek
Founding Partner, Las Olas Venture Capital
Mark is a Founding and Co-Managing Partner at Las Olas Venture Capital. He serves as a Board Member at Mosaic, Bainbridge, Leverage, and OpenReel, and as a Board Observer at Leasecake, Rotabull, and UserInterviews. Prior to founding LOVC, Mark spent 15 years as CFO, Chairman, and then CEO of Higher One, a company he co-founded in 2000 while a senior at college. He successfully steered the company through multiple rounds of venture funding and a successful IPO in 2010. While at Higher One, Mark won EY Entrepreneur of the Year in 2010 and was a finalist for the award in 2011. When Mark left Higher One in 2014, their products and services supported more than 1,900 schools and approximately 13 million enrolled students. Mark currently serves on the executive committee of Florida Venture Forum as their Program Chair and is also Vice Chair of the Fort Lauderdale Aviation Advisory Board. He previously served as Director of the Founder Institute in South Florida, helping budding entrepreneurs start their companies. He has also personally angel-invested in over thirty companies since 2008. Mark enjoys flying airplanes, scuba diving, and traveling the world in his free time. Mark received a B.A. and M.A. in Economics from Yale University, where he founded the Yale Entrepreneurial Society.