The Venture Atlanta conference is the premier tech conference in the Southeast. Each year, thousands of startups and investors from across the Southeast and Atlanta’s tech ecosystem congregate at The Woodruff Arts Center and Atlanta Symphony Hall to pitch, network, meet, and connect. The experience gets even bigger and better year after year—check out the schedule to see how chocked full of events we are.
With so much going on at Venture Atlanta every year, we’d like to share some tips and insights to help attendees maximize their participation. Whether you’re an entrepreneur or investor, there are plenty of ways for you to maximize your time at Venture Atlanta. Here are a few tips.
Tips for Entrepreneurs at Venture Capital Events
We’ve discussed the benefits of attending a startup conference in our “Why You Should Attend a Venture Capital Conference” blog, including networking, mentorship, pitching, and talent acquisition.
Let’s assume that you’ve already secured your ticket for this year’s VA conference. How do you make the most out of this opportunity?
How to Maximize Networking at VC Events
Networking is one of the most important aspects of Venture Atlanta. Hundreds of investors from across the country come to the Venture Atlanta conference to see the most innovative startups coming out of the Southeast. Here’s how you can make the most of the networking opportunities at Venture Atlanta:
- Book Meetings Ahead of Time: Take advantage of the Venture Atlanta app to schedule meetings with investors, fellow entrepreneurs, and industry experts before the event even begins. The app allows you to browse attendees, find investors who align with your startup’s goals, and book one-on-one meetings. This way, you can walk into the event with a plan and ensure you’re making the most out of your time by connecting with the right people.
- Attend the Mini Events: This year we’re offering more programming than ever before beyond just what’s happening on stage. And all of it is free with your Venture Atlanta ticket! Attend the breakfasts, the lunches, the dinners, the thought leadership sessions, the networking opportunities — THESE are where connections are made!
- Scan Nametags: This year, Venture Atlanta’s high-tech nametags make networking smoother than ever. With a simple scan, you can upload the contact information of anyone you meet directly into your phone’s contacts. No more fumbling for business cards or worrying about follow-ups—just scan their nametag, and you’re all set to continue the conversation after the conference.
- Be Open: Don’t JUST connect with investors. There are so many different people who attend VA that can be helpful to you and your business. People who lead M&A at corporations, students who would make great entry-level highers, founders who are further in the journey than you are who would make great mentors, possible customers, and service providers like banks, accounting firms, marketing firms, HR firms, and law firms that can help you with all of the parts of running a business.
Pitching
One of the main components of the Venture Atlanta conference is pitching on stage (broken out into the annual pitch competition and Startup Showcase Live). Here are some expert tips on how to make the most out of your pitch:
- Prepare for Your Pitch AND the Followup Questions From Investors
The pitch is definitely important (here are our tips on pitching to investors), but that just gets you the date. What happens next is just as important. Whether participating in the judges’ Q&A on the VA stage or meeting 1:1, be prepared to answer these questions from investors.
- Learn From Past Pitch Competition Winners
Hear from growth stage pitch competition winner Debbie Gordon of Cloud Range, early stage pitch competition winner Joshua Silver of Rainforest, and Seed Stage pitch competition winner Margo Jordan of Enrichly about how they prepped for their pitch.
How Investors Can Make The Most Out of The Venture Atlanta Conference
If you’re an investor attending the Venture Atlanta conference, there are a couple of ways you can maximize your time at the conference.
Find High-Potential Companies
Most Fortune 500 companies began as a startup. The companies at Venture Atlanta could be the same—it’s your time to get in on the ground floor. To find high-potential startups at the Venture Atlanta conference, here’s what you can do:
- Attend Our Pitch Competitions and Startup Showcase Live: Our annual pitch competition and Startup Showcase Live are must-attend events, spotlighting the best up-and-coming startups from across the Southeast. This year 630 companies applied to pitch and only ~80 were selected. You truly do get to see the best of the best of the region. Pitches are only 3 minutes long and all companies have been coached ahead of time on the most important info to share to make it easily digestible for you.
- Do Your Research: Our company lineup page lists all of the companies that were selected to pitch at this year’s conference. To make it easy to navigate, we’ve built the page so that you can search by name, growth stage level, industry, and location.
- Attend the Mini Events: This year we’re offering more programming than ever before beyond just what’s happening on stage. And all of it is free with your Venture Atlanta ticket! Attend the breakfasts, the lunches, the dinners, the thought leadership sessions, the networking opportunities — THESE are where connections are made!
Networking With Other Investors
At the Venture Atlanta conference, it’s not just about connecting with startups—it’s also a valuable opportunity to network with fellow investors. We host exclusive, investor-only events designed for you to build relationships, exchange insights, and collaborate with other investors.
To make the most of these opportunities, be sure to check the event schedule ahead of time. You can see which investor-only sessions, panels, and networking mixers are planned, allowing you to strategically plan your day and ensure you don’t miss out on key chances to connect with peers.
Attend the Venture Atlanta Conference
As you can see, whether you’re an investor or a founder, the Venture Atlanta conference is the perfect place to put your best foot forward. It’s an opportunity to build connections, learn from industry leaders, and take your business or investment strategy to the next level. The relationships and insights gained at this event can be game-changing, whether you’re seeking funding, mentorship, or the next high-potential startup to add to your portfolio.
And if you haven’t registered yet, click here to register and secure your spot at Venture Atlanta. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this dynamic event that shapes the future of innovation and investment in the Southeast!
