StartupLounge was Transformational for Atlanta
We are experiencing a renaissance of startup growth in Atlanta. It’s on fire. There are so many new faces in the community. Startup events are exploding too.
When we started AccelerEyes in 2007, there were hardly any regular (i.e. more than annual) events worth attending. Then Scott Burkett and Mike Blake started hosting StartupLounge events. And the crowds were out of control. They were packed. They inspired and encouraged entrepreneurs and angel investors.
These were the first opportunities for us to trot our demos in front of investors. I think we caught Sig Mosley’s eye at those events.
StartupLounge was transformational for Atlanta. Few people in the current scene remember those events, but I want to spend a post to give a shout out to Scott and Mike and call attention to the work they did in those important years. Hat tip to you both.
If you want to get a sense of what those two guys did for Atlanta, listen to one of their podcasts from that timeframe: http://www.startuplounge.com/podcasts/
What transformational startup moments have you witnessed in Atlanta?
From the conversation
Comments preserved from the original post.
Kyle Porter
A big transformational moment for me was when DC sold Pardot to ExactTarget. It really opened my eyes to what was possible and kickstarted what has become the ATV.
melonakos
In reply to an earlier comment
For sure, that exit and the reinvestment back in the Village and Atlanta Ventures is a huge and transformative inflection point.