We’re back in action with our Friday “Fund” Day updates, a weekly round up of all the startup and technology news from across the Southeast.
So without further delay, these are the headlines you need to end the week:
The Big Stories On Hype
HairMatch, a startup co-founded by recent graduates of Georgia Tech and the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, is a finalist in Microsoft’s global student competition called the Imagine Cup. Details on the upcoming competition here.
Nashville’s AI-focused venture studio, The Innovation Studio, has officially launched its first startup. We spoke to VendoIQ’s leader, David Howerton, about the launch and what they are working on to improve how sales operate in the field. More here.
The team behind See Produce moved from California to Alabama in late 2024 to take advantage of a local AgTech-focused accelerator program. From their new home in Huntsville, See Produce is looking to eliminate food waste…one photo at a time. Learn how here.
Friday “Fund” Day News
- Chattanooga-based firm Dynamo Ventures, which invests in supply chain and logistics startups, raised its third fund, at $54 million, according to the Venture Capital Journal.
- Atlanta’s logistics darling Stord raised $200 million in equity and debt on Friday, according to Fortune Magazine.
- Tampa-based Slide Insurance raised a
- The Nuclear Company, a Kentucky-based fleet-scale nuclear development firm, raised a $46.3 million Series A round, according to Crunchbase.
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Catalyst by Wellstar, the innovation arm of one of Georgia’s largest health systems, has joined a $20M Series A investment in San Francisco-based Venteur, a leading health tech startup that’s helping businesses provide flexible, affordable health benefits through ICHRA.
- NC IDEA announced that it has awarded $300K in grants to six North Carolina startups. List of the selected startups can be found here.
Accelerator News
Five startups have been selected to join the Spring 2025 Bronze Valley Investment Accelerator, powered by gener8tor. Each startup will receive a $100,000 investment and participate in a 12-week intensive program designed to accelerate growth, access capital, and connect with Birmingham’s thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. 450 startups applied for this round. Selected startups include:
In Other News
– Wilmington, North Carolina’s DesignLoud Inc. announced it is will open up an office in Atlanta. More details here.
– Atlanta-based Verusen, which works on AI for MRO (maintenance, repair, and operations) supply chain and inventory optimization, launched its Explainability AI Agent for data and context-driven material and inventory optimization.
– Pinnacle Financial Partners announced the grand opening of the Pinnacle Economic Empowerment Resource (PEER) Center in Atlanta, which will focus on economic empowerment, entrepreneurship, and community investment, according to a press release. The PEER Center will serve as a hub, bringing together financial services and resources dedicated to historically underserved and disadvantaged areas. In conjunction with the opening and in partnership with Tarkenton, Pinnacle will announce a substantial financial investment to the Pinnacle Atlanta Innovation Accelerator powered by gener8tor.
– Tech Alpharetta has announced its appointment of five new members to its Strategic Board of Directors. The new members include:
- Molly Harrison, Chief Operating Officer, Kaleris
- Ram Machiraju, VP, Software Engineering, ADP
- Ken Makoid, Regional Vice President, Flexential
- Colleen Murphy, Senior Executive Vice President, Trevelino/Keller
- Jasen Williams, SVP, Corporate Marketing, Verint