Founders don’t miss an opportunity to pitch…even when that opportunity comes on a weekend.
Last Saturday seven founders — representing startups from across the country — gathered in Dunwoody, Georgia to give their ten minute pitches in front of a room full of investors as part of The Access Georgia Foundation’s annual Investor Showcase.
Access, founded in 2020, is a program that grew out of TiE Atlanta and is designed to help entrepreneurs with the Three Cs: Capital, coaching, and connections. With a specific focus on female and minority-owned businesses, Access has deployed $2 million of early stage capital into 14 startups. It has also helped companies bring in close to $75k in social impact grants.
Inside The Access Investor Showcase
Hypepotamus was in the audience for Access’ Investor Showcase. The judges for the event represented the “who’s who” of the Atlanta technology ecosystem, with the panel being made up of Sig Mosley, Sid Mookerji, Karen Robinson Cope, and Neeti Dewan.
Now, let’s meet the founders that pitched:
Starr Douglas, FrontHouz (Atlanta, Georgia)
Hypepotamus readers will know Douglas from her recent profile on our homepage. FrontHouz is an AI-driven marketplace platform that connects vetted and trained front-of-house professionals with hospitality jobs on demand.
Sani Abdullah, Swift Ride (Atlanta, Georgia)
Swift Ride was also profiled by Hypepotamus this year, showcasing its car subscription service that provides gig workers with reliable, flexible, and affordable transportation without the need for them to own a car.
Shelley Gupta, BāKIT Box (Chicago, Illinois)
BaKIT Box is a STEM-based subscription-based baking kit that brings global flavors and cultural traditions into kitchens across America.
Beth White, MeBeBot® (Austin, Texas)
MeBeBot is an AI platform that unifies Smart Search and employee support, delivering fast, trusted answers from a company’s HR, IT, and operations content.
Demba Ndiath, MBA, Jootal Financial (Columbus, Ohio)
Jootal is a platform which connects international investors with secure, transparent and profitable agricultural and real estate opportunities in Africa.
Shanise Thomason, Tressed (Atlanta, Georgia)
Tressed is built out of Thomason’s years in the hair and beauty space. It is a vertical AI and computer vision company building the foundational infrastructure for real-time hair simulation and personalization.
Sruti Bharat, Campground Systems (San Francisco, California)
Campground is a CRM and operating system for program managers, including nonprofit organizations and other public sector groups.
Congrats to all those selected to pitch!