Metro Atlanta Chamber unveils new platform for region’s innovation ecosystem

Media contact: press@macoc.com 

Metro Atlanta innovation ecosystem to launch InnovATL brand 

InnovATL brand will amplify Metro Atlanta’s influence as a global nexus of innovation 

ATLANTA – July 31, 2023 – The Metro Atlanta Chamber announced the launch of InnovATL, a unified brand for metro Atlanta’s thriving innovation ecosystem. The region, home to all the elements of a leading, globally recognized innovation powerhouse, will unite under the InnovATL brand that bolsters and coordinates its inclusive and wide-ranging ecosystem.  

“Metro Atlanta is the nexus of innovation,” said Alex Gonzalez, chief innovation and marketing officer of the Metro Atlanta Chamber. “We have the highest proportion of Inc. 5000 companies in the country, and the tech sector is just the tip of the iceberg – our incredible strength grows out of the diversity of our founders and industries. InnovATL will undergird the global impact of metro Atlanta’s uniquely inclusive innovation ecosystem.” 

InnovATL, pronounced “inno-VAY-tee-el,” is an evergreen brand that represents the natural connection between innovation and metro Atlanta. The brand will capitalize on the world-class innovation ecosystem the region has built over the years, which is fueled by nationally-recognized colleges and universities, purpose-driven entrepreneurs, world-class corporations and hundreds of programs, centers, events and communities. 

“InnovATL will amplify metro Atlanta’s influence as a global nexus of innovation and create scale for our entrepreneurial, corporate and creative communities,” said Julia Houston, chief strategy & marketing officer, Equifax, and co-chair of the Metro Atlanta Chamber’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship Advisory Board. “The new InnovATL platform aims to draw national recognition to metro Atlanta’s vibrant innovation ecosystem and unite the changemakers, innovators, founders, creators and companies who call the region home.” 

“Metro Atlanta’s innovation assets run deep,” said Jay Bailey, president and CEO, Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE). “From our unicorn startups and globally influential creative industries to our world-class universities and rapidly growing list of Fortune 1000 innovation hubs, metro Atlanta has a unique innovation ecosystem that truly influences everything.” 

Colleges and universities across the metro area enroll 275,000 students each year and are a vital part of the innovation talent pipeline. “InnovATL will strengthen the already-significant collaboration between metro Atlanta’s research universities and the private sector, further bolstering metro Atlanta’s reputation as a global innovation hub,” said Dr. Ángel Cabrera, president of the Georgia Institute of Technology. 

Featured events in the 2023 lineup include: 

Avant South at Georgia Tech 

• Avant South at Georgia Tech welcomes thought leaders and diverse voices to Atlanta to discuss and explore technological advancements and their impact on the world. In 2023, Avant South at Georgia Tech will explore artificial intelligence and the importance of creating AI responsibly from professional and individual perspectives. 

Atlanta Design Festival 

• A week-long event to celebrate, convene and connect Atlanta’s creative industries, the Atlanta Design Festival is helping to grow metro Atlanta’s prowess as a global powerhouse and innovator of ideas. Highlighting a range of design practices including architecture, marketing and advertising, digital technologies and product design, the Atlanta Design Festival welcomes audiences of all kinds to engage, experience and enrich the region’s cultural capital and creative communities. 

Venture Atlanta 

• Venture Atlanta is one of the nation’s largest venture capital conferences and communities, supporting the Southeast’s most promising tech companies by connecting founders and funders. The Venture Atlanta Conference has evolved from a two-day, high-caliber event into a full-blown community dedicated to bringing innovative companies, disruptive technologies and top-tier investors together. 

The metro Atlanta innovation community will fully activate the InnovATL brand during InnovATL2023 (formerly known as Atlanta Innovation Week). This collection of signature events showcasing the robust intersection of corporations, higher education institutions, startups, entrepreneurs and creators helped put metro Atlanta on the map as a globally recognized innovation ecosystem. Events will be held across the region from September 26 through October 20. More information will be made available closer to the event dates. 

For more information on InnovATL2023, visit www.innovatl2023.com. 

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About the Metro Atlanta Chamber 

The Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC) serves as a catalyst for a more prosperous and vibrant region. To advance economic growth and improve metro Atlanta’s quality of place, MAC is focused on starting, growing and recruiting companies to the 29-county metro Atlanta region. The Chamber is also focused on expanding the region’s innovation economy by promoting and strengthening connections to drive Atlanta’s innovation and entrepreneurial culture. MAC is committed to being an active voice for the business community, serving as an advocate for a competitive business climate and promoting Atlanta’s story. For more information, visit www.MetroAtlantaChamber.com.