Georgia Tech, City of Atlanta Boost Tech Hub Vision

Georgia Tech, City of Atlanta Boost Tech Hub Vision

Georgia Tech’s Office of Commercialization, in collaboration with the City of Atlanta, is playing a pivotal role in the Atlanta Collegiate Entrepreneurship Syndicate (ACES), aimed at transforming Atlanta into a leading technology hub. This initiative, in partnership with Atlanta's Office of Technology and Innovation, is designed to define key metrics for a thriving tech ecosystem and implement strategies to foster its growth.

ACES is led by Michael "Dixon" Dixon, Georgia Tech’s Commercialization director of operations, along with representatives from the other six ACES institutions and Donnie Beamer, senior technology advisor in the Office of the Mayor.

"The synergy between Georgia Tech and the City of Atlanta through ACES is a testament to our shared vision of creating a vibrant technological landscape," said Dixon. "Our role is pivotal in aligning the program's operational framework with the strategic goals of fostering a thriving tech ecosystem in Atlanta. These efforts lay the groundwork for future endeavors in entrepreneurship and commercialization.”

Georgia Tech students are playing a significant role as well, most notably through Startup Exchange, a student-run entrepreneurship community at Tech, which collaborates closely with the Office of Commercialization’s CREATE-X. Students benefit from direct interactions with industry leaders, enriching Atlanta's tech scene and preparing them to become innovators and entrepreneurs.

"The enthusiasm and innovation emanating from the students at Georgia Tech are truly inspiring,” Beamer said. “Their active participation is a key driver for the success of the ACES initiative, emphasizing the significance of student-led initiatives in our overarching objectives."

As part of the ACES initiative, the Office of Technology and Innovation has taken ownership of Avant South, an event founded at Georgia Tech in 2023 to convene tech innovators, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs to discuss emerging technologies and their impact on society. Under Beamer’s leadership, Avant South will support student collaboration and entrepreneurship and explore the intersection of technology, culture, and innovation in media and entertainment, sports and human performance, and visual and performing arts.

The two-day event will kick off on Sunday, Oct. 6, with a charity poker tournament and casino night that supports student entrepreneurship through a pitch competition for student-led ventures across the ACES member institutions. It will conclude on Oct. 7 on Georgia Tech’s campus with sessions focused on innovative technologies.

Visit the Office of Commercialization to learn more about its programs and resources.

Lacey Cameron 

Marketing Communications Manager

lacey.cameron@gatech.edu