Startup Atlanta, the community non-profit focused on connecting and growing the local startup ecosystem, generated a sold-out crowd for its 2022 Atlanta Startup Awards held earlier this month at Midtown Atlanta’s Atlantic Yards.
The Atlanta Startup Awards is the premier recognition event for local early-stage and growth-stage businesses and entrepreneurs. This year’s event saw the startup community converge in an evening that celebrated the year’s best and brightest, honored two Atlanta trailblazing leaders, and featured an appearance by Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens.
Startup Atlanta officially bestowed its highest honor at the event when it presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Ben Chestnut, Co-Founder of Atlanta-based Intuit Mailchimp; and Civil Rights legend, former US Ambassador and Atlanta Mayor, Andrew J. Young, Co-founder of fintech startup Greenwood and Chairman of the Andrew J. Young Foundation.
Upon receiving the award, the two honorees participated in a fireside chat that was joined by Mayor Dickens and moderated by the evening’s emcee, award-winning journalist Rose Scott, host of A Closer Look on Atlanta’s NPR station WABE 90.1 FM.
Before the Lifetime Achievement presentations and fireside chat, Startup Atlanta named the 2022 Atlanta Startup Award Winners from among finalists in eight categories. This year’s winners include influencers such as Pinky Cole and standout startups in the Atlanta tech ecosystem.
“I was honored to be nominated with such incredible community builders as Ryan, Karen, and Jon, and so humbled to win, said Aly Merritt, Managing Director of Atlanta Tech Village, who won the Community Builder Award. “We are lucky to be collaboratively driven in Atlanta; by each shining a spotlight on what others are accomplishing, we have the opportunity to truly light up the whole innovation ecosystem.”
The 2022 Winners embody the spirit of this year’s event theme, Ready, Set, Rise, which reflects the resilience, energy, and optimism of the startup ecosystem in Atlanta.
For more on the Atlanta Startup Awards, visit here.
(Main Image: l-r Moderator Rose Scott, WABE-FM; Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens; and 2022 honorees former Ambassador Andy Young and Ben Chestnut, Co-Founder of Mailchimp. PHOTO CREDIT: Christopher Jones)
Scrappiest Startup:
Community Builder:
Aly Merritt, Atlanta Tech Village
Best B2C Startup:
Best Social Impact Startup:
Best B2B Startup:
The Art of the Pivot:
Best Growth Stage Startup:
Equity Champion:
Pinky Cole, The Pinky Cole Foundation