Key Takeaways
- • Venture Atlanta, one of the largest venture capital conferences in the Southeast, returns Wednesday and Thursday at the Woodruff Arts Center for its 19th year, having helped launch over 1,000 companies and raise $8.8 billion in funding, according to the conference.
- • CEO Allyson Eman says 2026 has been a challenging year for venture capital, with some longtime sponsors of 10 to 15 years disappearing, though she secured about 50 new sponsors.
- • The Startup Showcase Live competition's winning company will receive a $475,000 investment prize, and a new Atlanta-based angel group, Women on the Cap Table, is joining an investment syndicate that will invest $475,000 and hear 10 pitches.
- • Emery Waddell of Vocap Investment Partners, incoming board chair, says capital is concentrating into larger checks and fewer companies, making it "never been harder to raise capital."
- • Scott Lopano of Tech Square Ventures, this year's board chair, says three times as many companies are shutting down in 2026 as in 2022, and Eman plans to raise ticket prices next year.
Summary
Venture Atlanta, one of the largest venture capital conferences in the Southeast, takes place Wednesday and Thursday at the Woodruff Arts Center. According to the conference, the event has helped launch more than 1,000 companies and raised $8.8 billion in funding. CEO Allyson Eman described 2026 as a challenging year for venture capital, citing economic uncertainty and fund closures, and noted that some funds have been unable to raise capital.
Eman said preparing for the 19th edition brought new obstacles, as some sponsors of 10 to 15 years disappeared amid tightened budgets. She went on to recruit about 50 new sponsors, and says the conference has new initiatives planned. Attendees will have access to panels, networking events and the Startup Showcase Live competition, where the winner receives a $475,000 investment prize.
This year also brings Women on the Cap Table, an Atlanta-based angel group co-founded earlier in 2026 by Karen Robinson Cope and Jane McCracken. The group is joining four other organizations in an investment syndicate that will invest $475,000 and hear 10 pitches. Robinson Cope, who said she has raised over $100 million as a CEO, aims to broaden diversity in angel investing. McCracken argued Atlanta has the capital, talent and entrepreneurial spirit to rank among the top five U.S. tech hubs.
Board leaders offered a mixed view of the funding environment. Emery Waddell of Vocap Investment Partners, the incoming board chair, said capital is concentrating into larger checks and fewer companies, and that firms must show revenue durability from AI products. Scott Lopano of Tech Square Ventures, this year's chair, said three times as many companies are shutting down in 2026 as in 2022. Mike Dowdle, a board member and founding partner of Circadian Ventures, said the event lets founders meet investors efficiently.
Eman acknowledged rising costs, including higher fuel prices, and said the conference will raise prices next year. Early-bird tickets currently cost about $400 for entrepreneurs and $800 for investors, and day-of tickets can reach $1,500. Day two focuses on deep tech, which Eman said is hot in defense, aerospace, robotics and drones. The conference cited deep tech as 36% of total global VC funding in 2025. Next year marks Venture Atlanta's 20th anniversary.
Eman said preparing for the 19th edition brought new obstacles, as some sponsors of 10 to 15 years disappeared amid tightened budgets. She went on to recruit about 50 new sponsors, and says the conference has new initiatives planned. Attendees will have access to panels, networking events and the Startup Showcase Live competition, where the winner receives a $475,000 investment prize.
This year also brings Women on the Cap Table, an Atlanta-based angel group co-founded earlier in 2026 by Karen Robinson Cope and Jane McCracken. The group is joining four other organizations in an investment syndicate that will invest $475,000 and hear 10 pitches. Robinson Cope, who said she has raised over $100 million as a CEO, aims to broaden diversity in angel investing. McCracken argued Atlanta has the capital, talent and entrepreneurial spirit to rank among the top five U.S. tech hubs.
Board leaders offered a mixed view of the funding environment. Emery Waddell of Vocap Investment Partners, the incoming board chair, said capital is concentrating into larger checks and fewer companies, and that firms must show revenue durability from AI products. Scott Lopano of Tech Square Ventures, this year's chair, said three times as many companies are shutting down in 2026 as in 2022. Mike Dowdle, a board member and founding partner of Circadian Ventures, said the event lets founders meet investors efficiently.
Eman acknowledged rising costs, including higher fuel prices, and said the conference will raise prices next year. Early-bird tickets currently cost about $400 for entrepreneurs and $800 for investors, and day-of tickets can reach $1,500. Day two focuses on deep tech, which Eman said is hot in defense, aerospace, robotics and drones. The conference cited deep tech as 36% of total global VC funding in 2025. Next year marks Venture Atlanta's 20th anniversary.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.