Discover the 10 startups selected for the 2024 cohort of Techstars Atlanta

Techstars Atlanta Powered By Cox Enterprises didn’t have to look far from home to find the startups in its 2024 cohort.

More than half of the selected startups come from Atlanta or the greater Southeast region.

From AI-powered marketplaces to roommate-matching apps, here are the startups just announced as Techstars Atlanta portfolio companies:

• Aayats (Atlanta) – The AI-powered marketplace that connects musicians with industry professionals

• BetterCEO (Rapid City, South Dakota) – Making Life Easier for Neurodivergent Business Owners

• DressyClub (Denver) – Connecting students through shared dressing rooms

• Hearthmates (Atlanta) – A mobile app for collaborative housing search and roommate finding

• From Honey to Cocoa (Atlanta) – Leveraging AI to Help People of Color Match Makeup to Their Unique Skin Tone

• Liquid (Columbia, Missouri) – Liquid is the decision engine that helps you grow your salon business

• Nourish and Bloom (Fayetteville, GA) – AI-powered cashierless checkout technology for any retail store.

• StageWing (Atlanta) – An event production equipment sharing community where members can rent the best professional equipment

• Stork Exchange (Charlotte) – An easy way for parents to buy and sell used baby items

• SWITCH (Phoenix) – Connect with real people on a live audio speed date

Techstars Atlanta Over the Years

Those who follow the startup accelerator industry closely know that Techstars, one of the largest early-stage investors, recently underwent a major restructuring nationally. But Techstars’ presence in the Southeast region has continued to grow.

In Atlanta alone, there are three founder-focused programs. There are also programs in Birmingham, Knoxville and New Orleans. Earlier this year, Techstars announced a WaterTech and Sustainability program in Tuscaloosa.

In Atlanta, Techstars has certainly left its mark on the city’s innovation ecosystem since its launch in 2016. Previous Techstars Atlanta startups have become some of the city’s most recognizable growth-stage companies, including Bark, PadSplit, 2ULaundry, and MaxRewards. Other startups that have seen successful acquisitions include SAWA, Punchlist, and OrderNerd.

The total number of applications received for the Atlanta program was down from previous years. But the quality of applicants was much higher, Tim Dorr, managing director of Techstars Atlanta and Impact Programs, told Hypepotamus. That’s partly due to changes in how Techstars markets its programs.

Locally, Dorr said the Techstars Atlanta team is also making changes to ensure new founders are better prepared for growth after the program.

“We’re really going to try to focus this class on income generation first and then investability. The headwinds in the investment market mean you have to generate income,” he added.

The 10 startups will now launch their 13-week acceleration program, which will culminate in a Demo Day, coinciding with the buzz around Venture Atlanta.