ATLANTA, GA (May, 2026) – The Technology Association of Georgia’s Education Collaborative (TAG-Ed) will host the 4th Annual TAG Invest Connect: Meet, Pitch, & Partner event on October 22, 2026. The event brings together startups, investors, and enterprise buyers to foster meaningful connections. The program is designed to help technology founders access capital and build early customer relationships.
TAG Invest Connect: Meet, Pitch, & Partner centers on two outcomes critical to company growth: access to capital and access to customers. The event opens with a Corporate Procurement Brunch and Panel, where procurement leaders share how their organizations identify and engage with emerging vendors, and what founders should expect when pursuing enterprise opportunities.
Startups selected as finalists will advance to the Pitch for Capital competition, where early-stage companies present directly to investors. Finalists compete for $10,000 and $5,000 cash awards and receive targeted mentorship to support their next stage of growth. Each finalist is paired with an Investor Pitch Coach to refine their messaging and delivery.
“Too many founders are forced to choose between pursuing funding or securing customers,” said Dr. Loretta Daniels, Executive Director of TAG-Ed. “This event brings both paths together and creates space for conversations that can move a business forward.”
Reflecting on the event’s impact, last year’s winner, Alex Locklear, shared, “TAG’s Invest Connect gave us a ton of credibility within the tech ecosystem and helped us close a seed round, recruit great talent, and build partnerships with organizations in Georgia and nationwide. We’re grateful that TAG-Ed is so intentional in spotlighting all the innovation happening across Georgia.”
“Invest Connect is a great event from TAG that supports underserved entrepreneurs, helping them meet with potential paying customers within enterprise companies. Separately, these early-stage entrepreneurs have an opportunity to pitch experienced angel investors and venture capitalists,” said Larry McHugh, Angel Investor and TAG Invest Connect Board Chair.
Avoilan Bingham, TAG Invest Connect Board Co-Chair and General Manager at Drive Capital, added, “Invest Connect is one of the most intentional founder and investor gatherings in the Southeast and it’s one of the reasons why the Atlanta tech ecosystem is so special. Invest Connect consistently gives high potential founders access to the network of investors and key ecosystem partners needed to scale. As co-chair, what I appreciate most is watching early-stage founders build relationships with the people and resources needed to genuinely move the needle for Atlanta’s innovation ecosystem.”
The program concludes with a dedicated networking session, giving founders, investors, and corporate leaders time to continue conversations and explore potential partnerships. By bringing these groups together in one setting, TAG Invest Connect helps early-stage companies build the relationships needed to grow and scale.
TAG Invest Connect is part of TAG-Ed’s ongoing efforts to expand Georgia’s technology ecosystem by supporting entrepreneurship, innovation, and workforce development across the state.
For registration or sponsorship information, visit www.tagedonline.org/tag-invest-connect.
For media inquiries, contact Eve S. Aguilar at evelyna@tagonline.org