Avant South 2024 Highlights Technology and Innovation

Top innovators from across Georgia gathered at Georgia Tech for Avant South, hosted by the Atlanta Collegiate Entrepreneurship Syndicate (ACES) and the City of Atlanta, to explore the future of technology, entrepreneurship, and creativity.  

The two-day experience included networking opportunities, and a pitch competition followed by panel discussions and keynote speeches, highlighting Georgia’s role in the creative, sports, and technology industries. Donald Beamer, the City of Atlanta’s senior tech advisor, said, “We hear about how Atlanta influences everything, and it’s true, because the biggest export is the culture.”  

The city is “rapidly becoming the nation’s top destination for tech innovators,” he added. 

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera attended, emphasizing the Institute’s close ties with the city in driving tech innovation. The event also underscored the role of ACES, which connects students and resources across Atlanta’s top universities to foster collaboration and drive entrepreneurial growth. The network played a vital role in facilitating partnerships and entrepreneurial initiatives during the event. 

XR Navigation, led by Brandon Biggs from Georgia Tech’s Sonification Lab, won first place and the people’s choice award at the inaugural Avant South pitch competition. The competition was judged by prominent tech leaders, which showcased presentations from other local institutions like Emory University, Georgia State University, Morehouse College, and Spelman College.  

“Something great is happening here in higher education, and we are lucky to have all these universities in our city represented here today,” said Cabrera. 

Maria Taylor, host of NBC Sports’ Football Night in America, addressed the crowd as the keynote speaker expressing her pride for her hometown and told attendees they “are sitting in the seats that are going to build the future.” 

The event concluded with participants showing optimism about the future of innovation in Atlanta, with Georgia Tech positioned as a driving force in fostering collaboration and entrepreneurship across the region.