Atlanta Startup Podcast

🎙️ Venture Atlanta 2025: Know Before You Go Get insider highlights from VCs, founders, and corporate partners so you can hit the ground running. Tune in now and be ready for the Southeast’s biggest startup conference! Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Start here, scale anywhere. Discover what founders and investors need to succeed with Anastasia (Nicole) Simon, new Managing Partner of Techstars Atlanta, and why she’s certain the South is where startups should scale now. Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

The South is heating up in AI. On this deep dive special episode of the Atlanta Startup Podcast, our AI-generated hosts break down where founders are building real enterprise traction, how local talent is leading the way, and what’s shifting in this new phase of the AI cycle. Don’t miss this numbers-driven snapshot of the South’s innovation frontier. Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Summer in Atlanta means a fresh crop of rainbow umbrellas slinging fresh pops and friendly smiles. Meet Steven Carse, co-founder and CEO of the iconic Atlanta brand King of Pops, in our July podcast. He says "today IS the good ole days." Listen in as he shares his surprising recipe for fun at work and at home every single day. If you hate work right now, if the heat is getting you down, if you wish you were someplace else sometimes, this episode is for you. Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Enjoy this radically transparent conversation with Jennifer Dorian, CEO of WABE, a “76 year old startup.” Hosted by Lisa Calhoun, managing partner at Valor Ventures, these leaders drive into topics of truth and courage today, including: How public broadcasting shapes culture, community, and innovation, particularly in AtlantaHow storytelling, and the perception of truth, is changingResearch that reveals new deceptive tendencies in the most advanced AILeadership lessons as CEOs, including knowing when “be a killer”Achieving more by doing lessJennifer brings a national media lens to Atlanta’s evolving reality—sharing insights on her own high impact leadership, local business pressures, and, most importantly–why now is a defining moment for all of us in how we seek and experience truth. #AtlantaStartups #Leadership #PublicMedia #WABENews #CivicInnovation

We tracked 123 new startups, uncovered key trends around revenues and financings, and broke it all down in an 11-page Valor Ventures report. Better news! You don’t even have to read it. Hit the highlights in this week’s special podcast, hosted by our favorite AI hosts. #AIintheSouth #AIEcosystem #SouthernStartups #AITrends2025 #TechInnovation #FutureOfAI

What if the key to unlocking true autonomy isn’t just more real-world testing—but a perfect digital twin of reality? Meet Autonoma, the company revolutionizing AI and autonomy through ultra-high-fidelity simulation. From self-driving cars to smart cities, their tech is accelerating the future—faster than real time. 🔹 Why simulation? Because 11 billion miles of real-world driving is impossible—unless you can simulate it. 🔹 Beyond cars: Airports, warehouses, even entire digital cities are using Autonoma to test, predict, and optimize autonomy. 🔹 The future is now: Imagine redesigning roads before they’re built, or stress-testing a city for the World Cup—all in a virtual sandbox. "The line between simulation and reality is vanishing." – Will Bryan, CEO of Autonoma 🚗💨 Want a glimpse of the future? Tune in to discover how AI, autonomy, and simulation are transforming everything. The revolution is simulated.

Join Lisa Calhoun and Christy Johnson, Performance Engineering Leader at BIP Capital, for an inspiring and insightful conversation on what it takes to build, scale, and thrive in innovation today. From Christy’s unique journey—from rural Costa Rica to leading high-growth companies—to defining the milestones that matter, this episode is packed with actionable advice for founders and investors alike. Whether you're a founder navigating the challenges of scaling or an investor hunting exceptional value, this conversation is a must-listen.

In this episode, Lisa Calhoun sits down with Atlanta visionary entrepreneur David Cummings to explore the transformative changes he’s instigated in the heart of Atlanta. David offers a deep dive into his mission to revitalize the city through the purchase of a sixteen acre lot of historic property–and urban blight. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about the past, present, and future of one of America’s most exciting cities. Don’t miss this chance to learn about the big ideas and investments driving Atlanta’s urban revival. You’ll learn how this affects you, and how you can get involved in one of the most ambitious and visionary urban revitalization projects in the world.

Get ready for an exciting episode of the Atlanta StartUp Podcast! Founders, ever wondered if you’ve raised too much or too little capital? Not sure how to lock in the best terms in today’s market? Or maybe you’re asking, "Is the South the next big hub for funding, or should I head to the coasts?" We’ve got you covered! This month, we’re joined by Peter Walker, Head of Insights at Carta, who brings his sharp expertise and a treasure trove of data-driven insights. Peter recently visited us in Atlanta for VC Day, where he revealed that a surprising 25% of Carta’s data comes from our Southern region! Don’t miss out on this chance to hear directly from one of the brightest minds in venture capital. Tune in now for an episode packed with valuable tips and fresh perspectives!

In this episode of the Atlanta Startup Podcast, we welcome Jillian Anderson, founder of HERide, the innovative ridesharing platform designed to provide safe, reliable, and inclusive transportation for women. HERide is reshaping the ridesharing industry by addressing the unique safety concerns faced by women while empowering women drivers. Jillian recently won the EmpowerHER award, presented by NCR Foundation, at the 28th Startup Runway showcase. Tune in to learn how HERide is making transportation safer and more empowering, and get inspired by Jillian’s vision for the future of ridesharing.

In this episode of the Atlanta Startup Podcast, we’re joined by Lauren Siff, Founder of SurgicalEd VR, the groundbreaking platform that won the first showcase in the Startup Runway Virginia program in Richmond. SurgicalEd VR is redefining how surgical training is approached, offering immersive VR simulations that make training more accessible and effective. Lauren shares her journey, her vision for improving medical education through technology, and the impact of winning the Startup Runway Virginia showcase. Tune in to learn how SurgicalEd VR is transforming the future of surgical education and training.

The Cleveland Clinic recently tapped an Atlanta entrepreneur to lead one of its cutting-edge healthcare innovation companies. In this episode, we dive into a conversation with Linda Li, Partner, at the Cleveland Clinic. Discover how they’re driving innovation, their investment strategies, and the key trends they’re tracking. Founders, this is your chance to learn how to connect with the Cleveland Clinic’s innovation team. They’re eager to meet with healthcare, AI, and patient care startups in person at HLTH in Las Vegas this October. Join Valor Managing Partner Lisa Calhoun as she chats with her Kauffman Fellows colleague, venture investor Linda Li, about the exciting and fast-evolving frontiers of healthcare.

Lisa Calhoun, Founding General Partner of Valor VC, released a new podcast titled "AI Startups in the South: Highlights Q3 2024." In this episode, she breaks down key insights from Valor's latest report, exploring trends, opportunities, and actionable strategies for early-stage startups, alongside our AI host. Tune in now to catch all the insights! And don’t forget to download the full report here: https://valor.docsend.com/view/25sic3tauqpxikcg

In this special episode for Venture Atlanta Week, we're dropping a first-of-its-kind podcast--AI talking to AI, about AI. No kidding! Content is completely vetted, but no human voice boxes were abused in this podcast's creation. Listen in to hear about how Valor uses AI to help founders get discovered. You won't be disappointed, and we can't wait to hear your thoughts on this unique episode. Would you enjoy more episodes from our synthetic hosts?

Join us on this episode of the Atlanta Startup Podcast as we sit down with Raha Saremi, founder of Ecoatex, a pioneering company in sustainable fashion and textiles. Ecoatex is dedicated to offering eco-friendly, non-toxic textiles and synthetic leather that significantly reduce environmental impact. Raha recently earned the Women’s Empowerment Award, presented by NCR Foundation, at the 26th Startup Runway Pitch Showcase. Tune in to learn how Ecoatex is changing the game in sustainable fashion and what’s next for this trailblazing company.

In this episode of the Atlanta Startup Podcast, we dive into a conversation with Georgina Dukes-Harris, the visionary founder of Swishvo. Swishvo is transforming the healthcare landscape by providing a platform that connects individuals seeking holistic medicine with skilled healers, while also supporting holistic practitioners in building their businesses. Georgina shares her journey of launching Swishvo, her insights on the growing demand for holistic health options, and reflects on her recent success as the winner of the Judge's Prize at the 26th Startup Runway Pitch Showcase. Tune in to discover how Swishvo is making holistic healthcare more accessible and empowering both patients and providers on their journey to better health.

Join us on this episode of the Atlanta Startup Podcast as we welcome the innovative Brian Glover, Founder of Previewed. Tune in to our conversation about how Previewed is transforming the job interview process through immersive videos, gamification, and AI matching. We’ll also delve into Brian’s recent success, winning the Audience Choice Award at the 26th Edition of the Startup Runway pitch showcase. Discover how Previewed is reshaping hiring and creating a better experience for both job seekers and employers.

In this engaging episode of the Atlanta Startup Podcast, Lisa Calhoun sits down with Daniel Dorfman, co-founder of Roots Investment Community, to explore their groundbreaking real estate investment model. Roots uniquely allows renters to invest and build wealth alongside traditional investors, creating a mutually beneficial system. Daniel delves into their data-driven strategies, the importance of democratizing real estate investment, and how they achieve remarkable occupancy and renewal rates. Tune in to discover how Roots is reshaping the real estate landscape by fostering a community-centric approach and delivering impressive returns for all stakeholders.

In this episode of the Atlanta Startup Podcast, Lisa Calhoun interviews Chris Keller, a Kauffman Fellow and partner at Catalyst Partners. They discussed Chris's career journey and his work in seeding new private equity firms. Chris shared some insights from his research on emerging managers, highlighting their significant outperformance compared to established funds. He explains that first-time funds often deliver higher returns with relatively low additional risk. The conversation covers the importance of firm-building skills in new fund managers and the current investor sentiment towards emerging managers. Chris emphasizes the potential for strong returns and partnership opportunities with early-stage investment firms. Don't miss this episode!