Event Location
Schedule
8:00am
Registration Opens – Exhibition Hall Lobby
Innovation Showcase Open – Midtown Ballroom
Contintental Breakfast Available
9:00am
Program Begins
Welcome Remarks
Donnie Beamer, Senior Technology Advisor, City of Atlanta
9:05am
ACES Ecosystem Report Readout
Zachary Peskowitz, Associate Professor, Emory University
9:30am
Breakout
Session 1
Discover & Discuss: AI Transformation for Startups
Sports | Homepark Room
Erika Smith, Sr. Manager, Philanthropies, Microsoft Kevin Moore, Technical Program Manager, MicrosoftCelest Turner Hall, Founder, Shining Opus LLCRodney Ellmore, Principal Cloud Solutions Architect, MicrosoftBobby Gilbert, CEO, OnboardFi
This session will offer invaluable insights into leveraging Generative AI for the development and expansion of tech startups. Attendees will learn how to navigate and benefit from the AI revolution, with a focus on practical applications and strategies. The discussion will encompass various AI technologies that can enhance innovation and efficiency in the startup ecosystem.
Personalized Experiences With Parallel Reality™ Displays
Media & Arts | Centennial Room
Albert Ng, CEO, Misapplied Sciences
Personalization has proven key to building customer loyalty, brand engagement, and revenue opportunities. However, creating personalized experiences for each guest in a busy venue is challenging. Albert will present a bold vision for personalization in shared environments, and a revolutionary new technology that enables such a vision — Parallel Reality displays.
Fostering (and Financing) Diversity and Inclusion in Media
Entertainment | Kirkwood Room
Fonz Morris, Lead Product Designer, NetflixErik Gordon, VP, Corporate Relations, FilmHedgeJulie Ann Crommett, President, Collective Moxie
Inclusive storytelling is crucial to the future success and relevance of popular media, but how do we get there? Join us for an in-depth exploration of the obstacles and opportunities, including success stories we can learn from as we build an entertainment industry that more accurately reflects our diverse society.
Accelerating Sports Entrepreneurship in The A
Entrepreneurship | Buckhead Room
Ken Durand, Director, Boomtown Innovation Derek DeVeaux, COO, Tickets for GoodKarlos Walkes, Co-Founder and CEO, XiQ
Atlanta is a fast-growing hub for sportstech ventures, and Comcast NBCUniversal continues to invest in sportstech both in Atlanta and with companies from around the world. Hear insights from locally grown founders and international transplants about their entrepreneurial journey and what makes Atlanta an ideal place to grow a sports startup.
Atlanta is a fast-growing hub for sportstech ventures, and Comcast NBCUniversal continues to invest in sportstech both in Atlanta and with companies from around the world. Hear insights from locally grown founders and international transplants about their entrepreneurial journey and what makes Atlanta an ideal place to grow a sports startup.
9:30am
Media & Arts and Entertainment meetup — Sweet Auburn
10:15am
Break
10:30am
Breakout
Session 2
Esports and Gaming as an Engine of Development
Sports | Homepark Room
Ryan Johnson, Founder, Cxmmunity MediaAdam Boothe, Director of Esports, PrizepicksTodd Harris, CEO, Media and Ghost GamingAlbert Dankwa, Content Program Manager, Xbox
Atlanta is primed to establish itself as an epicenter of the esports and gaming industry. Learn what makes The A an ideal place to launch an esports brand, how a robust gaming community benefits the city’s innovation ecosystem, and what we can do to future-proof diversity in the space.
The Impacts of AI in the Film and Entertainment Industry
Media & Arts | Centennial Room
Brennen Dicker, Executive Director, CMII at Georgia StateElizabeth Strickler, Director, Media Entrepreneurship Programs, CMII at Georgia StateMarty Lang, Director, MFA in Film, Television, and Digital Media, University of GeorgiaMatthew Maloney, Animation Professor, Savannah College of Art and DesignPeter Hriso, Professor of Digital Animation, Kennesaw State University
A deep dive into the transformative effects of AI on the film and entertainment industry, covering emerging trends and future implications.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Creatives
Entertainment | Kirkwood Room
Julie Foster Straw, Executive Director, RE:IMAGINECraig King, CEO & Co-Founder, Rap PlugJames Caldwell, Executive Director, The Music Education GroupBrady Jones, Lead Television Replay OperatorDominique Ebron, Programming Director, ASIFA-South
Gen Zers and millenials crave meaningful work. Learn how Atlanta thought leaders are leveraging interest in media, arts, and entertainment to help young people develop their skills and build prosperous careers as creatives.
Co-Creating Atlanta's Startup Ecosystem
Entrepreneurship | Buckhead Room
Adam Berk, Startup Mentor, TechstarsBrandy Nagel, Senior Research Faculty, EI2 Global, Enterprise Innovation Institute, Georgia TechPaul Stonick, Design Strategist and Consultant
In this unique session, we will bring together voices from both sides of the startup ecosystem, bridging the gap between the demand side (startups and founders) and the supply side (accelerators, incubators, and other support organizations). We’ll have an open discussion about what’s working, what’s missing, and the evolving needs of startups. Together, we’ll explore the typical paths entrepreneurs take within the ecosystem, and what is still needed to support their growth and success.
In this unique session, we will bring together voices from both sides of the startup ecosystem, bridging the gap between the demand side (startups and founders) and the supply side (accelerators, incubators, and other support organizations). We’ll have an open discussion about what’s working, what’s missing, and the evolving needs of startups. Together, we’ll explore the typical paths entrepreneurs take within the ecosystem, and what is still needed to support their growth and success.
10:30am
Sports meetup — Sweet Auburn
11:15am
Break
Book signing by author Adam Berk, Startup Program Design — Sweet Auburn
11:30am
Breakout
Session 3
The Digitization of Sports and Entertainment
Sports | Homepark Room
Grant Wainscott, VP, Ecosystem Expansion, Metro Atlanta ChamberAbe Geiger, Chief Product Officer, U.S. SoccerTameka Rish, Sr. Vice President of Fan and Associate Engagement, AMBSEEric Iverson, Chief Technology Officer, United Talent Agency
The revolution of fandom may not be televised, but it will be streamed to your smartphone. Explore how the worlds of pro sports and entertainment are leveraging technology to create new and engaging experiences for fans — and how Atlanta is positioned to lead the charge.
The Rise of Immersive Tech in Media and Entertainment
Media & Arts | Centennial Room
Michael McNamara, Director of Technical Operations, Meptik Addy Ghani, VP of Virtual Production, Disguise
Explore how virtual production and immersive experiences are transforming storytelling across film, broadcasts, sports, and events, and how they are streamlining production, pushing creative boundaries, and unlocking new heights of audience engagement.
Georgia's Film Industry
Entertainment | Kirkwood Room
Lee Thomas, Deputy Commissioner, Georgia Film OfficeFrank Patterson, President, Trilith Studios
Hear from two local film industry experts as they discuss how film has evolved in Georgia throughout the decades, where cinema in the region stands now, and how the landscape may shift moving forward.
If You See It, You Can Be It: Building the Tech Talent Pipeline
Entrepreneurship | Buckhead Room
Erica Molett, CEO, Beyond the BallDr. Loretta Daniels, Executive Director, Technology Association of Georgia
Tech employers, whether they are small startups or large corporations, are facing a shortage of skilled employees. Learn about the programs working to fill this gap through education, apprenticeship, and upskilling, and discover how you can land your dream job in tech.
Tech employers, whether they are small startups or large corporations, are facing a shortage of skilled employees. Learn about the programs working to fill this gap through education, apprenticeship, and upskilling, and discover how you can land your dream job in tech.
11:30am
Entrepreneurship meetup — Sweet Auburn
12:15pm
Lunch and Innovation Showcase — Midtown ballroom
1:00pm
Keynote
Keynote Address
Welcome by Angel Cabrera, President, Georgia Tech
Address by Maria Taylor, Host, NBC Sports’ Football Night in America
Closing Remarks by Sivakumar Raghupathy, Vice President of Commercialization, Georgia Tech
2:00pm
Event concludes
