{"677089":{"#nid":"677089","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Atlanta\u0027s Surge in Clean Tech: A Model for National Leadership","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAtlanta\u0027s Surge in Clean Tech: A Model for National Leadership\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen the City of Atlanta adopted the Clean Energy Atlanta resolution in 2019, setting an ambitious goal to achieve 100% clean energy by 2035, few could have predicted the rapid progress the city would make toward becoming a national leader in clean tech innovation. By 2023, the Atlanta clean energy community had coalesced into a powerhouse of innovation, driving the city closer to its clean energy goals.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn January 2024, the launch of the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/energy\/atlcleantechconnect\u0022\u003EAtlanta CleanTech Connect\u003C\/a\u003E social marked a pivotal moment in this journey. Co-sponsored by the Metro Atlanta Chamber (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.metroatlantachamber.com\/\u0022\u003EMAC\u003C\/a\u003E) and Georgia Tech\u2019s Strategic Energy Institute (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.research.gatech.edu\/energy\u0022\u003ESEI\u003C\/a\u003E), this event has quickly become a must-attend gathering for Atlanta\u2019s clean energy leaders. Drawing participants from the startup and VC ecosystem, industry, government, academia, and the nonprofit sector, the social serves as a hub for those eager to learn about and contribute to Atlanta\u2019s clean energy future.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPast socials have been well-received, selling out weeks in advance. Attendees have requested a monthly rather than quarterly social. The event format encourages in-depth discussion about clean energy topics and cleantech startup avenues and fosters valuable networking opportunities among professionals united by a common goal: achieving a 100% clean energy future enabled by starting and rapidly growing successful cleantech companies in Atlanta.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAtlanta CleanTech Connect is a direct result of SEI\u2019s strategic priority to facilitate conversations that result in trusted relationships between innovators, proven entrepreneurs, potential customers, and cleantech investors, all of whom are critical to speed Atlanta startups\u2019 time-to-market. The ultimate goal is for Atlanta to be recognized globally as a top cleantech startup hub, which we can only achieve by rapidly building and scaling more exceptional cleantech companies here at home,\u201d\u0026nbsp;said\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/richard-gruber\u0022\u003ERichard Gruber\u003C\/a\u003E, SEI\u2019s senior fellow. Along with\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/cynthiagcurry\u0022\u003ECynthia Curry\u003C\/a\u003E, senior director of Cleantech Ecosystem Expansion with the Metro Atlanta Chamber, Gruber plays an integral role in creating the social \u2014 from choosing the topics to assembling the moderators and panels that have made the event a great success.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe topics covered at these socials have been both timely and important. Discussions have ranged from \u0022Financing Cleantech Hardtech Startups\u0022 and \u0022Decarbonization of the Built Environment\u0022 to \u201cInnovations in Sustainable Aviation,\u201d offering insights that are crucial for the advancement of clean technologies. These events, held quarterly, will continue into 2025, and the next gathering is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 16.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAtlanta is rapidly evolving into a national leader in electric vehicles, next-generation batteries, sustainable fuels, and advanced solar technologies. Since 2018, companies have invested over $11.5 billion in these sectors across Georgia, with the greater Atlanta region at the epicenter of this activity. By facilitating opportunities for the region\u2019s cleantech experts to connect, network, and share knowledge, the Atlanta CleanTech Connect socials are helping to forge the relationships that will support the continued growth of Atlanta\u2019s cleantech startups.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMiguel Granier, managing director of the new Cox Cleantech Accelerator, explained the importance of these gatherings. \u201cBefore the ATL CleanTech Connect events, there wasn\u2019t a regular platform where I could connect with other leaders and supporters of cleantech innovation in Atlanta. Cleantech spans multiple industries, so many of us don\u2019t cross paths regularly. We need events like these to bring us together, building relationships that strengthen the entire ecosystem.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAtlanta CleanTech Connect stands out among the city\u2019s clean technology initiatives for its emphasis on relationship-building as a tool for supporting and expanding the cleantech ecosystem. Other major initiatives, such as the Georgia Cleantech Innovation Hub and the Cox Cleantech Accelerator, have focused on helping individual businesses overcome barriers to success. Together, these complementary approaches have cultivated a robust clean energy ecosystem in Atlanta, making it an attractive destination for clean energy startups and capital investment firms.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EWritten by: Sharon Murphy, Research Associate at the Strategic Energy Institute\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn January 2024, the launch of the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/energy\/atlcleantechconnect\u0022\u003EAtlanta CleanTech Connect\u003C\/a\u003E social marked a pivotal moment in the city\u0027s journey towards achieving its clean energy goals. Co-sponsored by the Metro Atlanta Chamber (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.metroatlantachamber.com\/\u0022\u003EMAC\u003C\/a\u003E) and Georgia Tech\u2019s Strategic Energy Institute (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.research.gatech.edu\/energy\u0022\u003ESEI\u003C\/a\u003E), this event has quickly become a must-attend gathering for Atlanta\u2019s clean energy leaders.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"In January 2024, the launch of the\u00a0Atlanta CleanTech Connect social marked a pivotal moment in the city\u0027s journey towards achieving its clean energy goals."}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2024-09-24 22:21:03","changed_gmt":"2024-09-24 22:30:13","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-09-24T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-09-24T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675089":{"id":"675089","type":"image","title":"IMG_7001-cropped-jan2024.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe inaugural ATL CleanTech Connect held at the CODA building; Panelists include \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/tim-lieuwen-0819aa16\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETim Lieuwen\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Executive Director, Strategic Energy Institute, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/billnussey\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBill Nussey\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Partner, Engage and Tech Square Ventures, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/anthonyoni\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAnthony Oni\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Managing Partner, EIP Elevate Future Fund, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/andreapinabell\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAndrea Pinabell\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Vice President, RE Tech Advisors\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1727216695","gmt_created":"2024-09-24 22:24:55","changed":"1727216695","gmt_changed":"2024-09-24 22:24:55","alt":"ATL CleanTech Connect Social Jan 2024","file":{"fid":"258682","name":"IMG_7001-cropped-jan2024.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/24\/IMG_7001-cropped-jan2024.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/24\/IMG_7001-cropped-jan2024.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":488766,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/09\/24\/IMG_7001-cropped-jan2024.jpg?itok=4R_cmwbi"}},"675087":{"id":"675087","type":"image","title":"IMG_9766-July2024.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EATL CleanTech Connect Social at the Clubhouse in the heart of Tech Square in Atlanta - July 17, 2024\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1727216479","gmt_created":"2024-09-24 22:21:19","changed":"1727216479","gmt_changed":"2024-09-24 22:21:19","alt":"ATL CleanTech Connect Social July 2024","file":{"fid":"258680","name":"IMG_9766-July2024.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/24\/IMG_9766-July2024.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/24\/IMG_9766-July2024.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":601743,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/09\/24\/IMG_9766-July2024.jpg?itok=rb7KxPsC"}},"675090":{"id":"675090","type":"image","title":"20240417_162942-cropped-april2024.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe April ATL CleanTech Connect brought in speakers to discuss the topic \u0022Financing Cleantech Hardtech Startups.\u0022 Speakers include \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/willthorburn\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWill Thorburn\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, AVP, Cleantech Strategy and Investments, Cox Enterprises, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/henkboth\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHenk Both\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Investment Director, Anzu Partners, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/cariedavis\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECarie Davis\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Partnerships Principal, Third Derivative, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/nickfragnito\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENick Fragnito\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Partner, Shorewind Capital\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1727216781","gmt_created":"2024-09-24 22:26:21","changed":"1727216781","gmt_changed":"2024-09-24 22:26:21","alt":"Second ATL CleanTech Connect held in April 2024","file":{"fid":"258683","name":"20240417_162942-cropped-april2024.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/24\/20240417_162942-cropped-april2024_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/24\/20240417_162942-cropped-april2024_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":354797,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/09\/24\/20240417_162942-cropped-april2024_0.jpg?itok=JZ7stWtS"}}},"media_ids":["675089","675087","675090"],"groups":[{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EPriya Devarajan\u003C\/a\u003E || SEI Communications Program Manager\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}