Atlanta’s tech momentum has been steadily rising in recent years, with Atlanta being named the number 1 Tech Hub Spot by Business Facilities magazine for two consecutive years in 2020 and 2021.
The success of Georgia’s capital city is no coincidence.
Atlanta has been building a strong foundation for its success in tech for some time now, from their approach to corporate innovation to their diverse talent pool.
As we move through 2023, what are the factors influencing the tech outlook in Atlanta, and what can we expect from the region moving forwards?
Diversity in tech is hardly a new discussion, yet it is still a key area on the agenda for many businesses in an industry that is still lacking when it comes to ED&I.
Compared to other similarly-sized metros, Metro Atlanta has 52% more minority technology workers and 27% more female technology workers.
Additionally, Georgia Tech is the leading producer of female engineers in the country, being consistently above the national average for female enrolment in engineering, and ranked second for most engineering bachelor’s degrees awarded to African-American students.
Even with these impressive statistics, there are initiatives to encourage STEM education in underserved and underrepresented populations such as Georgia Tech’s Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing (CEISMC), applying the expertise and scholarly contributions of the Georgia Tech community.
It’s not just the academic environment that fosters greater diversity in Atlanta, either.
Atlanta’s population is already one of the most diverse in the country, and it is an international hub for multiple tech ecosystems that foster growth at every level, from startups to Fortune 500 companies.
As more initiatives are implemented and the diversity of the companies increases in Atlanta, the diversity of Atlanta’s tech talent pool will increase also.
With such a diverse, highly skilled tech workforce, it’s unsurprising why the region is experiencing steady growth.
One major factor in this growth is the influx of major tech companies opening offices in Atlanta, such as Apple, Microsoft, and Visa.
These major companies are capitalising on the skilled, diverse talent available in Atlanta, alongside the ability to connect with a variety of startups in the area.
For many businesses, Atlanta is the perfect location due to the potential to increase the diversity of their workforce.
As mentioned above, Georgia Tech is a significant contributor to Atlanta’s diverse, skilled talent pool, and it also produces the most technology graduates per year in the US, with Atlanta being listed as the eighth-best city for sourcing tech talent in 2021.
In the past five years alone, Atlanta has seen a 15% growth in tech jobs, compared to 16% for the San Francisco Bay Area and 10% for Austin, Texas. It’s clear that Atlanta is growing significantly enough to be, in many respects, close to a level playing field with the most notable tech cities.
Startups aren’t hard-pressed to find support in Atlanta, with various tech incubators, accelerators, and innovation centres in the area made specifically for them.
The Atlanta Tech Village is an example of this, assisting entrepreneurs with support on a one-to-one basis and through access to Georgia Tech resources.
Many startups have had significant success in Atlanta, with more than a dozen companies started or based in Atlanta growing to valuations over the past decade above $1bn (the threshold for unicorn status).
It’s the perfect environment because there is a great talent pool, an excellent startup environment, and considerable investor interest in tech startups in the region.
All in all, not only are startups in Atlanta bound to find a strong sense of support and community, but they’re also likely to experience growth alongside the wider tech industry in the region.
Within Atlanta, there are multiple areas that function as tech hotspots and key contributors to Atlanta’s success as a tech hub.
The most prominent of these hubs is Midtown Atlanta, home to Technology Square and one of the most valuable districts in the local tech community.
With more than 150 startups and 15 corporate innovation centres alone, it’s not difficult to see why Midtown Atlanta is such a key tech hub!
Buckhead is also another area that energises the tech industry in Atlanta, being recognised as the fourth largest tech space in the nation, owing to its renowned tech incubator complex.
It’s not just city-based areas, either – Peachtree Corners, a suburban area, is one of the first to be acknowledged for its vast tech opportunities, being home to Atlanta Tech Park which features space for more than 100 companies.
There’s no shortage of options for businesses when it comes to locations that suit their needs, each experiencing its own growth trajectory as they expand and adapt.
Atlanta’s success hasn’t been overnight or fleeting.
Year-on-year, Atlanta has built on its success as a tech hub by continuing to perform strongly and attract businesses of all sizes and varieties to the region, which promotes further growth.
As many employees also reevaluate their priorities for tech roles, it is likely that the region may begin to overtake the more traditional tech hubs over time.
One thing remains certain, though – if you’re a tech company looking for the best region or talent to scale up your business, Atlanta may be the best option for you.
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