The Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) is a not-for-profit organization based in Atlanta, Georgia, established in 1990. Its mission is to enhance research and commercialization capabilities within Georgia's universities, thereby fostering the development of new companies and high-value jobs. GRA focuses on investing in seed, early, and late-stage startups that are driven by research and are based in Georgia. The organization primarily targets sectors such as information technology, healthcare, and life sciences, aiming to transform lives through innovation and entrepreneurship.

Tech Square Ventures, established in 2014, is a venture capital firm based in Atlanta, Georgia. It specializes in seed-stage and early-stage investments, focusing on technology companies with a particular interest in enterprise (B2B), marketplace technology, and technology-enabled service sectors. The firm invests in companies across the United States, with a typical investment size ranging from $0.25 million to $0.5 million. Tech Square Ventures also considers co-investments and university research spinoffs with defensible intellectual property.

Truist is a banking organization formed through the merger of BB&T and SunTrust, with a history spanning over 275 years. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Truist serves approximately 12 million households and stands as the sixth-largest commercial bank in the United States. The company offers a diverse range of services, including retail and commercial banking, asset management, insurance, mortgage lending, and wealth management. Truist also provides specialized services for small businesses and corporate clients, encompassing areas such as asset-based lending, treasury services, and supply chain financing. With a commitment to innovation and community development, Truist aims to enhance financial experiences for individuals and businesses alike.

Cox Media Group, based in Atlanta, Georgia, is a diversified media company with a focus on integrated broadcasting, publishing, direct marketing, and digital media. It operates television stations, radio stations, daily newspapers, and non-daily publications, employing over 7,000 people. The company delivers news and information to its audiences and provides integrated marketing strategies, cross-platform advertising solutions, and targeted advertising to local and national businesses.

Overline is a venture capital investment firm based in Atlanta, Georgia, established in 2020. Specializing in seed-stage investments, it focuses on supporting exceptional founders and fostering an inclusive community that serves as a launchpad for emerging local entrepreneurs. Overline aims to lead seed rounds and set terms, representing the entirety of financing rounds. The firm primarily invests in companies located in Atlanta and the broader Southeast region of the United States.

Mosley Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Atlanta, Georgia, founded in 2012. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage technology startups primarily located in Atlanta and the Southeast. It focuses on sectors such as security software, mobility and wireless, big data, and healthcare information technology. Sig Mosley, the Managing Partner, has a notable track record as a prolific investor in the Southeast, having participated in 120 startups since 1990, achieving 82 liquidity events. This experience positions Mosley Ventures as a key player in the regional venture capital landscape, fostering innovation and growth in emerging technology companies.

Valor Ventures, established in 2015 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage, female-led companies, primarily in the Southeast and East Coast regions of the United States. The firm focuses on consumer tech, software, fintech, and health tech sectors, with a typical investment size of $1-2 million. Valor Ventures also actively supports underrepresented founders and promotes financial inclusion through technology.

The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta is an independent non-profit organization based in Atlanta, Georgia, established in 1951 by the city's four largest banks. Its mission is to strengthen the region by connecting donors with the nonprofits that align with their passions and addressing pressing community issues. The foundation provides quality services to its donors while also demonstrating innovative leadership in philanthropy. It has developed expertise in enhancing the capabilities of local nonprofits and identifying opportunities for positive change throughout the metro Atlanta area. Recognized as one of the top 20 community foundations in the United States by asset size, it is accredited by the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations and holds a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, reflecting its commitment to financial health, accountability, and transparency.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is a leading biomedical research facility in the United States, operating under the Department of Health and Human Services. Established in 1887 and based in Bethesda, Maryland, NIH is the primary agency responsible for biomedical and health-related research in the country. It comprises 27 separate institutes and centers, each focusing on different disciplines within biomedical science. NIH conducts its own scientific research through the Intramural Research Program and provides significant funding for research at external institutions via the Extramural Research Program. With a workforce that includes 1,200 principal investigators and over 4,000 postdoctoral fellows, NIH has been instrumental in major medical breakthroughs, such as the development of vaccines for hepatitis and human papillomavirus, as well as the discovery of treatments for various health conditions. As the world's largest source of medical research funding, NIH continues to advance scientific knowledge and contribute to public health improvements.

Norwest Mezzanine Partners, established in 2000, is a Minneapolis-based investment firm that provides junior capital solutions to middle market companies backed by private equity firms. It focuses on driving value and successful outcomes for all stakeholders by investing across various industries, including business services, consumer, healthcare, and industrials. The firm operates from offices in Minneapolis and West Palm Beach, and it has an affiliation with Norwest Equity Partners, a middle market equity investment firm with a history dating back to 1961.

Johnson Venture Partners, LLC is a venture capital firm located in Atlanta, Georgia, that specializes in early-stage investments in startups across various sectors, including healthcare, artificial intelligence, financial technology, and consumer products. Established in 2006, the firm focuses on providing growth capital to companies primarily in the Southeastern United States. Johnson Venture Partners typically invests between $50,000 and $500,000 in businesses with valuations under $5 million. The firm aims to support entrepreneurs by offering not only financial backing but also valuable connections and expertise to help drive the growth of their portfolio companies.

TechSquare Labs is an incubator and seed fund located in Atlanta, Georgia, providing 15,000 square feet of coworking and corporate innovation space. Founded in 2014 by Dr. Paul Judge and Allen Nance, it focuses on fostering the growth of startups and established companies in various sectors, including B2B, information technology, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and marketing technology. TechSquare Labs leverages its extensive network, which includes a diverse range of professionals from novice coders to experienced CEOs, to support entrepreneurs in their journey from conception to successful business operation. The firm is strategically situated in Technology Square, an area rich in educational institutions and corporate innovation, benefiting from the talent pool generated by nearby Georgia Tech. This vibrant ecosystem, complemented by Atlanta's status as a hub for Fortune 1000 companies and the creative industries, positions TechSquare Labs as a pivotal player in the region's technological advancement.

CREATE-X is an initiative established in 2015 at Georgia Tech, located in Atlanta, Georgia, aimed at fostering entrepreneurial confidence among students. It provides a structured environment for students to launch real startups by offering training, mentorship, and access to funding. The initiative focuses on equipping Georgia Tech graduates with the necessary knowledge, skills, and experiences to confidently pursue entrepreneurial opportunities and create their own futures. By supporting tech startups founded by these graduates, CREATE-X plays a vital role in the development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem at Georgia Tech.

Dragon Army is a mobile game studio located in Atlanta, Georgia, focused on creating engaging digital experiences for various platforms, including mobile, augmented reality, and virtual reality. The team, composed of developers, designers, and marketers, aims to deliver high-quality gaming experiences while also offering mobile applications tailored for enterprises across sectors such as games, entertainment, and marketing. Dragon Army employs a unique engagement strategy grounded in applied game theory and behavioral psychology, helping organizations develop effective business strategies to foster growth and enhance brand engagement.

Invest Atlanta is the official economic development authority for the City of Atlanta, established in 1997. It encompasses the Urban Residential Finance Authority, Downtown Development Authority, and the Atlanta Economic Renaissance Corporation, with subsidiaries including Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. The agency is dedicated to enhancing Atlanta's economy and global competitiveness, aiming to create greater opportunities and prosperity for its residents. Governed by a nine-member board of directors, chaired by the Mayor of Atlanta, Invest Atlanta focuses on strategic initiatives that foster economic growth and development within the city.

TTV Capital, established in 2000, is a venture capital firm based in Atlanta, Georgia. It operates as an investment arm of Synovus Financial Corp., specializing in early to late-stage investments in the Fintech sector. The firm focuses on financial technology companies and information technology-driven businesses serving the financial services industry, with a particular interest in banking, payments, capital markets, data analytics, and financial services software. TTV Capital typically invests between $0.5 million and $3 million in private companies with annual revenues between $1 million and $10 million, taking an equity stake. Its portfolio comprises over 100 market leaders and emerging pioneers across various Fintech categories.

Ellis Capital is an early-stage venture capital and opportunistic investment firm located in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded in 2011, the firm focuses on investing in various sectors, including media, telecommunications, internet technology, healthcare, social media, financial services, and real estate. With a commitment to supporting innovative startups, Ellis Capital seeks to identify and capitalize on emerging opportunities in these dynamic industries.

Knoll Ventures, established in 2011 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is an early-stage venture capital firm. It invests in pre-Series A, B2B technology-enabled companies, with a focus on software.

Delta Community is one of the largest financial institutions in Georgia, serving over 400,000 members. We offer a variety of traditional banking products such as deposit accounts, credit cards, home mortgages and consumer loans, as well as financial planning services, insurance and more. As a not-for-profit organization, we give back our earnings to members and the communities that we serve.

DataBank Holdings, Ltd. is a data center and co-location company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, with additional facilities in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Eagan, Kansas City, and Atlanta. Founded in 2004, DataBank provides a comprehensive array of services, including co-location solutions that ensure security, power configurations, and cooling. The company also offers managed services such as cloud computing, virtual hosting, network connectivity, and security, along with consulting services that encompass design and implementation, migration, and continuity planning. DataBank emphasizes compliance with various industry standards, including those for payment card security and health data protection. Catering to a diverse clientele across sectors like healthcare, finance, gaming, and hospitality, DataBank is committed to optimizing IT environments and ensuring data availability for enterprises.

Synergy Capital Investments is a private equity firm based in Atlanta, Georgia, founded in 2015. The company focuses on the acquisition, joint venture, venture capital, and management of small to mid-market operating businesses. By leveraging its expertise, Synergy Capital Investments aims to identify and develop promising business opportunities, fostering growth and enhancing value within its portfolio of investments.

CallRail, Inc. is a business-to-business software company that specializes in phone call tracking, recording, and analytics services aimed at helping data-driven businesses enhance their marketing efforts. Founded in 2011 and based in Atlanta, Georgia, CallRail provides a platform that allows users to measure phone call conversions from various marketing campaigns, including digital and offline channels. The software automatically assigns tracking phone numbers to the appropriate audience, captures the visitor journey before and after calls, and enables users to manage multiple companies and locations from a single account. Additionally, CallRail's tools help marketers optimize the performance of their advertising campaigns, improve sales effectiveness, and enhance customer retention by providing comprehensive insights into inbound leads generated through calls, forms, and chats.

100 Black Angels + Allies Fund is a venture capital firm established in 2019 and based in Atlanta, Georgia. The firm is dedicated to supporting technology founders and fund managers who are committed to advancing racial equity and fostering multi-generational wealth, particularly within Black communities. By focusing on edge technology and the evolving landscape of the fourth industrial revolution, the firm aims to create shared prosperity through its investments. 100 Black Angels + Allies Fund operates with a clear mission to empower entrepreneurs and contribute to a more equitable future in the technology sector.

Sovereign's E&S is a buyout fund managed by Sovereign's Capital, a private equity firm established in 2012 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The firm focuses on growth-stage investments across a diverse range of sectors, including B2B technology, healthcare IT, consumer software as a service, and medical devices. Sovereign's Capital aims to capitalize on opportunities in the United States and Southeast Asia, particularly in industries that are experiencing growth due to an expanding middle class and are underrepresented in public markets. With a team possessing deep expertise in these areas, Sovereign's E&S seeks to enhance the value of its portfolio companies through strategic investments and operational improvements.

Payrix Solutions, established in 2015, is a technology company based in Atlanta, Georgia. It specializes in developing an online payment platform, offering products such as Payrix Launch, Payrix Pro, and Payrix Enterprise. The company's core business is providing vertical software companies with an all-in-one platform for embedded payments, helping them capitalize on growth opportunities, innovate, and transform. Payrix's team comprises payments and software experts, led by industry veterans from companies like PayPal and Worldpay. They deliver a white-glove approach, eliminating friction, and enabling clients to generate new revenue streams while maintaining their brand integrity. The company is privately held and backed by investors including Providence Strategic Growth and Blue Star Innovation Partners.

The Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) is a seed-stage acceleration program founded in 2012 at the Rotman School of Management in Toronto, Canada. It is dedicated to supporting massively scalable, science- and technology-based ventures by providing a unique coaching process focused on specific objectives. CDL connects startups with experienced entrepreneurs and leading scientists across various sectors, including artificial intelligence, healthcare, quantum computing, blockchain, energy, and cleantech. The program has expanded its reach, operating in six cities: Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, and New York City, and emphasizes the commercialization of scientific and technological advancements.

Lincolnshire Management, Inc., established in 1986, is a New York-based private equity firm with additional offices in Chicago and Los Angeles. It specializes in acquiring and investing in middle market companies, with a focus on basic niche manufacturing, distribution, and service sectors. The firm targets companies with sales between $25 million and $500 million, enterprise values between $50 million and $750 million, and operating cash flow between $5 million and $50 million. Lincolnshire Management invests between $5 million and $100 million, typically holding investments for three to five years, and may take a majority or minority stake. It also provides operational expertise and implements new strategies to grow and enhance profitability of its portfolio companies, which have included Desch Plantpak, Dalbo Holdings, and True Temper Sports. The firm has a commitment to responsible investing, as outlined in its formal ESG policy.

Seyen Capital is a venture capital firm established in 2007 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The firm focuses on growth-stage investments, specifically targeting information technology, software, and telehealth companies. Seyen Capital typically invests between $5 million and $15 million in its portfolio companies, preferring to be the first or lead institutional investor. The firm is dedicated to partnering with management teams and co-investors, often acquiring a seat on the Board of Directors of the companies in which it invests. Seyen Capital concentrates its investment activities in several metropolitan areas, including Chicago, Nashville, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Dallas, Austin, Denver, Tampa, Philadelphia, and New York.

25Madison, LLC, established in 2018, is a venture capital firm headquartered in New York, with additional offices in Miami, Atlanta, and Tel Aviv. It specializes in incubating and investing in early-stage startups, focusing on pre-seed to Series A rounds. The firm operates through four segments: a general studio building companies across various verticals, 25M Health partnering with LifePoint Health to build and invest in healthtech startups, a Ventures Fund investing in B2B SaaS, fintech, and healthtech sectors, and 25M Create, a brand and experience agency offering services such as brand strategy and digital marketing.

The Metro Atlanta Chamber is a non-profit organization established in 1858 and based in Atlanta, Georgia. It aims to foster a prosperous and vibrant metro Atlanta by focusing on economic development efforts that attract new companies and support the growth of existing innovative businesses in the region. The Chamber serves as a hub for collaboration among thought leaders across various sectors, including supply chain, bioscience, technology, and entrepreneurship. Additionally, it supports startups through initiatives such as the Atlanta Metro Export Challenge, which provides grant funding to enhance business prospects and global competitiveness.

11-11 Ventures, established in 2016, is a venture capital firm headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia. The company focuses on investing in early-stage technology startups, with a particular emphasis on blockchain-based businesses. It is one of the most active VC firms in the Southeast region, operating from the Alpharetta Technology's Innovation Center.

Stanley Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of Stanley Black & Decker, established in 2016 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The firm focuses on investing in innovative startups across various sectors, including software-as-a-service, electrification, autonomy, construction technology, and advanced materials. In addition to financial investment, Stanley Ventures provides valuable industry expertise, supplier relationships, and access to a broad customer base, aiming to support the growth and development of its portfolio companies.

For over 40 years, Inmark has been a trusted source for rigid container, temperature-controlled, specimen transport and dangerous goods packaging. Headquartered in Atlanta, with locations in Europe, Asia and North America, Inmark has become a respected leader in developing packaging solutions for businesses globally.

NXT Capital is a structured financing provider focused on the U.S. middle market, founded in 2010 and headquartered in Chicago. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of ORIX Corporation USA, NXT Capital specializes in offering a range of financing solutions through its Corporate Finance and Real Estate Finance divisions. The company has successfully originated over $18 billion across more than 600 transactions, leveraging its extensive experience in the lower-middle market. With approximately $11.4 billion in committed capital, NXT Capital serves a diverse investor base, including public and private pension plans, insurance companies, endowments, and foundations, by providing access to primarily first lien senior secured loans. The firm’s senior management team has a long-standing history in middle-market direct lending, having worked together for over 25 years and navigating multiple credit cycles. NXT Capital maintains a strong presence with offices in several major U.S. cities, including Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York, and Phoenix.

First Data Corporation, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is a global leader in electronic commerce and payment processing. It facilitates secure, fast, and easy transactions for merchants, financial institutions, and their customers worldwide. The company's extensive product portfolio includes merchant transaction processing, card issuing and processing, fraud protection, electronic check acceptance, and internet commerce and mobile payment solutions. With over 6 million merchant locations and 4,000 financial institutions served across 34 countries, First Data's STAR Network enables consumers to use their debit cards for cash withdrawals and purchases at over 2 million retail and ATM locations in the U.S. The company was founded in 1971, went public in 1992, and was acquired by KKR in 2007. In 2019, Fiserv acquired First Data in a $22 billion stock deal.

Monarch Capital Partners was a private equity firm based in Atlanta, Georgia, founded in 1996. The firm specialized in investing in growth-stage companies across various sectors, including retail, food and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), media, technology, business products, business services, information technology, e-commerce, and software as a service (SaaS). Monarch Capital Partners primarily focused on buyouts to facilitate its investments. However, the firm is no longer operational.

Children's National Hospital is a leading pediatric healthcare provider located in the Washington, DC area. It is the only freestanding children's hospital between Philadelphia and Atlanta, offering a comprehensive range of specialized services to children and their families. Renowned for its exceptional care, Children's National Hospital boasts the only pediatric colorectal and pelvic reconstructive program in the nation. The hospital is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of children, providing advanced medical treatments and innovative research in a compassionate environment. Its commitment to community service reinforces its role as a vital resource for pediatric healthcare in the region.

Mailchimp is an email marketing and automation platform designed for small businesses, brands, and entrepreneurs. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Atlanta, Mailchimp provides over 12 million customers with a comprehensive suite of marketing tools that includes digital marketing services, audience management, creative tools, and analytics. The platform enables users to launch and grow their businesses by facilitating multichannel marketing campaigns across email, social media, landing pages, ads, and websites, all managed from a single interface. Mailchimp's focus on empowering clients to connect with their target audience and boost sales has earned the trust of notable brands such as TEDTalks and Nikon India. With a workforce of more than 1,200 employees and additional offices in cities like Brooklyn, Oakland, and London, Mailchimp was acquired by Intuit in November 2021, further enhancing its capabilities in marketing technology and customer support.

Cardlytics, Inc. operates an advertising platform that integrates with the digital channels of financial institutions, including online and mobile banking, email, and real-time notifications, primarily in the United States and the United Kingdom. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the company partners with over 1,500 financial institutions, such as Bank of America and PNC, to enhance customer loyalty through banking rewards programs. Utilizing purchase-based intelligence, Cardlytics enables marketers to effectively identify, reach, and influence potential buyers while accurately measuring the impact of their marketing campaigns. The company's primary offering, the Cardlytics Direct solution, serves as a native advertising channel within banking platforms, allowing marketers to connect with consumers in a trusted environment. Additionally, Cardlytics provides other platform solutions that leverage purchase insights outside the banking context, further enhancing marketers' capabilities to engage with their target audience.

Proprium Capital Partners, L.P. is a private equity firm based in Stamford, Connecticut, founded in 2012. The firm specializes in growth capital and provides investment advisory services focused on opportunistic investments in real estate and real estate operating companies. With a global investment strategy, Proprium targets opportunities in Europe, North America, Asia, Asia-Pacific, and engages in both majority and minority investments. The firm has a particular interest in hospitality, office, and multi-family real estate assets and maintains additional offices in key international locations including Amsterdam, Atlanta, London, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney, and Mumbai.

Arcapita, established in 1997, is a Bahrain-based private equity firm with offices in Atlanta, London, and Singapore. It specializes in growth capital and buyout investments, focusing on infrastructure sectors such as energy, food & beverage, transportation & logistics, and industrial. Arcapita invests in North America, Europe, and select markets in Asia and the Middle East, with a typical equity investment size ranging from $50 million to $300 million. The firm provides capital for acquisitions, joint ventures, and growth opportunities, aiming to exit investments through trade sales, IPOs, or sales to financial buyers within three to seven years. Arcapita's investors include prominent individuals and institutions from the Arabian Gulf region, with its management holding the remaining stake.

Panoramic Ventures, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology companies.

Alumni Capital Network (ACN) is a private equity firm based in New York that focuses on providing capital and expertise to middle market companies. Founded by former Accenture partners, ACN aims to enhance the strategies, operations, and financial performance of its portfolio companies through its extensive network of experienced professionals. The firm seeks majority ownership in various sectors, including business services, consumer products, financial services, industrial, healthcare, high technology, outsourcing, retail, and transportation. ACN's management team, which includes seasoned business owners and private equity leaders, utilizes its operational focus and industry insights to support management teams in driving growth and improving profitability. With a commitment to building long-term relationships, ACN rapidly evaluates investment opportunities and executes transactions decisively, leveraging strong financial resources and partnerships to create sustainable value for its portfolio companies. The firm has a presence across the United States, with Managing Directors located in multiple major cities.

North Highland is a global management consulting firm based in Atlanta, Georgia, specializing in addressing complex challenges across various sectors, including energy, finance, healthcare, hospitality, life sciences, and retail. The firm provides a comprehensive range of services, such as business intelligence, analytics, project and program leadership, and organizational design. With a focus on enhancing customer experience and performance improvement, North Highland supports clients throughout the consulting process, from strategy development to execution. As an employee-owned company, it boasts a workforce of over 3,000 consultants and maintains more than 60 offices worldwide, enabling it to effectively deliver innovative solutions and drive transformational change for its clients.

Evolution Capital Partners, LLC, established in 2005, is a private equity firm headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, with additional offices in Chicago, Atlanta, and Houston. The company specializes in providing growth equity and acquisition capital to small, established businesses in the United States and Canada, with a focus on the Youngstown, Cleveland, Canton, and Akron areas. Evolution targets companies with revenues between $5 million and $50 million, free cash flow between $0.5 million and $2 million, and EBITDA between $0.5 million and $10 million. It typically invests between $3 million and $10 million in equity and prefers debt investments between $1 million and $4 million, seeking majority stakes in companies with a plan to reach $5 million in free cash flow within three to seven years. The firm focuses on business services, distribution, financial services, healthcare services, information services, niche manufacturing, and technology-enabled, scalable businesses. Evolution aims to be the initial institutional capital and lead investor in both control and non-control situations, assisting entrepreneurial businesses in achieving growth through its proprietary process, The Five Pillars of Business Freedom.

SaaS Ventures, established in 2017 and based in Bethesda, Maryland, is a private equity firm specializing in seed-stage technology investments. They focus on the software-as-a-service (SaaS) sector, primarily in North America, with a preference for "second tier markets" like Chicago, Toronto, and Atlanta. As enterprise software experts, they co-invest with strong leads, bringing their network of coinvestors and expertise to add value. They typically invest small checks of $750k-$3M into mostly full rounds, aiming to be a low-maintenance, high-value add partner to entrepreneurs.

Georgia-Pacific LLC is an industrial conglomerate based in Atlanta, Georgia, specializing in the manufacturing and marketing of a wide array of products, including tissue, pulp, paper, packaging, building products, and related chemicals. Founded in 1927, the company serves diverse markets such as healthcare, education, manufacturing, and foodservice, offering hygienic dispensing systems, towels, tissues, soaps, and disposable tableware. Additionally, Georgia-Pacific produces building materials like plywood, lumber, and gypsum for both commercial and residential applications. The company also manufactures fluff pulp for hygiene products and various chemicals used in industries ranging from automotive to construction. With nearly 35,000 employees globally, Georgia-Pacific operates as a subsidiary of Koch Industries and maintains a significant presence in the pulp and paper sector, continuously evolving through strategic acquisitions and expansions.

Merge Design & Interactive, Inc. is a digital advertising agency based in Chicago, Illinois, established in 2004. The agency specializes in a wide array of services including digital strategy, creative advertising, UI/UX design, content development, SEO, and website development. It also provides solutions for mobile app development, digital marketing campaigns, and community-focused website design. Additionally, Merge offers packaging design, production management, and quality control services. The firm caters to a diverse clientele, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to startups, and focuses on creating engaging customer experiences through innovative design and technology. By integrating strategy and creativity, Merge addresses clients' business challenges and enhances customer engagement across various industries, including healthcare.

Chattanooga Renaissance Fund, established in 2009 and based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is a venture capital firm focused on investing in early-stage technology companies. It primarily targets seed, startup, and growth-stage investments, with a geographical focus on Chattanooga and surrounding cities such as Knoxville, Nashville, and the northern Atlanta area. The firm seeks to support the region's entrepreneurial ecosystem by providing not only capital but also mentorship and resources to foster growth and innovation in sectors like technology, telecommunications, media, and manufacturing.

The Paragon Group is an investment company based in Atlanta, Georgia, focused on supporting underserved communities through strategic investments. The firm primarily targets minority and woman-owned businesses, aiming to empower these enterprises and foster economic growth in marginalized areas. By providing capital and resources, The Paragon Group seeks to enhance opportunities for underrepresented entrepreneurs, contributing to a more equitable business landscape.