Atlanta Startup Podcast

In this candid LP roundtable, Lisa Calhoun, Founder of Valor Ventures, is joined by sophisticated investors Tom Weithman, CIO of Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation, and Beth Kytle Chandler, Managing Director at Cresset, to unpack how venture capital is evolving across the South in 2026. From the return of exits and capital recycling to disciplined AI investing and the power of patient, regionally anchored capital, this conversation offers rare LP-level clarity on what matters heading into 2026—and why the South is increasingly where venture fundamentals resonate.

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🎙️ 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!

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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 Atlanta
• How storytelling, and the perception of truth, is changing
• Research that reveals new deceptive tendencies in the most advanced AI
• Leadership lessons as CEOs, including knowing when “be a killer”
• Achieving more by doing less

Jennifer 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. 

VALOR AI IN THE SOUTH REPORT

WABE PINTS AND POLITICS TRIVIA NIGHT

EMAIL TO REACH WABE LEADERSHIP TEAM: [email protected]

HOW TO PROTECT ATLANTA PUBLIC MEDIA

POST ON AI MODEL DECEPTIONS

EFFORTLESS, the book

#AtlantaStartups #Leadership #PublicMedia #WABENews #CivicInnovation

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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. 

• Get your copy of the AI IN THE SOUTH Q1 2025 report.
• Get a detailed, AI review of your deck, focusing on what it takes to be perfectly investor-ready.
• Check out Notebook LLM, which we used to generate this podcast.

#AIintheSouth #AIEcosystem #SouthernStartups #AITrends2025 #TechInnovation #FutureOfAI  

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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