ATLANTA (May 15, 2015) – The Technology Association of Georgia, Venture Atlanta, and the Metro Atlanta Chamber today announced that Gimme (www.gimmevending.com; @GimmeVend), the developers of a device and software solution that enables vending machines to communicate sales, cash and inventory data to handheld devices, is the winner of the 10th annual Business Launch Competition held May 11th at SCADShow.
Gimme’s hardware and accompanying analytics and tracking software helps prevent theft, saves labor costs, and improves inventory management. The company bested three other startups in the final round of a bracket competition.
“We congratulate Gimme and all of the companies who participated in this year’s extremely strong competition,” stated TAG President and CEO Tino Mantella. “We look forward to the growth and continued success of these companies and we thank all of our sponsors and volunteers who have made the TAG Business Launch Competition possible.”
Allyson Eman, Executive Director, Venture Atlanta reflected, “The Business Launch is an important competition for Georgia’s early stage companies and our technology community. Venture Atlanta was proud to partner once again with TAG and the Metro Atlanta Chamber and is pleased to have an excellent company like Gimme on stage this October.”
As a result of the win, Gimme will now receive $50,000, a spot in Venture Atlanta, and more than $100,000 in donated services from the Atlanta business community to help them grow.
Three other TAG Business Launch finalists will split the more than $300,000 in remaining pro-bono services, including legal counsel, professional consulting, marketing, software and even real estate space. These finalists include:
- Hux- Enables consumers to instantly book local services and manages every step of the process beginning to end. @HUXatl
- Synapse Software Systems, Inc. - Helping airlines minimize the impact of those expensive business disruptions providing a solution designed to address common pain points. @GoSynapse
- TekWear - Voice capture, transcription & reporting mobile-to-cloud subscription service that allows Agriculture & Food professionals to recover 20% of their average work day. @TekWear
"The TAG Business Launch Competition showcases the tech talent that is fueling our region's innovation economy," said Jennifer Sherer, Vice President of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at the Metro Atlanta Chamber. "We are happy to be a part of this event each year as we spotlight and honor the companies contributing to Atlanta's entrepreneurial ecosystem."
Since it was founded in 2006, the TAG Business Launch Competition has become one of largest competitions of its kind in the United States, providing $550,000 in cash and over $1,900,000 in donated services to more than 200 young entrepreneurs.
Applicants are screened by an experienced panel of entrepreneurs and the most promising companies are assigned a mentor for the duration of the competition. Representatives from out-of-state venture capital companies sit on the judge’s panel and a multitude of angel and venture capital investors attend the final event.
2015 sponsors for the event include:
- UnoSquare
- SCADShow
- CEO Ventures
- Imlay Investments
- Mosely Ventures
- Noro-Mosley Partners
- Pindrop Security
For more information visit: http://www.tagonline.org/events/businesslaunch.
You can also check out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_66NwwLCBUw
About The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG)
TAG is the leading technology industry association in the state, serving more than 23,000 members through regional chapters in Metro Atlanta, Athens, Augusta, Columbus, Macon/Middle Georgia, and Savannah. TAG’s mission is to educate, promote, and unite Georgia’s technology community to foster an innovative and connected marketplace that stimulates and enhances a tech-based economy.
The association provides networking and educational programs; celebrates Georgia’s technology leaders and companies; and advocates for legislative action that enhances the state’s economic climate for technology. TAG hosts over 200 events each year and serves as an umbrella organization for 34 professional societies. Additionally, the TAG Education Collaborative (TAG’s charitable arm) focuses on helping science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education initiatives thrive.
For more information visit the TAG website at www.tagonline.org or TAG’s community website at www.TAGthink.com. To learn about the TAG-Ed Collaborative visit http://www.tagedonline.org/.
