

Atlanta Startup Podcast
Atlanta Startup Podcast
Startup stories from the heart of the hustle--Atlanta.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 1, 2025 • 1h 4min
Venture Atlanta 2025: Know Before You Go: Insider Highlights for VCs, Founders, and Corporate Partners
🎙️ Venture Atlanta 2025: Know Before You GoGet 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!Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Sep 26, 2025 • 54min
Meet Techstars Atlanta New MP Anastasia Nicole Simon In Conversation With Valor VC’s Lisa Calhoun
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. Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Jul 23, 2025 • 21min
SPECIAL REPORT: Deep Dive on AI Startups in the South
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.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Jul 3, 2025 • 46min
King of Pops Co-Founder and CEO Steven Carse On the Secret To Joy At Work
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.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

May 1, 2025 • 44min
Truth On Trial: Jennifer Dorian on the Power of Public Media Now
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 AtlantaHow storytelling, and the perception of truth, is changingResearch that reveals new deceptive tendencies in the most advanced AILeadership lessons as CEOs, including knowing when “be a killer”Achieving more by doing lessJennifer 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 REPORTWABE PINTS AND POLITICS TRIVIA NIGHTEMAIL TO REACH WABE LEADERSHIP TEAM: WabeExec@WABE.orgHOW TO PROTECT ATLANTA PUBLIC MEDIAPOST ON AI MODEL DECEPTIONSEFFORTLESS, the book#AtlantaStartups #Leadership #PublicMedia #WABENews #CivicInnovationLet's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Apr 30, 2025 • 17min
SPECIAL REPORT: Valor's AI IN THE SOUTH Q1-2025 is out now!
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 Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Apr 1, 2025 • 28min
AI Racing Ahead with Will Bryan, Ph.D - CEO & Founder of Autonoma
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. Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Mar 4, 2025 • 1h 1min
Raising a Growth Round In the Age of AI with Christy Johnson of BIP Capital
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.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Feb 4, 2025 • 25min
Can Atlanta’s Downtown Be Saved? Inside David Cumming’s Courageous Plan to Restart the City’s Heart
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.Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.

Jan 24, 2025 • 32min
Southern Exposure: Exploring Positive Trends in Venture Capital Unique to the South with Peter Walker, Carta’s Head of Insights
Get ready for an exciting episode of the Atlanta StartUp Podcast! Founders, ever wondered if you’ve raised too much or too little capital? Not sure how to lock in the best terms in today’s market? Or maybe you’re asking, "Is the South the next big hub for funding, or should I head to the coasts?" We’ve got you covered! This month, we’re joined by Peter Walker, Head of Insights at Carta, who brings his sharp expertise and a treasure trove of data-driven insights. Peter recently visited us in Atlanta for VC Day, where he revealed that a surprising 25% of Carta’s data comes from our Southern region! Don’t miss out on this chance to hear directly from one of the brightest minds in venture capital. Tune in now for an episode packed with valuable tips and fresh perspectives!Let's take this conversation to real time. Join Valor for an upcoming event.


