Why Alpharetta, GA is the Go-To Hub for Hundreds of Tech Companies (1)

It was a big gamble to lay hundreds of miles of fiber optic cable and build a formidable electrical grid throughout the city of Alpharetta, GA. It was the 1990s, and the Dot-com Boom was in the early stages of changing the world. The unregulated tech sector was volatile, with internet-based companies daring unproven business models and baring inconsistent profitability.

However, city officials believed tech companies would find Alpharetta’s pristine suburban lifestyle, efficient transportation infrastructure, and intellectual spillover from 30 surrounding educational institutions a desirable fit. At the same time, the city was intent on shaping a silhouette distinctive from that of its grander sibling, Atlanta, just to its south.

So, they built it, and they did come. Over the next decade, the infrastructure’s fast, reliable, and scalable data transmission capabilities enticed over 300 tech companies to make the city their headquarters, and an ecosystem began to emerge. But this was only the beginning of Alpharetta's identity-building process. Its brand was still indefinable.

Enter David Belle Isle, mayor of Alpharetta from 2012 to 2018. “We wanted to make Alpharetta an irresistible city, and we wanted it to be the best at what it does the best,” says Belle Isle. “We wanted to create a city where people who grew up here would come back, bring their families, and raise them here.” 

That is when the self-discovery deepened, and the city recognized it was best at being a tech sector haven. The branding was spot-on, but new tech companies needed to be brought into the fold, and the talent pipeline fed to advance the ecosystem, ensuring a resilient future in the nascent sector.

An exploratory commission was initiated comprising a well-rounded group of 20 C-suite executives from the tech and related sectors. “We weren't trying to build a networking group. We were trying to bring decision-makers together who could help us get where we needed to go,” recalls Belle Isle.

Where the city needed to go evolved into Tech Alpharetta, a full-fledged 501(c)(6) designed to grow technology and innovation companies. By 2015, the program would offer support services through its startup incubator (Tech Alpharetta Incubator), educational events, and a hands-on advisory board. Key support services include subsidized office space, mentoring, coaching, networking, Wi-Fi, and high-speed Internet.

Numerous Startups Benefit

“We had a really vibrant startup community with some great tech companies wanting to grow here,” says Karen Cashion, President and CEO of Tech Alpharetta. “We knew If we were really serious about jobs, we needed a tech startup incubator.”

Today, the TAI has championed numerous startups, with 58 member companies and 23 graduating from the program. This has created 1,500 new tech and service industry jobs, or 2,100 new jobs for the state. With an annual budget of $95,000 from the city and heavy support from over 70 corporate sponsors, TAI has raised approximately $143 million in investor funding to support startups since the program’s inception.

A recent program graduate, Synaptrix, now headquartered in Alpharetta, is a startup developing a pain reduction medical device. The company has already raised a $10 million round of investor funding.

Success has driven TAI to expand beyond its original office building. In August, the organization moved to a larger building, taking up 7,400 square feet as a paying tenant. Startups in the program are offered quality workspace and conference rooms with 24/7 access, all charged at a subsidized rate starting at $209 monthly. This includes basic “daily hot desk access” (as of 1/1/25). All members enjoy regular educational workshops and access to free mentoring from experts in the field.

“We have 14 phenomenal mentors who provide free mentoring to our startups. These are industry veterans looking to pay it forward, and they're a fantastic resource,” says Cashion.

“We provide a lot of connections for our startups. We bring in investors and make introductions; we connect them with other companies and resources that can be helpful to them as they try to grow their business.”

Alumni Continue to Flourish

Yardz, a construction software company, is another testament to TAI’s fostering success. CEO Jason Perez founded the company, which develops customized technology for construction companies to manage their rented and owned equipment. Perez’s biggest challenge was he had zero technology experience. However, TA's mentoring, networking, and other support services erased that deficit.

Today, his company has graduated from the TAI program, generating over $1 million in recurring annual revenue and growing beyond its incubator office space. Perez credits TAI for being instrumental in Yardz’s success by connecting it with key tech people, receiving support from financial experts, networking with relevant executives, and having mentors on a call at a moment’s notice.

“Every single ingredient that goes into making a company successful is super important. You can bake a cake, but if you don't have sugar, it's not going to taste like a cake; it will taste more like bread. For us, Tech Alpharetta was a main ingredient,” explains Perez.

Yardz’s advisory board comprises executives Perez met through TAI. He says they have been paramount in growing his company. “They were the most important part of getting us where we are today and will continue to help us grow.”

City Synergies

TAI and the city’s Economic Development department work hand in hand. “Our mission is to attract new businesses, retain our existing businesses, and support entrepreneurial small businesses; it’s something we achieve in different ways,” says Charlotte Christian, Economic Development Coordinator.

She says the city encourages interaction with the larger businesses headquartered in Alpharetta, such as Fiserv, ADP, NCR, Verizon, and Microsoft. “We make sure there is constant communication between them so they have support on any issues they may be experiencing, and we encourage cross-collaboration, so they find ways to give back to the community.”

In addition to fostering countless startups, the city has attracted over 700 tech companies that have made Alpharetta their home. The combined effect influenced Gwinnett Tech to locate a satellite campus within the city. The technical college offers programs that align with the city’s goal of ensuring future talent in tech and other local industries (see more details below).

Ultimately, the self-discovery process led Alpharetta to become known as the Tech City of the South, a powerful catalyst for the city’s overall economic strength and growth.

“Every city needs to be known for something, but many don’t know what they do best and how to leverage their existing talent to expand it,” says Belle Isles. “It’s all about branding and telling your story. Once you accomplish this, it’s easy to keep casting the vision of where you’re going and what your city is all about, and the benefits are very rewarding.”

Multiplier Effect

The success of Tech Alpharetta has not only broadened the city’s tech ecosystem, but the program has also stimulated additional investment activity and amplified the city’s overall economy.

• Economic boost: Gwinnett Tech, Georgia’s highest-ranked community college, located a new 25-acre campus in the city in 2016. The college serves about 2,000 computer, business, health, and life sciences students and offers associate degrees, diplomas, and certified programs. Dual programs are also available for high school students to earn college credits.

  GT was expressly attracted to Alpharetta’s high demand for skilled trade workers, especially in tech fields. The college seized the opportunity to meet local workforce needs by providing relevant education and training programs.

• Social capital value: The Tech Alpharetta Women’s Forum, a 501c(3) organization, was motivated by the TAI program. The group runs a STEAM Mentoring program for high school girls at Innovation Academy High School in Alpharetta. The program’s mission is to inspire more girls to pursue STEAM careers. Innovation Academy High School, in turn, created a STEAM Mentoring Club as an adjunct to the Forum’s mentoring Program.

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