Meet the #VA2024 Seed-Stage Companies

A HUGE congrats to the standout seed-stage pitch competition participants from Venture Atlanta 2024!

On day one of the conference, 11 companies in the seed-stage startup category pitched to a theater full of seed-stage investors and entrepreneurs, where an audience vote then selected the top companies to move on to the next round. On day two, the top four seed-stage startups battled it out for a $500,000 investment prize, awarded by our esteemed panel of judges!

Keep reading to learn a bit more about each of the companies that participated in the Venture Atlanta seed-stage pitch competition.

Pitch Competition Highlights: Top 4 Seed-Stage Pitch Companies

▶︎ Startup Showcase Live Winner: Tevin Harrell , Founder & CEO of SmartWiz.io

SmartWiz.io is revolutionizing the tax preparation industry with its AI-powered “co-pilot” for tax professionals. Positioned as a solution that simplifies the complex and time-consuming process of filing taxes, SmartWiz allows tax professionals to upload documents, engage in a conversation with the platform, and have AI input the necessary data—all in a fraction of the time. What typically takes tax professionals four hours is now reduced to just 20 minutes.

With $1.1 million in revenue and recently secured IRS approval, SmartWiz is among the few companies in the tax software space bringing true innovation. The platform allows tax pros to integrate and manage file returns in one place, streamlining a traditionally cumbersome process.

After a well-executed pitch at Venture Atlanta, SmartWiz was named the winner of the Startup Showcase Live, securing a $500K investment prize for their ambitious mission to modernize tax prep software. Congrats to SmartWiz!

▶︎ Craig Radford , CEO & Co-Founder of 360 Direct Video

360 Direct Video is a Deaf-owned and operated company committed to enhancing accessibility and inclusion by providing direct customer support in American Sign Language (ASL). Their commitment to helping partners become more inclusive and accessible involves direct customer support in sign language. This full-circle approach empowers the deaf community with native language support, boosting accessibility goals, increasing customer satisfaction, and reducing costs through shorter call times.

▶︎ Jarrod Glasgow , CEO of crewOS

crewOS  is the only field services management software platform dedicated to streamlining industrial field service operations by providing an all-in-one platform that automates workflows, enhances real-time visibility, and consolidates systems, enabling clients to efficiently manage job costs, crews, and inspections.

▶︎ Alex Edquist , Founder & CEO of Good Agriculture

Good Agriculture empowers farmers by handling their financial management, grant applications, and marketing needs, allowing them to focus on what they do best—farming. Dedicated to regenerative agriculture, they support producers, consumers, and the environment with a mission to foster sustainable growth and resilience for communities and ecosystems alike.

Day One Seed-Stage Pitch Competition Highlights:

▶︎ Tomás Uribe , Co-Founder & CEO of Mavity

Mavity provides small to medium-sized companies with an affordable, reliable solution for high-quality creative services, combining the efficiency of AI with a network of vetted professionals to deliver flexible, on-demand creative support. Their mission is to empower businesses to execute impactful marketing and branding strategies without the high costs and limitations of traditional agencies or the inconsistencies of freelance work.

▶︎ Timothy Keith , Co-Founder & CEO of Propense.ai

Propense.ai equips professional services firms with advanced AI-driven tools to adapt and thrive in a changing landscape, enabling them to cross-sell high-margin services and improve client acquisition strategies. Their mission is to transform legacy revenue models by providing actionable insights that drive profitability and enhance client relationships in an increasingly competitive

▶︎ Karla Valdivieso , Co-Founder & CEO of Shappi

Shappi empowers Latin American consumers to access U.S. products easily and affordably by connecting them with verified travelers who provide secure, reliable deliveries directly from the source. Their mission is to make global shopping accessible, bridging the gap for Latin Americans who face obstacles in obtaining quality goods from the U.S.

▶︎ Jordan Arogeti , CEO of SupportNow

SupportNow is dedicated to assisting families during challenging times by providing a comprehensive platform that consolidates financial contributions, meal coordination, volunteer efforts, and updates into a single, user-friendly experience. Their mission is to streamline community support, ensuring families receive the necessary assistance efficiently and effectively.

▶︎ Colby Harvey , Founder & CEO of Ultraview AI

Ultraview AI is transforming the aircraft inspection process by combining AI and drone technology to deliver faster, safer, and more reliable inspection solutions, addressing the costly delays and labor challenges that impact both commercial airlines and national defense. Their mission is to enhance operational efficiency and safety in aviation through cutting-edge automation that reduces inspection times from hundreds of crewed hours to a streamlined, consistent, and data-driven approach.

▶︎ Alex Saladna , Co-Founder & CEO of WickedFile

WickedFile is an AI-powered financial leak detection system designed to optimize automotive repair shops' operations by identifying missing parts on repair orders, uncredited returns, and suspect purchases, thereby saving time and money. Their mission is to empower shop owners with real-time insights into their financials, ensuring profitability and growth through advanced document management and analysis.

▶︎ Marcus A. , Co-Founder of Lavni

Lavni is dedicated to making mental health care accessible and affordable by connecting individuals with licensed therapists who accept major insurance plans, including Medicaid, Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, and Cigna. Their mission is to remove barriers to care, ensuring that everyone, especially those in underserved communities, can find the support they need for long-term emotional wellness.

Seed-Stage Pitch Competition: Investor Judges

Lastly, we want to give a round of applause for our incredible panel of seed-stage investors who participated in a live Q&A session with each seed-stage pitch competition finalist before selecting our Startup Showcase Live winner, which was impossibly difficult:

▶ Gregg Bordes , Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Front Porch Venture Partners

▶ Stefanie Diaz, MBA , Head of Industry Discovery & Venture Deal Flow at Catalyst by Wellstar

▶ Andrew Dorman , General Partner at Knoll Ventures

▶ Sid Mookerji , Founder & Managing Partner, Silicon Road Ventures & President of TiE Atlanta

▶ Mark Volchek , Founding Partner of Las Olas Venture Capital

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