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That Atlanta Metro Export Challenge is back in search for its seventh annual cohort, once again offering $5,000 grants for 12 eligible companies to help boost their export sales.
This year also will see the return of pitch day, a competition open to first-round winners that allows them to compete for up to $10,000 more in support.
To qualify for the pitch competition, which also includes second and third place grants of $5,000 each, winners will have had to use all their first-round funding by the spring of 2023.
Companies from the 2021 edition had to be creative in an era of limited travel during the pandemic, but this year they may actually be able to use it for more conventional outreach as borders continue to open back up.
The Metro Atlanta Chamber, which facilitates the region-wide grant program, encourages innovative uses of the grant money, particularly considering that Atlanta firms tend to skew toward the export of services, which often can’t be sold through traditional channels like trade shows. Tech companies have used funds for market research, gaming companies for translation or website localization and producers for bolstering their logistics networks.
The initiative, backed by economic development agencies in City of Atlanta as well as the four most populous metro counties of DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett and Cobb, also has support from Delta Air Lines, the U.S. Commercial Service and the Small Business Development Center, deepening the exporters’ base of support in the community. Winners not only gain access to funding, but they also get mentoring provided in part by the Georgia District Export Council.
Applications are open to existing exporters and those who want to look into exporting from all sectors through Sept. 30. Learn more about the program and apply here.
See last year’s 12 winners here
Learn more:
Metro Export Challenge 2022 Announcement