ATA members invest in Georgia-based companies which have the potential to rapidly scale into market and financial leadership with high potential to provide an exit within 3 to 5 years.  This usually implies a company that has a potential for high growth, with an experienced team, a strong and protectable market position, or a sustainable advantage.

Before applying to ATA for funding, consider the following items that ATA uses to screen every company:  (the link to SUBMIT your application for screening can be found below)


Investment
Criteria

Specifically, members look for the following attributes in any business plan:

  • A market opportunity sufficiently large to create a business with an addressable market of 100’s of millions if not a billion dollars within 5 years. 

  • A compelling, well articulated strategy for capturing and defending their significant market share.

  • Proprietary technology or other barriers to entry.

  • Strong management (not necessarily a complete team) with relevant and successful experience.

  • An exit strategy for the investors.

  • A willingness and desire by the founders to take advice and coaching - ATA members can bring more than money to the table.

  • Lastly, the company valuation must fit within our risk/reward expectations for the investment.

Normally, members do not consider investments in companies based outside of Georgia unless we are syndicating a deal with other regional angel groups.

 

Use of Funds

ATA members look for situations where the capital (for seed deals < $100K  and for ATA “core” deals approximately $250K to $1 million) is designed to take the company to the next level, and materially increase its valuation.  A company must be able to demonstrate how it will use our members’ investment to complete at least some of the following:

  • Proof of concept (seed deals only)

  • Prototype or next version of product or technology

  • Patent filing (if possible)

  • Multiple Product development improvement steps

  • Market research (seed deals only)

  • Product launch and scaling the sales process

  • Obtaining a major contract or expanding customers

  • Solidify management and go to market team

  • Reduce investment risks by achieving milestones

Submission  & Application

Screening
Process

ATA screening committees meet regularly to evaluate applications.  Our application process is designed to greatly simplify the coordination of deal evaluation within our group.  Be assured that your information will be kept confidential.   
 

ATA Pre-Screening Application:  SUBMIT your application HERE  

 
If you are selected to present to the screening committee, you should be prepared for a 10 minute overview presentation and expect a 20 minute Q&A session. 
 
For those companies that are considered to be “due diligence ready”, they will be notified and scheduled to present at a monthly member meeting.  If the group has sufficient interest in pursuing your opportunity, you may be asked to use the Angelsoft deal management software collaboration program.  Only ATA members may access your information when submitted to Angelsoft through the ATA access point. When asked, you should submit your business plan to AngelSoft via the following link: 
 
 
 
 

Remember to Submit a  Request for Funding via AngelSoft, not email

Neither ATA nor its members pay finders fees or any similar fees to any person or entity in any way connected with investments made by its members; only members may process investment opportunities.  We also do not charge companies for making presentations to members of the group.  

 
 All ATA Pre-Screening Applications MUST be submitted to us via AngelSoft:  Submit your application via AngelSoft HERE   

 

NOTE:  Do not include confidential information. Neither ATA nor its members sign Non-Disclosure Agreements for initial proposals. If there is sufficient interest, an NDA may be negotiated with individual members at a later time.