Engage
Engage is an Atlanta-based corporate innovation and venture platform connecting high-growth startups with 18 Fortune 500 and research-university partners (Coca-Cola, Delta, Goldman Sachs, Home Depot, UPS, etc.) through a 10-week enterprise accelerator, curated executive access, and shared insights.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersAtlanta, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Engage does
Engage is a private corporate innovation and venture platform headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, that connects high-growth startups with a consortium of Fortune 500 corporations and research universities, primarily in the U.S. Southeast. Founded in 2017 and operating as a sister organization to Tech Square Ventures under shared leadership (Managing Partner Blake Patton, Partner Bill Nussey), Engage curates a two-sided ecosystem of 18 named corporate partners — including Chick-fil-A, Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, Goldman Sachs, The Home Depot, UPS, Wellstar, and Georgia Tech — and 122 portfolio companies. Its core product is the Enterprise Accelerator Program, a 10-week cohort-based engagement (6–8 startups, twice yearly) that builds enterprise go-to-market playbooks and introduces founders directly to senior corporate decision-makers.
The platform's product surface extends beyond the accelerator to include Corporate Access (top-down introductions to C-suite executives), an Expert and Founder Network (curated events and roundtables), Cross-Corporate Learning facilitation across verticals, and an Insights Engine developed jointly with Georgia Tech's Enterprise Innovation Institute that produces data-driven market theses for partners. Engage runs a multi-track Internship Program (Investments, Corporate Insights, Design, Operations) as a talent and research pipeline. A lean team of approximately nine full-time staff supported by fourteen interns operates the platform.
Engage's revenue model is anchored in recurring corporate partnerships with Fortune 500 organizations, supplemented by accelerator cohort fees and curated event activity; specific pricing is not publicly disclosed and is reportedly negotiated directly with partners. Distribution is enterprise field-sales driven, with C-suite representation (CEOs, CFOs, SVPs) on Engage's Board of Directors and Executive Board, and is reinforced by community-led engagement through events, newsletters, and social channels. Quantified ecosystem outcomes cited by the company include 200+ facilitated corporate contracts, 500+ engaged executives, 2,000+ jobs created, and $3.1B+ in follow-on capital raised by portfolio companies.
Engage firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Engage
- Legal name
- Engage
- Website
- https://engage.vc
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Engage is an Atlanta-based corporate innovation and venture platform connecting high-growth startups with 18 Fortune 500 and research-university partners (Coca-Cola, Delta, Goldman Sachs, Home Depot, UPS, etc.) through a 10-week enterprise accelerator, curated executive access, and shared insights.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Engage is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Atlanta
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Engage business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Corporate Partnership Programs: Engage generates value by facilitating relationships between Fortune 500 corporations and high-growth startups. The platform enables corporate partners to discover innovative startups, pilot new technologies, and make strategic investments through the venture lens.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Engage product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Engage is a collaborative innovation and corporate venture platform that connects high-growth startups with Fortune 500 corporations in the Southeast US. Its core commercial offering is a 10-week Enterprise Accelerator Program (running twice yearly in cohorts of 6-8 companies) that helps startups refine enterprise go-to-market strategy, build sales playbooks, and gain direct access to senior corporate decision-makers. The platform also operates Corporate Access services, an Expert and Founder Network, Cross-Corporate Learning programs, an Insights Engine with Georgia Tech, and curated Enterprise Events.
Product overview
Engage is a first-of-its-kind collaborative innovation and corporate venture platform that connects high-growth startups with Fortune 500 corporations. The platform operates as an integrated ecosystem of services including the Enterprise Accelerator Program (a 10-week cohort-based GTM program), Corporate Access (direct connections to senior executives), Expert and Founder Network, Cross-Corporate Learning facilitation, Insights Engine (in partnership with Georgia Tech), and Enterprise Events. Additionally, Engage offers an Internship Program for students interested in venture capital and innovation. The platform's core value proposition is facilitating enterprise go-to-market strategy execution and corporate-startup partnerships.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Enterprise Accelerator Program A 10-week cohort-based program designed to help high-growth startups refine their enterprise go-to-market strategy and connect with Fortune 500 corporate decision-makers. Runs twice yearly in Spring and Fall with cohorts of 6-8 companies; startups receive individualized enterprise sales playbook development and direct top-down corporate access.
- Corporate Access Direct top-down support service connecting startups with senior executives and leaders at Fortune 500 corporate partners including Coca-Cola, Chick-fil-A, Delta, Goldman Sachs, UPS, The Home Depot, and others, to navigate enterprise sales and partnership processes.
- Expert and Founder Network A curated network of entrepreneurs, practitioners, and experts skilled in navigating commercial relationships with Fortune 500 companies; portfolio companies gain access to invite-only events and gatherings with top venture investors, Fortune 500 CEOs, and other entrepreneurs.
- Cross-Corporate Learning Facilitation program enabling corporate partners to collaborate across verticals, sharing knowledge and resources to accelerate innovation cycles and stay ahead of emerging market trends.
- Insights Engine Research and analysis platform developed in conjunction with Georgia Tech's Enterprise Innovation Institute that collates information on new enterprise verticals and develops data-driven insights and theses for corporate partners to enable better innovation decisions.
- Enterprise Events Curated events, industry roundtables, and expert councils that bring together startups and enterprise leaders to catalyze new ideas and business relationships.
- Internship Program Year-round practicum and education program introducing students to venture capital and Atlanta's corporate innovation ecosystem; runs in Spring, Summer, and Fall across four tracks: Investments Analysts, Corporate Insights Analysts, Design Associates, and Operations Analysts.
Quantifiable outcome
- $3.1B+ follow-on capital raised by portfolio companies
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Engage
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Engage technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Engage partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Chick-fil-AcoreChick-fil-A is a Quick-Service Restaurant (QSR) corporate partner of Engage. Through the partnership, Chick-fil-A gains access to innovative startups and can explore technology solutions for their business operations.
- The Coca-Cola CompanycoreCoca-Cola is a Food & Beverage corporate partner of Engage. The partnership enables access to startups building solutions relevant to the beverage and consumer products industry.
- Cox EnterprisescoreCox Enterprises, a Communications, Auto & Media company, participates as a corporate partner. Innovation Manager Hari Gopal previously worked at Cox exploring products across energy, gaming, and private networks.
- Delta Air LinescoreDelta Air Lines is an Aerospace & Travel corporate partner. Delta has successfully engaged startups through Engage including Vyv for antimicrobial lighting and Deep North for AI analytics. Delta also directly invested in portfolio company Vyv's Series A.
- Georgia-PacificcoreGeorgia-Pacific is a Manufacturing & Consumer Products corporate partner. They leverage Pryon AI for critical safety information and actively engage with startups through the platform.
- Georgia PowercoreGeorgia Power is an Energy sector corporate partner. SVP Molly Aeck leads Business Development and Strategy, working to integrate and commercialize innovations.
- Georgia TechcoreGeorgia Tech is a Research University partner. Engage works in conjunction with Georgia Tech's Enterprise Innovation Institute. President Ángel Cabrera serves on Engage's Board of Directors. The collaboration powers the Insights Engine.
- The Home DepotcoreThe Home Depot is a Retail corporate partner. They engaged with Deep North for retail analytics and joined as investor in Deep North's $25M Series A. CFO Richard McPhail and VP Mike Locker serve as representatives.
- Intercontinental Exchange (ICE)coreICE is a Financial & Commodity Exchanges corporate partner. CTO Joey Albert represents ICE on the Executive Board, bringing expertise in clearing and settlement systems.
- Inspire BrandscoreInspire Brands is a Quick-Service Restaurant (QSR) corporate partner. CEO Paul Brown serves on the Board. Dan Lynn, Chief Commercial and Restaurant Officer, represents Inspire on the Executive Board.
- RaceTraccoreRaceTrac is a Convenience Retail corporate partner. CEO Natalie Morhous and CFO Karla Ahlert represent RaceTrac on Engage's boards.
- UPScoreUPS is a Shipping & Supply Chain corporate partner. CEO Carol Tomé serves on Engage's Board. Kris Oswald, Director of Supplier Diversity, co-chairs the Expert Council on Supplier Diversity.
- UnumcoreUnum is an Insurance corporate partner. President & CEO Rick McKenney represents Unum on the Board. SVP Marco Forato serves on the Executive Board.
- Wellstar Health SystemcoreWellstar is a Healthcare corporate partner. CEO Ketul J. Patel serves on the Board. EVP Hank Capps leads digital strategy. Wellstar partnered with Moth+Flame for VR leadership training.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Engage competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Techstars: Global accelerator running cohort-based programs that connect startups with corporate partners and mentors. Most direct comparison to Engage's Enterprise Accelerator model, but at significantly larger scale and geographic reach.
- Plug and Play: Corporate innovation platform running vertical-specific accelerator programs with Fortune 500 partners across multiple geographies. Highly comparable two-sided startup-corporate matchmaking model with deeper corporate sponsorship economics.
- MassChallenge: Nonprofit global accelerator connecting early-stage startups with corporate partners, mentors, and customers. Operates cohort programs similar in structure to Engage's 10-week accelerator.
- gener8tor: Accelerator network running cohort-based programs that pair startups with corporate partners and investors. Comparable mid-sized operator with corporate sponsorship model.
- Capital Factory: Texas-based innovation hub and accelerator connecting startups with corporate partners and investors. Closest regional US comparison to Engage's Southeast-centric corporate consortium model.
- 1871: Chicago-based innovation hub offering accelerator programming, corporate partnerships, and curated startup-corporate introductions. Comparable B2B platform serving a regional tech ecosystem.
Emerging players
- Nex Cubed: Corporate venture accelerator focused on connecting enterprise-ready startups with corporate partners across multiple US regions. Smaller-scale but operates a similar corporate consortium model.
Regional players
- Atlanta Ventures: Atlanta-based venture firm and startup platform founded by David Cummings. Closest regional competitor, operating in the same Atlanta ecosystem that Engage has built around.
- Innovation Works: Pittsburgh-based seed-stage investor and accelerator supporting robotics, AI, and life sciences startups with corporate connections. Regional US accelerator analogous in scale and corporate-coupling model.
Others
- Tech Square Ventures: Engage's sister organization and early-stage venture firm sharing founders (Blake Patton, Bill Nussey). Provides the fund arm of Engage's ecosystem and direct comparable Atlanta-based VC operator.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Engage social profiles
Digital presenceEngage financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Engage leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Engage funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Engage M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments61 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Engage
What does Engage do?
Engage is a collaborative innovation and corporate venture platform that connects high-growth startups with Fortune 500 corporations in the Southeast US. Its core commercial offering is a 10-week Enterprise Accelerator Program (running twice yearly in cohorts of 6-8 companies) that helps startups refine enterprise go-to-market strategy, build sales playbooks, and gain direct access to senior corporate decision-makers. The platform also operates Corporate Access services, an Expert and Founder Network, Cross-Corporate Learning programs, an Insights Engine with Georgia Tech, and curated Enterprise Events.
Is Engage a public or private company?
Engage is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Engage founded?
Engage was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Engage based?
Engage is headquartered in Atlanta, United States, in the North America region.
How does Engage make money?
One revenue line is on record: corporate Partnership Programs.
Who are Engage's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Techstars, Plug and Play, MassChallenge, gener8tor, Capital Factory and 1871. Nex Cubed is listed as an emerging player. Regional players are Atlanta Ventures and Innovation Works. Tech Square Ventures is listed as an others.
Does Engage have an API?
No public API is recorded for Engage.