Engage

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.

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

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. 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

Core 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

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Chick-fil-AcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChick-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 CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoca-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 EnterprisescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCox 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 LinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelta 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-PacificcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeorgia-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 PowercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeorgia Power is an Energy sector corporate partner. SVP Molly Aeck leads Business Development and Strategy, working to integrate and commercialize innovations.
• Georgia TechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeorgia 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 DepotcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICE is a Financial & Commodity Exchanges corporate partner. CTO Joey Albert represents ICE on the Executive Board, bringing expertise in clearing and settlement systems.
• Inspire BrandscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInspire 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.
• RaceTraccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRaceTrac is a Convenience Retail corporate partner. CEO Natalie Morhous and CFO Karla Ahlert represent RaceTrac on Engage's boards.
• UPScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUPS 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.
• UnumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnum is an Insurance corporate partner. President & CEO Rick McKenney represents Unum on the Board. SVP Marco Forato serves on the Executive Board.
• Wellstar Health SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWellstar 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/engagevc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/engageventures

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments61 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Engage