Engage
Engage is an Atlanta-based corporate innovation and venture platform that connects high-growth enterprise-technology startups with a coalition of 16 Fortune 500 corporations and research universities, primarily in the U.S. Southeast. It runs a twice-yearly 10-week cohort accelerator, brokered C-suite introductions, and a research-driven Insights Engine built with Georgia Tech.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersAtlanta, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Engage does
Engage is a corporate innovation and venture platform headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia that intermediates between high-growth enterprise-technology startups and a coalition of 16 Fortune 500 corporations and research universities concentrated in the U.S. Southeast. Founded in 2016 by Tech Square Ventures and led by Managing Partner Blake Patton, the platform runs a 10-week Enterprise Accelerator Program in semi-annual cohorts of 6-8 startups, provides direct executive introductions, operates an Insights Engine co-developed with Georgia Tech's Enterprise Innovation Institute, hosts curated enterprise events and roundtables, facilitates cross-corporate learning programs including an Expert Council on Supplier Diversity, and maintains an Expert and Founder Network spanning 500+ engaged executives at partners such as Coca-Cola, Chick-fil-A, Delta Air Lines, Georgia-Pacific, Goldman Sachs, The Home Depot, UPS, and Wellstar.
The platform is built around six components — Enterprise Accelerator Program, Corporate Access, Expert and Founder Network, Insights Engine, Cross-Corporate Learning, and Enterprise Events — whose underlying architecture is a curated relationship-intelligence layer rather than a software product. Distribution is anchored on direct C-suite relationships; the Board comprises CEOs and presidents of partner corporations including Delta (Ed Bastian), Invesco (Marty Flanagan, Engage Chairman), Chick-fil-A (Dan Cathy), Inspire Brands (Paul Brown), and Georgia Tech (Angel Cabrera). The Insights Engine is the only research/technology component with disclosed development partners, leveraging Georgia Tech's Enterprise Innovation Institute to produce data-driven theses on emerging verticals.
The business model is two-sided and opaque. Corporate partners pay recurring subscription/strategic fees for access to the curated innovation pipeline, cross-corporate forums, and Insights Engine; startups pay program fees to participate in the cohort accelerator. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Operating metrics — 122 portfolio companies, 200+ facilitated corporate contracts, $3.1B+ follow-on capital raised by portfolio companies, 2,000+ jobs created — are disclosed, but absolute revenue is not. Internal team size is approximately 9 full-time staff and the company has not disclosed external funding rounds or M&A activity.
Engage firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Engage
- Legal name
- Engage
- Website
- https://engage.vc
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Engage is an Atlanta-based corporate innovation and venture platform that connects high-growth enterprise-technology startups with a coalition of 16 Fortune 500 corporations and research universities, primarily in the U.S. Southeast. It runs a twice-yearly 10-week cohort accelerator, brokered C-suite introductions, and a research-driven Insights Engine built with Georgia Tech.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Engage industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Corporate Venture Platform / Startup Accelerator Services
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)
Keywords
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, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Startup Program Fees: Revenue generated from startups participating in the Enterprise Accelerator Program
- Corporate Partnership Fees: Fortune 500 corporations pay for access to curated startup innovations and the Engage innovation platform
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Engage product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Engage operates a collaborative innovation and corporate venture platform that connects high-growth startups with Fortune 500 corporations in the Southeast. Its core deliverable is the 10-week Enterprise Accelerator Program run twice yearly for cohorts of 6-8 startups, supplemented by facilitated Corporate Access to senior executives, an Expert and Founder Network, a research-driven Insights Engine built with Georgia Tech, Cross-Corporate Learning forums, and curated Enterprise Events.
Product overview
Engage is a corporate venture platform and startup accelerator that connects high-growth startups with Fortune 500 corporations for enterprise go-to-market acceleration. The platform consists of six integrated components: the Enterprise Accelerator Program (10-week cohort-based curriculum), Corporate Access (direct executive connections), Expert and Founder Network (curated network of practitioners), Insights Engine (research and analytics with Georgia Tech), Cross-Corporate Learning (peer collaboration across verticals), and Enterprise Events (roundtables and councils). Together these services create a closed-loop innovation ecosystem where startups gain market access and corporations gain exposure to emerging technologies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Enterprise Accelerator Program
Quantifiable outcome
- $3.1B+ Follow-on Capital Raised by portfolio companies
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Engage
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments2 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
Feature4 records
Engage partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Chick-fil-AcoreChick-fil-A is a Quick-Service Restaurant (QSR) brand and one of Engage's founding corporate partners, providing startups access to innovation opportunities in restaurant technology, delivery, and customer experience.
- The Coca-Cola CompanycoreCoca-Cola is a Food & Beverage corporation and key corporate partner in Engage's innovation platform, offering startups pathways to enterprise partnerships in the beverage industry.
- Cox EnterprisescoreCox Enterprises provides access to opportunities in Communications, Auto, and Media sectors as a corporate partner in Engage's platform.
- Delta Air LinescoreDelta is an Aerospace & Travel partner in Engage, having facilitated multiple startup pilots including Vyv antimicrobial lighting technology installed on Boeing 757 aircraft.
- Georgia-PacificcoreGeorgia-Pacific is a Manufacturing & Consumer Products partner that has collaborated with Engage startups including Pryon for AI-powered knowledge management.
- Georgia PowercoreGeorgia Power represents the Energy sector in Engage's corporate partner network, providing access to utilities and energy innovation opportunities.
- Georgia TechcoreGeorgia Tech is a Research University partner that collaborates with Engage on the Insights Engine and provides access to research-based innovations. The partnership includes Georgia Tech's Enterprise Innovation Institute.
- Goldman SachscoreGoldman Sachs is a Financial Services partner in Engage, offering startups access to enterprise opportunities in the financial sector.
- The Home DepotcoreThe Home Depot is a Retail partner that has participated in Engage activities including Deep North's Series A funding and pilot programs for AI-powered video analytics.
- Intercontinental Exchange (ICE)coreICE is a Financial & Commodity Exchanges partner in Engage's network, providing access to opportunities in fintech and market infrastructure.
- Inspire BrandscoreInspire Brands is a Quick-Service Restaurant (QSR) partner with nearly 32,000 restaurants including Arby's, Dunkin', and Buffalo Wild Wings.
- InvescocoreInvesco is a Financial Services partner in Engage's network, with CEO Marty Flanagan serving as Chairman of Engage Ventures.
- RaceTraccoreRaceTrac is a Convenience Retail partner in Engage's corporate network, offering innovation opportunities in retail and convenience store operations.
- UPScoreUPS is a Shipping & Supply Chain partner that has championed supplier diversity initiatives with Engage and supported startups including Verusen.
- UnumcoreUnum is an Insurance partner in Engage's corporate network, providing access to opportunities in workplace financial protection and benefits innovation.
- Wellstar Health SystemcoreWellstar is a Healthcare partner that has partnered with startups including Moth+Flame for VR leadership training and Pryon for AI-powered knowledge delivery.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Engage competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Founders Factory: Global corporate-backed accelerator and venture builder that partners with enterprises (e.g., Aviva, L'Oréal, Marks & Spencer) to source and scale startups — closely aligned with Engage's CVC-driven accelerator model.
- Startupbootcamp: Global network of industry-specific startup accelerators (FinTech, InsurTech, Health, etc.) that partner with corporates to run cohorts — directly comparable to Engage's industry-agnostic corporate accelerator model.
- Techstars: Global accelerator network running 13-week cohort-based programs with corporate partners (Techstars has partnered with corporate sponsors on numerous industry-specific programs), making it a direct comparator to Engage's 10-week Enterprise Accelerator Program.
- gener8tor: Midwest-anchored accelerator network running cohort-based programs that connect startups with corporate partners, comparable in structure (cohorts + corporate access) though broader geographically.
- Dreamit Ventures: Corporate accelerator running cohort-based programs that pair startups with enterprise customers, comparable in cohort-driven enterprise-GTM orientation to Engage's Enterprise Accelerator.
- Plug and Play Tech Center: One of the largest global corporate innovation platforms running industry-specific accelerator programs (e.g., FinTech, InsurTech, Health) that match startups with corporate partners — directly comparable to Engage's model of structured cohorts plus corporate access.
- MassChallenge: Global zero-equity accelerator running large cohorts and industry-specific programs with corporate partners (e.g., FinTech, HealthTech), comparable to Engage as a non-equity-leaning corporate-startup matching platform.
- Capital Factory: Texas-based startup accelerator and innovation hub that connects founders with corporate partners and investors, mirroring Engage's regional focus and enterprise-GTM emphasis in a different geography.
Regional players
- Innovation Works: Pittsburgh-based seed-stage investor and accelerator supporting regional startups with enterprise and robotics focus, comparable as a regional innovation platform though not focused on F500 corporate-startup matching.
Emerging players
- Matchstick Ventures: Early-stage VC running programs such as the Corporate Startup Engagement program, partially overlapping with Engage's role in connecting founders to enterprise customers though primarily investor-led rather than corporate-led.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 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
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Engage
What does Engage do?
Engage operates a collaborative innovation and corporate venture platform that connects high-growth startups with Fortune 500 corporations in the Southeast. Its core deliverable is the 10-week Enterprise Accelerator Program run twice yearly for cohorts of 6-8 startups, supplemented by facilitated Corporate Access to senior executives, an Expert and Founder Network, a research-driven Insights Engine built with Georgia Tech, Cross-Corporate Learning forums, and curated Enterprise Events.
Is Engage a public or private company?
Engage is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Engage founded?
Engage was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Engage based?
Engage is headquartered in Atlanta, United States, in the North America region.
How does Engage make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Startup Program Fees are the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnership Fees.
Who are Engage's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Founders Factory, Startupbootcamp, Techstars, gener8tor, Dreamit Ventures, Plug and Play Tech Center, MassChallenge and Capital Factory. Innovation Works is listed as a regional player. Matchstick Ventures is listed as an emerging player.
Does Engage have an API?
No public API is recorded for Engage.
What industry is Engage in?
Engage's product category is Corporate Venture Platform / Startup Accelerator Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAHAD, Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs, with a secondary code of FSANAAAM, Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated). Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.