What a year, Atlanta.
Not only did we see dramatic changes here in our ecosystem, but we at Atlanta Inno got to partake in the journey with you after launching just 10 months ago in February.
We've had some successes, and some losses, too. Though we didn't snag Amazon HQ2, we did claim one of the highest IPOs to date with our fintech all-star GreenSky.
We withstood a ransomware attack and a shut down of city government for days, which has brought us to an indictment of the suspects involved with the hack.
We saw a record-breaking election with reports of voter hacking and a lawsuit brought against the technology systems we use to cast our ballots.
Dockless scooters swept our city this summer, with four companies launching in Atlanta as of this month.
We've seen and read a lot. But some stories, more than others, defined our year. Here are the top 10 most impactful stories of 2018 at Atlanta Inno.
Atlanta’s Ransomware Attack is Nothing New, According to Hacking Trends
No one saw this one coming. Well, maybe the city's IT department. Atlanta was hit with one of the worst ransomware attacks to target a municipality in this country. Not only did this raise awareness about the commonality of ransomware attacks and impact those of us who needed to pay bills or tickets in the city, but the story put Atlanta on national headlines---not in the good way. At least two Iranians were indicted for the attack. We'll certainly be keeping a close eye on this case and the aftermath the hack has left in its wake.
Bird Launches Its Dockless Electric Scooters in Atlanta
This wasn't the only dockless e-scooter story we wrote this year, and it probably won't be the last. But Bird was the first scooter company to fly in from the West Coast with its new mode of transportation. Now, the city of Atlanta is scrambling for a solution to scooters left on sidewalks, damages and injuries as three other scooter companies joined the ranks. I'm calling 2018 the Year of the Dockless.
GreenSky Raises $874 Million, One of Highest Fintech IPOs to Date
Transaction Alley scored one of the highest fintech IPOs this country has ever seen. In journalism school, a good professor tells you to follow the money. Isn't that true for the tech startups making the right moves?
Relocated Tech Firms Dish on Atlanta’s Amazon ‘Halo Effect’
We've seen a significant amount of startups from the West Coast and elsewhere relocate to Atlanta, especially this year. There was a good time in the summer when every week, you'd see a headline about a relocated headquarters coming to Atlanta. Our tech talent, low cost of living, resources and funding are a great draw for many of these companies, but if we're being honest, making the shortlist for Amazon HQ2 had a lot to do with it, too.
NYC Coding Bootcamp Flatiron School Opens in Atlanta, Donates $1M in Scholarships
Flatiron School isn't the only coding school available in Atlanta, but given that this startup is one of the most successful in the field and it's taking our city by storm after opening a location this summer, this is a notable mention. Everyone in Atlanta is either talking about or taking a class in coding.
Medical Cannabis Startup Raises $65 Million, Led by Wrigley Chewing Gum Heir
Surterra Wellness, a medical cannabis startup located in Atlanta, was the dark horse of this year's tech scene. Though Surterra can't offer its products to Georgians, the Atlanta company was able to snag a notable investor, chewing gum billionaire William “Beau” Wrigley, Jr., and get our dog in the fight on cannabis startups. Who says you have to move to Colorado to make it in the biz?
10 Things I Learned About Yik Yak At SwitchYards’ ‘Made in Atlanta’ Event
We finally got answers to one of the biggest startup failures of the decade in Atlanta. The founders of Yik Yak, the now-dead anonymous social media app, came back into town to talk about their lessons from the Yak, what they would have changed and what they're up to now. Not only was this an impactful story of the year, it was one of my favorite moments to sit in and just listen to someone's tech story.
Georgia’s Election System is Vulnerable, But No Hacking Yet, Attorney Says
The gubernatorial election was a whirlwind, and the way we voted was also caught in the storm. Governor-elect Brian Kemp accused the Democratic Party of hacking the voter registration system just days before the election. But the attorney who blew the whistle said there was no evidence to support such a claim. This story was a full stop right before the election and made many of us question our privacy and voter technology.
Georgia Isn’t on Amazon’s Mind: HQ2 Heads to Arlington and New York City
Whether you think it's good luck or bad news, Atlanta didn't land Amazon's HQ2. It felt like our discussions for the past year and a half in tech ecosystem were nothing but about Amazon. But now that the search has come to a close, our leaders are ready to get back to work and focus on making the next Amazon.
Microsoft Acquires Atlanta Virtual Desktop Startup FSLogix
We saw several notable exits in 2018, but this one takes the cake. Not only did FSLogix get a happy ending for its founders, but this is a sign that the tech giants of the world have their sights set on Atlanta. That's all we could ask for.
So what do we have to look forward to in 2019?
I'm predicting a final decision on the dockless ordinance, the opening of more WeWorks, a Super Bowl haze and hangover, details about the ransomware attack we still don't know about, a significant amount of tech companies headed south and, if the economy stays healthy, more exits and acquisitions for our local startups.
Until then, have a Happy New Year!
