We've all heard the success stories of college dropouts in the tech industry: Zuckerberg, Gates, Jobs, Musk and others. But what if there was an incubator that encouraged young entrepreneurs to take a gap year and pursue their dreams, without the worry of housing, food and income? And what if said incubator was right here in the heart of Atlanta?
Welcome to The ACE House, the newest founder epicenter to join the Atlanta tech scene. By importing young adults with fresh ideas into our ecosystem, encouraging them to take a year off of school and backing them with up to a year of free housing and food, The ACE House hopes to create the next generation of elite Gen Z tech moguls.
The creator behind The ACE House is Aaron Easaw, a 21-year-old college dropout from Texas who completed a soft acquisition of the company he started at the ripe age of 14. Easaw enrolled at the University of Texas in Dallas after graduating from a specialized international high school---Imagine International Academy of North Texas. He left after his first year to fully commit to the venture capital firm he started in high school.
I first met Easaw at a TiE Atlanta Young Entrepreneurs judging competition last Spring, the youngest venture capitalist I'd ever met and a bright young man who was traveling around the country to college campuses looking for kids to invest in and mentor.
"The ACE House is the physical manifestation of the last 5 years of work I've done," Easaw said. "I've been running a venture firm focusing on young entrepreneurs. One of those we invested in is Atlanta resident and Georgia Tech alumnus Partha Unnava. The House was something I originally had in mind for Los Angeles. Partha had Kate (Atwood) at the Chamber of Commerce and I meet, she made the most passionate pitch about Atlanta and how this is the city to be in. After that, I spent 6 months in a discovery phase and came to see the amazing city she saw. Most of my years doing the firm has been crashing at dorms from Stanford to Harvard. I'm excited to import these talented entrepreneurs into the Atlanta ecosystem and build the next generation of the A."
"Aaron has been a pleasure to work with, and a great friend through the building of my company," Unnava said. "His desire to help others build insane visions is exciting to be around. For first time entrepreneurs, the ACE housing project will be a much needed starting point to build community and values that lead to entrepreneurs to make massive global impact.”
In preparation for the launch of The ACE House, Easaw has enlisted ACE ambassadors as part of his "squad," who embody the kinds of doers ACE empowers, he said. A few of those ambassadors include Team USA figure skater Amber Glenn and Brennan Agranoff, founder of HoopSwagg. For those who will join as The ACE House's first residents, Easaw said he looks for past side hustles, organic problem-solving and a serendipitous nature of elevating their situation. Atlanta-native Athena Qiu will serve as The ACE House's lead in the city.
Located at 1585 West Paces Ferry Rd., the future home of The ACE House is just your typical residential mansion in Buckhead, but it will be transformed into the ultimate playground and live-in incubator.
"When Aaron and the team approached me about this concept, I was very excited to see their vision," James Grenade III, the current owner of the home, said. "Atlanta needs something like this and I’m excited that the place I’ve raised my family and have called home for a decade may be a home for the next generation of doers."
Easaw said the exterior of the home would be given a minor facelift, while the interior and land outlay will be completely redesigned for ACE. J.B. Baker, the architect designing the project said the commission of building The ACE House is a dream and the location is fitting for the group's mission.
"It represents all there is to learn from the classics and gives us the opportunity to demonstrate architecturally how you can break the classical rules in both post modern classical interpretations and the juxtaposition of entirely modern innovative architectural and interior ideas," he said.
Construction on the home is set to begin at the end of summer 2019 and finish at the beginning of summer 2020. Easaw plans to invite the first residents to arrive in the fall of 2020.
“Metro Atlanta’s continued growth will depend on the ability to attract the next generation of talent. Aaron’s vision for the ACE House in Atlanta is both an incredible opportunity for young founders to experience our region’s unmatched creative culture, while also further establishing our city’s position as a top choice for emerging entrepreneurs," Atwood, the executive director of ChooseATL, said.
ACE representatives will be coming to Atlanta in March to meet with more potential partners and investors.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Aaron and the ACE House to metro Atlanta this year," Hala Moddelmog, CEO of the MAC, said. "With Atlanta’s welcoming community, thriving creative culture and top position as a startup hub, we are confident these young entrepreneurs will find the inspiration and support needed to continue their success.”
