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Join TiE Atlanta

770-570-6830

4780 Ashford
Dunwoody Rd

Suite 540-131 Atlanta, GA 30338

admin@tie-atlanta.org

TiE UNIVERSITY

  • key deadlines
OPEN FOR 2027 APPLICATIONS NOW -- CLICK HERE!
Open for new applications for 2027

 Email tieu@tie-atlanta.org for any questions.

Dec 11, 2026

Deadline for application submission

Jan 12, 2027

From 5-6 PM ET

Orientation call via Zoom for Founders and Mentors

Touch Base Sessions and Workshops every other Tuesday from mid-Jan to mid-March 2027 at 5-630pm ET

March 6, 2027

Pitch Competition Mock Round in person from 8:30am-5pm ET

March 20, 2027

Pitch Competition Qualifying Round in person from 8:30am-5pm ET

April 3, 2027

Pitch Competition Final Round in person from 9am to 1pm ET

Winner will be offered to pitch in Silicon Valley in late 2027

Online Application Due
1/10/25

Info Sessions 1/14/25 & 1/21/25
Business Model Canvas Due
2/7/25
Business Plan Summary Due 2/14/25
Mock/ Practice Round
3/1/25
Qualifying Round
3/15/25
Final Atlanta Round
4/5/25
Applications are closed for 2026.
Email tieu@tie-atlanta.org with any queries.
OPEN FOR 2027 APPLICATIONS NOW -- CLICK HERE!

TiE Atlanta University Pitch showcase

TiE University is empowering college students to become the next generation of entrepreneurs by educating, mentoring, and inspiring university students to plan and take intelligent risks in starting or scaling a business. The program is free and open to students currently enrolled in college or recent graduates from 2025 or 2026.

Now entering its 15th  year, TiE Atlanta University program has worked with 340 teams and over 650 students from 20 universities in Georgia and Southeastern US states.  Ninety coaches have participated in ongoing mentorship and funding introductions, and survey results reveal a more than 90% satisfaction rating for the program.  TiE U Atlanta has been recognized globally as an award-winning entrepreneurship program.

Applications are closed for 2026.
Email tieu@tie-atlanta.org with any queries.

TiE University Co-Chairs

  • Dr. Benn Konsynski, Goizueta Business School at Emory University / Digital Commerce Expert
  • Dr. Joyelle Harris, Executive officer of Entrepreneurship and Director of the Entrepreneurship and innovation Insitute, Georgia State University
  • Dr. Paul Lopez, Co-Founder, TiE University / 11 – 11 Ventures
  • Eric Ensor, Principal at Quiet Water Associates
  • Gina Bennett, President, Case Digital, Inc
  • Neeti Dewan, CEO, Platinum AdvantEdge
  • Preeti Tanwar, Founder and CEO, HiEd Success

Success Stats

TiE University Calendar

Online Application Due – 01/22/2024 – LINK

Info Sessions – 1/16/2024 and 1/23/24 at 5pm EDT via Zoom

Business Model Canvas Due – 2/9/2024

Business Plan Summary Due – 2/16/2024

Mock/Practice Round – 3/2/2024

Qualifying Round  – 3/16/2024

Final Atlanta Round – 4/6/2024

TiE Global Pitchfest – Early May 2024

TiE University Co-Chairs

  • Eric Ensor, Principal at Quiet Water Associates
  • Neeti Dewan, Global Head of Tax, Club Car
  • Dr. Benn Konsynski, Goizueta Business School at Emory University / Digital Commerce Expert
  • Dr. Paul Lopez, Co-Founder, TiE University / 11 – 11 Ventures
  • Preeti Tanwar, Founder and CEO, HiEd Success

Success Stats

OPEN FOR 2027 APPLICATIONS NOW -- CLICK HERE!
For questions or additional info, email tieu@tie-atlanta.org

TiE UNIVERSITY PROGRAM FORMAT

TiE University has developed into an award-winning program that brings together university entrepreneurs with successful business leaders across Georgia to perfect their pitch, develop their product or service and provide a holistic approach to their startup. The teams get mentored by real-world entrepreneurs and compete in a mock/practice round and a qualifying round in Q1. The final teams then go onto compete for cash prizes at TiE University Atlanta Finals, a pitch competition held every Spring. The winning team then goes on to the TiE University Global Pitchfest Competition to compete with other TiE University teams from around the globe.

April 2023

TiE Atlanta's University Alumni Testimonials

I've grown so much throughout the TiE University Atlanta program and appreciate the opportunity for further growth. I’ve re-applied. Thanks again and again for the excellent program!
Sade ShofidiyaIncoming Digital Risk Solutions Consultant at PwC
Sade Shofidiya
TiE University Atlanta was an amazing experience. We received valuable feedback, mentorship, guidance, and connections. I would highly recommend TiE University so you can receive more feedback to scale your business, as you can meet experienced people willing to help you!
Nhut DangWashington University St. Louis
Nhut Dang
Sade Shofidiya
Sade ShofidiyaIncoming Digital Risk Solutions Consultant at PwC
I've grown so much throughout the TiE University Atlanta program and appreciate the opportunity for further growth. I’ve re-applied. Thanks again and again for the excellent program!
Nhut Dang
Nhut DangWashington University St. Louis
TiE University Atlanta was an amazing experience. We received valuable feedback, mentorship, guidance, and connections. I would highly recommend TiE University so you can receive more feedback to scale your business, as you can meet experienced people willing to help you!
Austin Karisny
Austin KarisnyFounder & CEO/GoodGains Exchange, Kennesaw State University
We have learned a lot during our experience with TiE Atlanta. We’ve learned more in depth of how to handle investor relations, creating investor material, and preparing for pitching. Overall, the experience so far has been a great learning experience and it’s all useful knowledge for our business. We couldn’t be happier with the resources provided to us with TiE Atlanta
Meredith Rose
Meredith RoseFounder & CEO/HomeTele SLP, Georgia State University
Participating in TiE University Atlanta over the past few months has been a great experience! As a full-time PhD student and founder of a HomeTele SLP, a speech-language telepractice startup, it can be challenging to build a business while pursuing a postgraduate academic degree. However, through TiE University Atlanta, I have created a business model canvas and business plan summary, improved my pitch deck, and learned what information is needed to put together financial statements. I am thankful for the knowledge that I have gained as a result of participating in the program.
Eric Jackson
Eric JacksonCo-Leader/It's Business Time, University of West Georgia
We would like to thank TiE University Atlanta for this opportunity to participate in this entrepreneurship competition. Through TiE’s strategy calls, information calls, and mentors given to us, our team has been able to obtain great knowledge and strategies for our pitch competition and for our real-world plans. Many of us on our team have a business or have business plans in our future and this program is setting us ahead of the game for our futures and is providing us with hands-on experience. This has truly been an amazing experience and there are still many more ways for us to learn and grow
Jessica Bloodsworth
Jessica BloodsworthFounder/MenuMatch, Auburn University
From the workshops to the one-on-one coaching sessions to the available resources, it has been a great opportunity to work with TiE University over the past months. I look forward to continuing to work with the team at TiE U Atlanta and to seeing where this journey leads!
Patrick Tweel
Patrick TweelFounder and CEO/Coale Cookware, Mercer University
So far, I've found the TiE Atlanta experience unmatched in value. The accessibility to the network that TiE has and the willingness for those in the network to help has surpassed my expectations. A warning to future teams: it is what you make it. Simply having access to these grand resources is NOT the same as using them so take advantage!
Vanessa Edokpayi
Vanessa EdokpayiCo-Founder/Team Even, Spelman College
Our experience in getting ready for the mock round so far has been very thorough, helpful and exciting! TiE University makes everything as seamless as possible by proving us with routine emails to ensure we are ready for the competition. Emails also contain important information and key dates needed for success. We find that we are very well equipped to handle the mock round, as well as the qualifying round and beyond! Also, with great help from our mentor, we know that we will excel in this program, and do exceptionally well in the mock round, qualifying, round, and beyond. Our overall involvement in this program has also been very helpful, especially for the current stage that we are at.
Abdoulaye Djire
Abdoulaye DjireFounder & CEO/FIND, Georgia State University
Competing in the TiE Atlanta competition has been a great experience. We were introduced to a mentor/coach who we think truly understands our vision for where we see our company going. The information in the zoom calls and info meetings has been invaluable because this information is not always easy to find, and it is from people who have first hand experience of what they are talking about. All in all it has been an amazing experience thus far.
Ford Coleman
Ford ColemanCEO/Gigsurf, Georgia Institute of Technology
The TiE University Atlanta program has been an amazing experience! It has helped our team better understand how to pitch our business so the audience knows what our company is trying to achieve. The workshops, activities, and pitching have helped us really hone in on our value proposition.
Benedict Owanga
Benedict OwangaCo-Founder/Quick Light, Emory University School of Law
I wanted to share my experience with the TiE University competition. Over the past few weeks, our team has been working diligently to prepare for the event. The competition has provided us with an invaluable platform to showcase our innovative ideas and learn from like-minded peers. As we progressed, we've honed our skills in entrepreneurship, teamwork, and critical thinking. We're grateful for the support and guidance we've received from the TiE community, and we're excited to see how our project will evolve in the future. Thank you for organizing such a wonderful and impactful event!
Aaditya Anugu
Aaditya AnuguTechnical Analyst/Pandamensional, Georgia Institute of Tech
Our experience for getting ready has been an incredibly enlightening experience. We have learned to take in many different perspectives from investors from TiE who have made us understand our business better and how we can better prepare ourselves for future growth. The TiE competition has made it possible for us to meet other fellow entrepreneurs and gain a better understanding of the world of startups and investors.
James Porter
James PorterCo-Founder/WoodTek, University of North Georgia
Dear TiE, This experience has been truly profound and has offered us more room to improve than we could have ever imagined. Having a coach to help and guide us is an amazing experience that has elevated our business to levels we could only imagine. Thank you so much for the opportunity and the fantastic feedback that would be a near impossible to do on our own. TiE is providing such an important service that should not go unnoticed.
Valeria Brenner
Valeria BrennerFounder of Thryft Ship, University of Georgia
TiE University has been such a tremendous help for me and my business! Being connected to a network of experienced entrepreneurs has been amazing. I feel like no problem is too hard to tackle.
Cooper Bowen
Cooper BowenFounder of Smart Snack Solutions, Representing the University of North Georgia
This has been a very fast rolling process for us. We thought our concept up less than 2 months ago. TiE University has already proven as an incredible resource with the best mentoring we could ask for. Coming out of these sessions, we feel set up for success and which direction to head towards in order to make our business become reality.
Ethan Natawidjaja
Ethan NatawidjajaFounder & CEO of Tokoro, Representing Georgia State University
Dear TiE U, thank you for giving me the opportunity to pitch. I got ready by practicing my pitch heavily 2 days before and resting the day before the mock pitch. My coach at TiE U made sure my slides looked the best they could be.
Katherine Hollister
Katherine HollisterFounder & CEO of Pique Games, Representing Valdosta State University
This is my first year in the TiE U program as a freshman at Valdosta State University. This program has taught me so much about business, and creating a start-up. Coming in with almost zero knowledge of how this works, my mentor and everyone have been extremely kind and helpful. This has been a great experience for me.
April Wright
April WrightFounder & CEO of The Growing Rock, Representing Clayaton State University
TiE University has been a pleasure to participate in. From learning critical financials to best practice pitching to a room full of investors, you have your work ahead of you. There is so much to learn to be suucessful.
Kendra Garcia
Kendra GarciaFounder & CEO of Kinetic, Representing Georgia Tech
TIE University Atlanta has been incredibly supportive throughout my entrepreneurial journey. The mentorship program connected me with experienced mentors who provided tailored guidance, while the insightful resources helped me overcome challenges with ease. Thanks to TIE University Atlanta, I feel equipped and empowered to drive my business forward with confidence!!