ATL Thinks! is an innovation program designed to highlight Metro Atlanta’s talented people and companies while connecting them to industries and opportunities through a series of ideation labs, hack days, mentor sessions, and pitch competitions. Think of it like a hackathon spread out over 30 days. The Fall 2018 edition, powered by Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), focuses on the aviation industry as it relates to developing the airport of the future.

Four divisions of participants work to solve challenges faced by many airports around the world. The winning team from each division gets to deploy a pilot with ATL Airport, and retain the intellectual property for future use.

ATL Thinks! Fall 2018 is a great fit for marketing, UI/UX Design, product management, communication, and sustainability startups and agencies to get in the door with top airports/companies in the aviation industry.

REGISTER TO ATTEND FINAL ROUND PITCH COMPETITION

KEY DATES

Tuesday, August 7th, 2018: Opening Event + Challenge Insight Panel @ General Assembly (6:00pm – 9:00pm)

Wednesday, August 8th, 2018: Program Application Period Opens

Friday, August 24th, 2018: Application Period Closes

Saturday, September 8th, 2018: Airport Tour + Design Thinking Lab @ ATL Airport & Airport Technical Campus (9am – 5pm)

Saturday, September 15th, 2018: Hack Day @ Google Atlanta (9am – 6pm)

Friday, September 21st, 2018: Semi-Final Round Pitch Competition @ WeWork Colony Square (6pm – 9pm)

Thursday, September 27th, 2018: Final Round Pitch Competition @ The Gathering Spot (Evening)

CHALLENGES

Teams will be able to work on one of the following challenges:

+ATL Rewards: How might Hartsfield-Jackson increase its loyalty program participation for employees, frequent travelers, and heavy consumers of food and beverage with an automated experience? (Skills Needed: Marketing and Data Capture)

+ATLNext Construction Navigation Design: How might passengers learn the best way to navigate/traverse airport construction environments? (Skills Needed: Digital, Storytelling, Design)

+Greening ATL Apiary: How might an easy-to-transport (mobile and modular) net zero commercial grade honey house for an airport be designed? (Skills Needed: Industrial Design)

+Renewable/Regenerative Energy: How might airports produce renewable energy from passenger footsteps? (Skills Needed: Marketing, Promotional Activations, Sustainability)

REASONS YOU SHOULD START A TEAM

ATL Thinks provides a amazing opportunity to get connected with world-class brands. You’ll get: 

+Large Customers: The chance to get Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as a reference customer. Many companies can work for years to simply get a meeting. You can use them to secure other airports and companies as customers.

+High-Impact Networking: Opportunity to build partnerships and relationships across the aviation industry and innovation sectors.

+Business Model Support: Learn how to present your business case in a way that gets buy-in from high-level executives.

+Mentorship from experienced Atlanta innovators

TEAMS THAT ARE A GOOD FIT

We strongly encourage pre-formed teams of college students, professionals, and existing companies to apply. Ideally, they are:

+Atlanta-based
+Have three (3) people max
+At least team member must be from a group underrepresented in innovation (women or people of color).
+Existing companies less than five years old and with less than $500,000 in annual revenue (*does NOT apply for GreeningATL Apiary Challenge)
+Willing to learn and be challenged along the way with peers and mentors

FAQ’S

I don’t have a team. Can I still participate?
Since the winning teams have the opportunity to do real business with our aviation partners, we strongly recommend forming a team in advance with people you trust.

Who owns the intellectual property of the ideas?
Your team owns the intellectual property

How are selections made for acceptance into the program?
We’ll select 3 teams per challenge to participate

Does ATL Thinks provide funding as part of the program?
Nope, but we do provide an amazing opportunity that 99.99% of all companies in the world don’t receive plus mentorship.

Does Amplify 4 Good take equity from the companies that come out of the program?
Nope.

I’m not in Atlanta. Can I start a team?
We require, at least, one of the team members be a resident of Metro Atlanta.

I can’t make it to Ideation Lab on September 8th. Can I still start a team?
Unfortunately, no. Attendance at all events in September is required for those who will start a team

Does my solution have to include software ?
Each challenge have specific solution requirements. Some of them may require software, but not all.

Is this a full-time program?
Nope. We’ve designed it so you have time for a job, class, etc. However, there will be a lot of work to do!