As Atlanta prepares for a wave of global events, including the FIFA World Cup, local entrepreneurs gathered May 29 at the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE) for the Hustle & Grow Small Business Summit, an event designed to connect business owners with funding opportunities, expert guidance and community resources.
Hosted in partnership with U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams, Airbnb and Wells Fargo, the event featured resource tables from organizations serving small businesses and a panel discussion on preparing for the World Cup economy. Toward the end of the summit, two local small businesses received Wells Fargo-sponsored grants through a drawing.
The panel focused on how entrepreneurs can position themselves to benefit from increased tourism and large-scale events while building long-term business growth.
Justin Carter, a reporter and host with The Shade Room who moderated the discussion, said the goal was to expand opportunities beyond the businesses that traditionally receive attention.
“We interviewed the same businesses every time something happened,” Carter said. “So, how can we introduce more people, more business owners to these big spaces, these big arenas where we can promote and we can all win as well?”
Kelsey Maynard, director of business engagement for Showcase Atlanta, encouraged entrepreneurs to think beyond the World Cup itself and prepare for Atlanta’s continuing growth as a destination city.
“We want large events to happen with Atlanta, and not to Atlanta,” Maynard said.
He pointed attendees toward marketing grants, vendor opportunities and food truck activations tied to upcoming events while emphasizing that preparation extends beyond a single tournament.
“The saying that I’ve been using since we started doing this Showcase thing is the World Cup and beyond,” Maynard said. “If you continue to stay connected with Showcase Atlanta, continue to stay connected with Airbnb… make sure you tap into Urban League and the Chambers… you’ll continue to be successful.”
LaNier Echols, an Atlanta Airbnb host and co-host, encouraged entrepreneurs to take advantage of networking opportunities.
“It’s just making sure you are in the right place and right time… if you have a business, just being able to say what you do, because you don’t know who’s in the room,” Echols said.
Nia Brown, Airbnb’s public policy manager for the Southeast United States, said short-term rentals can spread tourism spending into neighborhoods beyond downtown hotels.
“One of the things that I love about my job, and that I love about Airbnb, is that it allows the tourism economy to go, instead of in the hands of big corporations… into the pocket of locals,” Brown said.
“Our data shows that every night a person stays in a certain rental, $200 goes to the economy around it, right… That means … I’m not spending money at a Starbucks in a Marriott. I’m spending my money at Cafe Bartique… helping to sustain the businesses in our community.”
John Moye, senior director of policy for the Urban League of Greater Atlanta, stressed the importance of networking and taking advantage of opportunities before major events arrive.
“You don’t know who you’re going to meet,” Moye said. “Be ready, be prepared… You network, network, network.”
In remarks closing the event, Williams highlighted the role small businesses play in Atlanta’s economy while encouraging attendees to engage in policymaking through her congressional Small Business Advisory Council.
“We know that small businesses are the backbone of this economy, and we can’t grow without you,” Williams said.
Beyond the panel, attendees met with organizations offering guidance on financing, business development and entrepreneurial support at resource tables throughout the venue, reinforcing the event’s goal of connecting small business owners with practical tools and long-term partnerships.
With Atlanta continuing to attract major sporting and entertainment events, including the Super Bowl in 2028, organizers framed Hustle & Grow not simply as a one-day resource fair but as an opportunity for entrepreneurs to build relationships and prepare for the city’s next chapter of economic growth.
Disclosure: The author is an Airbnb co-host and a volunteer member of Airbnb’s Host Advocates team. Quotes, statements and viewpoints in this article are attributed to speakers, organizations and materials presented during the events covered.
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