A new funding opportunity for underrepresented entrepreneurs in the fintech industry is being launched in Atlanta.
The Pinnacle Atlanta Innovation Accelerator, a joint effort by Pinnacle Financial Partners, Tarkenton Companies and gener8tor venture capital firm will invest in up to five early-stage companies annually, with each receiving a $100,000 investment, mentorship and access to a network of investors and business leaders, a statement said.
The program will be headquartered at the newly opened Pinnacle Economic Empowerment Resource (PEER) Center, located at 384 Northyards Blvd. The center serves as both a Pinnacle Bank office and a collaborative hub for financial education, entrepreneurship and innovation.
To qualify for the 12-week program, startups must be majority-owned by underserved founders — as defined by the U.S. Small Business Administration — such as women, minorities, veterans, individuals with disabilities or those from low-income backgrounds.
Startups in gambling, cannabis or other vice-related industries are not eligible to apply.
Startups interested in the fall cohort can apply on the gener8tor website. The deadline to apply is July 22.
The program runs from Sept. 23 to Dec. 19.
The launch was announced ahead of the PEER Center’s grand opening, where the three partner organizations highlighted their shared goal of creating new opportunities for founders historically left out of venture and banking ecosystems.
Businessman and NFL Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton is the founder of Tarkenton Companies.
The former University of Georgia Bulldog said, “This program brings together three organizations that live the mission of helping people to support the next generation of business builders, job creators and difference-makers.”
He added, “Georgia and Atlanta have been central to my life — from my days as a quarterback to the past five decades building companies.”
The program will follow gener8tor’s nationally recognized accelerator model, which has helped alumni raise more than $2.4 billion and create over 13,000 jobs, the statement said.
The Atlanta initiative is gener8tor’s latest expansion in the Southeast and will tailor its programming to fintech startups solving real-world financial problems.
“We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive in the communities we serve,” said Rob Garcia, regional president at Pinnacle Financial Partners. “The PEER Center is a vital tool in building a local support system—especially for those who have historically been left out of the conversation.”
Emily Wykle, regional vice president at gener8tor, said the partnership is a testament to the impact that collaboration can have on the startup ecosystem.
“Together, we’re creating a powerful platform for founders to scale and succeed,” she said. “This reflects our belief that communities succeed when they invest in their best and brightest.”
Interested business owners can learn more on the gener8tor website.
