Three winners of the Atlanta Metro Export Challenge (Atlanta MEC) pitch competition were awarded grants at an event hosted by the Metro Atlanta Chamber Wednesday evening. This year-long program assists local companies in their global business development efforts. The 2024 winners of the Atlanta MEC include:

• ProgenaCare Global was awarded $15,000

• CodeMettle was awarded $10,000

• Dr. Noze Best was awarded $5,000 

Each winning company was also awarded a flight voucher courtesy of Delta Air Lines. 

“It’s collaborative efforts like the Atlanta Metro Export Challenge that build a robust foundation for regional prosperity,” said Katie Kirkpatrick, president & CEO of the Metro Atlanta Chamber. “We are pleased to coordinate these targeted resources from partners across the region to help growing companies poised to enter global markets.” 

Companies participating in the program receive a $5,000 reimbursement grant used for expenses related to their international business growth. They also benefit from a tailored mentorship and counseling program to assist in the development of global sales plans and go-to-market strategies, as well as flight vouchers from Delta Air Lines. Minority-, women-, or veteran-owned businesses make up 38% of grant recipients.

The Atlanta Metro Export Challenge started in 2016 with a single grant from JPMorgan Chase and has grown into a region-wide collaborative effort to encourage export growth. Since its implementation, the program has supported more than 130 metro Atlanta businesses with over $800,000 in financial support and counseling.

Exporting companies grow faster, pay their employees more and file more patents than their non-exporting counterparts. American exporters also benefit from a widely held perception of quality of U.S. products, as well as advantages of scale and diversification.

The event marked the conclusion of the year-long program and the kickoff to the 2025 season. Applications for the 2025 cohort are open now through January 17, 2025, and are available at metroatlantachamber.com/metro-export-challenge.

The judges for the 2024 Metro Export Challenge pitch competition include:

•  Darrel Hulsey, Director, UGA Small Business Development Center - International Trade Center

•  George Tracy, Director, U.S. Commercial Service Atlanta

•  Alice Carson, Division Director for International Trade, Georgia Department of Economic Development 

Companies pitching: 

CodeMettle serves defense, government, and commercial partners through innovative and scalable commercial software products.codemettle.com

Dr. Noze Best is a consumer health brand revolutionizing baby care with innovative, medical-grade products to help parents easily manage infant congestion, providing accessible, effective solutions for families. drnozebest.com

Eskuad (e-squad) is a no-code field data platform that works regardless of internet service quality, helping streamline operations and automate compliance across supply chains. eskuad.com

ProgenaCare is a purpose-driven medical device company leveraging cutting-edge advances in biomaterials to provide effective, affordable advanced wound care solutions to patients across the socioeconomic spectrum. progenacare.com  

Ready For Social is the only all-in-one program that can power your entire sales team on social media, create high visibility and thought leadership, and drive more lifetime customer revenue. readyforsocial.com 

Trans Globe is a global agribusiness leader linking farmers, producers, and processors with end users all over the world. tglobetrade.com 

The 2024 Atlanta MEC cohort was made possible by funding from the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the Atlanta Mayor’s Office of International and Immigrant Affairs, Invest Atlanta, Partnership Gwinnett, Select Cobb, Select Fulton, and NRW Global Business, in addition to funds generated by Certificate of Origin (COO) processing fees by the Metro Atlanta Chamber. All proceeds from COO sales are reinvested in MAC’s export initiatives, principally the MEC, fueling growth of the region’s next generation of exporters.