Atlanta Tech Village (the Village), one of the largest tech incubators in the U.S., is joining forces with Turner to combine resources and create stronger engagement within the city's tech community. As a partner, Turner - a global entertainment, sports and news company that is part of Time Warner - will play a key role in championing Atlanta's innovation and inclusion around both startups and enterprise.

"We like to think of ourselves as a 45-year old startup, which means that while we have a lot to offer the community because we are a global media company, we still have a lot to learn," explains Maigh Houlihan, Technology & Community Catalyst at Turner. "Partnering with the Village will help us energize that innovative spirit within our own teams."

Turner will also collaborate on new ideas with the Village, which is America's fourth-largest tech hub and promotes economic development in Atlanta and beyond.

"Turner has deep roots in Georgia, which remains home to our largest group of employees and technologists," said Brooks Tobey, head of tech strategy and business operations. "We are committed to investing in the local tech and startup community, and this program is a great way to discover new technologies that help solve day-to-day challenges as well as help startups understand what commercial scale looks like."

A Relationship Fueled by Innovation and Diversity

Having recently kicked off a major tech overhaul of its own, Turner was drawn to the Village because of its reputation for exciting new companies and innovative ideas. The union presents ample opportunity for both Turner and the Village to tap into each other's talents and expertise.

Another goal of the partnership is to increase the representation of diverse populations in the tech workforce through various initiatives, including sharing resources. One key example of this is Turner's scholarship program with the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology, which they plan to allot one of its scholarships specifically to a woman at a Village startup to attend the annual Grace Hopper Conference.

"We're excited to partner with another iconic Atlanta brand like Turner to help make our city's tech scene even more dynamic," says Atlanta Tech Village Vice President Karen Houghton. "Diversity is a hugely important issue in tech, and our collaboration with Turner will open even more doors for our community. A strong startup ecosystem needs key players in enterprise, government, and universities in addition to our entrepreneurs, and we couldn't be prouder to have Turner be a part of that family. They are great people who make innovation, inclusion, and bettering their community a priority, and we do too."