Spotlight February 2026

Biotech, BravesVision, and the Rise of Physical AI

Welcome to Spotlight, your series tracking the technology wins, ecosystem growth, and major announcements across Atlanta. February was a blockbuster month for the city, proving that Atlanta isn't just a fintech hub—it’s an emerging global leader in high-impact technology.

From a massive $75 million biopharma raise and the official debut of BravesVision streaming, to the rise of Physical AI and city-wide preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the "A" is setting a relentless pace for the rest of the year.

Infrastructure Move
Proposed rendering of new Aerospace Engineering Building, subject to change. (source: Georgia Tech)

State and Delta Fund New Aerospace Building: Governor Brian Kemp signed the amended FY26 budget, which includes an $88 million state investment for the design and construction of Georgia Tech's new Aerospace Engineering building. This major commitment complements the $5 million commitment from the Delta Air Lines Foundation. The ambitious capital project will fuel the state’s economy and accelerate innovation in aviation and sustainable tech, ensuring Atlanta remains the world's most connected aerospace hub – especially since aerospace is Georgia's top export.

Funding Round

Altesa BioSciences Secures $75M Series B: Atlanta’s life sciences sector saw a massive boost as Altesa BioSciences closed a $75 million Series B round. The clinical-stage biopharma company is focusing on chronic lung diseases like COPD and asthma. The raise underscores Atlanta’s ability to attract top-tier capital for biotech innovation.

Venture Wins

The Rise of Robotic "K9s": Atlanta Ventures (led by David Cummings) announced a $950,000 lead investment into Undaunted, a proactive robotics-powered security platform.

  • The Tech: Undaunted uses AI-powered cameras and human-operated robots to prevent crime in real-time.
  • Community Tie-In: Undaunted is closely tied to a growing local hardware community and their efforts to bring them together, including an Feb. 13 event they participated in.
  • The Backing: The round included key Atlanta real estate and tech players, including Flock Safety, South Downtown, Perennial Properties, Jamestown, and Balfour Residential.
  • The Impact: Undaunted has already deployed its robotic security across dozens of Atlanta properties, proving that the city is becoming a testbed for "Physical AI."

‍Ecosystem Growth & Community Impact

Donnie Beamer speaking at Get Hired Atlanta with the team at WriteSea

  • The HBCU AI Research Leadership Act: Congresswoman Valerie Foushee introduced landmark legislation to establish AI Research Institutes at HBCUs, a move officially endorsed by the Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC). This act is designed to close long-standing research funding gaps and strengthen the AI workforce pipeline.
  • Showcase Atlanta: The Mayor’s Office launched the Showcase Atlanta Youth Entrepreneurship Accelerator to ensure local small businesses and "solopreneurs" are technically and operationally ready for the massive demands of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
  • WriteSea AI-Powered Career Readiness: The City of Atlanta and Invest Atlanta launched a one-year pilot with WriteSea, an AI-powered platform to equip 100 residents with resume and interview tools. The collaboration leverages AI to expand access to high-quality job-search resources and strengthen local workforce engagement.
  • HYPE About Tech: "Futureproofing" the Next Generation: The 2nd annual HYPE About Tech Conference took over Clark Atlanta University. With the theme "Futureproof: Skills that Outlast the Algorithm," the event connected over 300 young women of color with STEM leaders, cementing Atlanta's commitment to building a diverse tech talent pipeline.
  • Tech North Atlanta Debuts First-Ever Awards: The nonprofit Tech North Atlanta announced its inaugural awards program to spotlight the innovation happening in the north metro region. Categories like "AI Product Innovation of the Year" aim to recognize the digital transformation happening beyond the city’s core.
Sports & Municipal Tech
  • BravesVision: A New Era for Local Streaming: The Atlanta Braves launched BravesVision, their own local television network and streaming platform. Starting with the 2026 season, fans will have a direct-to-consumer streaming option (Braves.TV), ending the era of local blackouts and setting a new standard for team-owned media tech.
  • ScanTech AI x City of Atlanta Partnership: To prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the City of Atlanta launched a pilot with ScanTech AI Systems. The program uses "Sentinel™" AI CT scanners to modernize security screening, ensuring the city's infrastructure can handle the global influx of visitors with speed and precision.
Thought Leadership
  • Op-Ed Signals New Legislative Focus: Donnie Beamer, who leads Atlanta Tech Hub, published a high-profile opinion piece in James Magazine titled "How Georgia’s Legislature Can Power Our Tech Economy." He called for the state to prioritize a financial strategy that encourages local venture investment and talent retention. Read the full article here.
  • Update: HB 1347 was recently introduced by Representative Brad Thomas which seeks to increase the allowable alternative investment limit for certain public retirement systems from 10% to 15%.
  • AI as a "Super Power": David Cummings published "AI Is a Super Power—Start Treating It Like One," urging founders to move beyond basic LLM use cases toward deep, core AI integration for every team member. Read the full post here.
  • High Valuation Trap: Kathryn O’Day published “The Real Pros & Cons of a High Valuation,” a timely piece that tackled the "High Valuation" trap, urging founders to seek a "Goldilocks valuation" as Atlanta startups navigate the 2026 funding environment. Read the full post here.
  • Additionally, Kathryn will be serving as a judge for the upcoming InVenture Prize Competition on March 11. You can attend the event in person at Georgia Tech or watch the broadcast on GPB at 7 pm.

To keep track of Atlanta’s next big moves, check back for the March Spotlight update.

‍