Jennifer Bonnett, a signature member of the Atlanta startup community, has officially been named general manager of the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC), one of the longest-running and largest university-based startup incubators in the country. The Georgia Tech hot bed provides coaching and opportunities to nearly 100 companies and more than 800 technology startup entrepreneurs across the state.
Bonnett’s road to the helm of Georgia’s startup staple began last October, when she was named acting general manager. During that time, she fostered a full-fledged renovation of the ATDC’s flagship building in Tech Square, lead its 22-person staff, and promoted its education programs in Atlanta, Athens, Augusta and Savannah. 
“Under her steady and smart leadership, ATDC continues to grow and expand as Georgia’s technology incubator dedicated to serving the state and its economy by helping entrepreneurs learn, launch, scale, and succeed in their technology startup efforts,” said Chris Downing, vice president and director of the Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI2), Georgia Tech’s chief outreach and economic development arm, which oversees the incubator.
“Jen has been tireless champion of technology startup development in Georgia and an important voice and advocate for the community,” he added.
Bonnett has been a facilitator toward startup success for nearly three decades. She has founded or served as the chief technology officer of several venture funded companies, including eTour.com, which was acquired by Ask.com in 2001. In 2009, she created StartupChicks, a non-profit which has helped to empower more than 10,000 women entrepreneurs globally. 
As a 25-year startup veteran, Bonnett can relate to the challenges and triumphs of ATDC companies. “We’re committed to entrepreneurs and working with startups all over the state to help them build and launch successful and sustainable, job-creating companies,” she said.
“ATDC was founded almost 36 years ago and we have over 170 graduates through our program and 90% of those graduates are deemed successful — meaning they were still in business as an ongoing endeavor, gone public, or successfully merged into another company 5 years after graduation.”
Earning acclaim as one of the nation’s best incubators with its ability to grow early-stage companies, ATDC has long defined Georgia’s entrepreneurial and economic ecosystem. Its 170+ startup graduates have generated about $12 billion in revenue, with nearly $2 billion in investment dollars coming into the state of Georgia as a result of its efforts. To learn more, visit their website. 
