We are only as great as the sum of our parts. Lucky for us we have a team of innovative, kind, and crazy smart people who help make this community run smoothly. We exist to serve and support our startups on their quest to change the world. We also like to think we are pretty darn fun to be around. We hope to meet you soon!
It Takes a Village
Meet our talented team














Our Mission
Established in 2013, the Atlanta Tech Village is a community of innovation powered by a 103,000 square foot building. The Village is designed for technology and technology-related companies that have a unique set of needs in their quest to change the world. Your workspace should be more than just a desk and a place to hang your hat — it should bring the community together, promote serendipitous interactions, and be a powerful tool for recruiting the best talent.
Our Values
We live and breathe these values. Startups are hard. Community shouldn’t be.
Pay It Forward
Lend a helping hand, volunteer, make an intro, listen, give advice, and pay it forward.
Be Nice.
There is always time for kindness. We are a community of people who care for each other and celebrate successes.
Work Hard. Play Hard.
We work hard, long hours. And when you love what you do, you should also love where you work. Playing hard is one of our specialties.
Dream Big.
The Village exists for entrepreneurs. We are startups biggest fans and we provide everything you need to achieve your biggest dreams. You got this!

A proud Duke graduate and accomplished entrepreneur, David is the reason Atlanta Tech Village exists. After an extraordinary bootstrapped exit at Pardot, David invested in Atlanta and the startup community by purchasing our 100,000 square foot building and creating the vision for the Village. Addicted to startups, David is CEO of Atlanta Ventures and an avid investor – having invested in over 25 startups. You also might have seen him in the news – it happens so often that ABC (Atlanta Business Chronicle) is now short for All ‘Bout Cummings.
What I wanted to be when I grew up: software entrepreneur — I’m a geek 🙂
Two truths, one lie: Taught myself to code from a book in 8th grade, after Pardot was sold I bought an island, and I named one of my first companies after my hometown street.

The “other” David leads our team, setting the culture while communicating and implementing the Village’s vision, mission, and strategic goals. As Co-founder and President, David has been intimately involved with the creation and growth of Atlanta Tech Village – from the closing table in December 2012 through concept, design, and construction to facilities and programming – transforming a run-down 1980s office building into Atlanta’s startup hub. David’s also the Founder of Clickscape|Village Realty, but his most important startups are his 3 kids who are seeing some real traction lately. Oh and chances are he’s taller than you.
What I wanted to be when I grew up: A player-owner of the Atlanta Hawks
Two truths, one lie: I ran a marathon on a bet; One of my first forays into entrepreneurship was a line of super punny greeting cards; Someone once set my hair on fire at a house party.

Aly Merritt is a former newspaper copy editor with a residual addiction to journalism, who found her way back to Atlanta Tech Village after a seven-year stint at Salesloft. In past Lofter lives, she’s been a part of customer experience, support, product management, community and marketing, as well as Chief of Staff (which is a part of everything, really). She works with the Atlanta startup community to advance both local startups and Atlanta itself on the national stage, has organized and emceed ATL Startup Village for the past four years, and sporadically spends time writing about tech and the startup community on her blog, AlyintheATL.com.
Aly lives in Atlanta with her husband, Alex (who is an attorney and therefore very challenging to argue with), and their two cats and infant son (who doesn’t argue at all — yet). She still is unable to reconcile herself to the Oxford comma.
Two truths, one lie: My mother taught me how to throw knives when I was 8; I won the Southeast regional spelling bee when I was in fifth grade; I was born on an island near Fiji.

Ania grew up in Poland. As a young adult, she moved to the U.S. and earned her degrees in Political Science and in Public Administration from Georgia State University. It was at the university where she learned her first lesson on the importance of strong networks and meaningful relationships.
Ania is bullish on creating access opportunities for entrepreneurs. During her career, she provided companies with research, data, and financial resources to help them find the right business opportunities in the U.S. and abroad. While at the Metro Atlanta Chamber, Ania led Atlanta’s participation in Brookings Institution’s Global Cities Initiative. At Ernst & Young, she engaged fast-growth companies in the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year program. Most recently, she was Director of Operations at Outlander VC, an Atlanta-based venture capital firm.
Two truths, one lie: I have built (and used extensively) a two-wheeled baby stroller, I have travelled to 75 countries, I am addicted to Audible

Durantae is a charismatic number jumper from Ellenwood, GA and earned a bachelor’s degree in Accountancy from Georgia State University. He works in partnership with our Finance Director to help manage the books and finances for the Village and several Atlanta Venture startups. Durantae is currently working on his CPA and is a karaoke superstar. When not slinging lyrics or numbers, he can be found playing ping pong, and laughing… usually at other people’s serves.
What I wanted to be when I grew up: Travel Agent (because I thought they got to travel a lot )
Two truths, one lie: I dunked once when I was 16, I’m related to Ludacris, I was born in Dubai.

Julie is Kansan, born and raised! She grew up in a farm town where the population of cows outnumbered the population of humans, and traffic flowed through two total stoplights. While she was a small-town girl, she decided not to be a small-town woman and moved to central Florida to attend college. After some higher education, Julie pursued her career in the nonprofit world for 10 years before exploring entrepreneurship as an abstract artist and digital marketer. Currently, she is combining her heart for people, community, administration, creativity, and all around badass-ery as the Director of Community and Operations but you can still find her painting, listening to Celine Dion, and sipping a glass of Jam Jar’s sweet red shiraz every now and again.
What I wanted to be when I grew up: An Ethan Allen Design Consultant (I know…painfully specific)
Two Truths and a Lie: My childhood pet was a tarantula, I’m afraid of flying, I am a classically trained vocalist

Teundras is California born and Georgia raised. Her parents made up her name on a whim – it has no meaning, but every now and then she’ll have a made up story about the origins of her name that she’s willing to entertain you with. She is a Georgia Southern University graduate with a B. A. in Theatre, a very lucrative degree. After graduating, she pursued her career in Theatre Education and Acting. She can simultaneously sing ‘Hamilton’, Drake, ‘Book of Mormon’ and Beyoncé in one setting (off key but with feeling). As the Community Assistant, Teundras loves using her natural talent for service and creative problem solving to aid the success of the Village. In her free time you can catch her drinking coffee, hosting game nights, traveling and karaoking to Fergie’s biggest hits.
What I wanted to be when I grew up : Actress or Journalist
Two Truths and a Lie : I’ve been skydiving 3 times, I am left-handed, I can quote ‘Mean Girls’ the movie from start to finish.

Hilton grew up in Milton, GA and graduated from Missouri Valley College in Marshall, MO with a major in Marketing & Business Management. After graduating college, she became the Assistant Festival Director for the Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival in Columbia, MO where she managed social media and assisted in operations & logistics. She prides herself on being insanely organized & hard-working. She is a pro at multi-tasking and managing events of all sizes. Hilton loves music, her dog, and good pizza.
What I wanted to be when I grew up: a veterinarian or a cowgirl.
Two Truths and a Lie: I went to college on a rodeo scholarship. I have never been to Europe. I own over 100 house plants.

Irina grew up in Saint Petersburg, Russia. She moved to Atlanta in 2004. Irina graduated with a major in Political Science and minor in philosophy. After graduating college, she opened a yoga studio in Alpharetta and couple of year later opened yoga & barre studio in Atlanta. She is a pro at handstands and paying attention to the details. Irina loves the beach, her cat Buddha, and The Office.
What I wanted to be when I grew up: a psychologist.
Two Truths and a Lie: I used to breakdance in middle school. I studied French in college. I know how to juggle.

Brandon was born on Warner Robbins Air Force Base, but moved to California when he was 3 months old. Brandon’s time is California played a huge part in shaping his personality and interests. He grew up playing soccer, baseball, basketball and tennis before settling down with his first true love of Motocross. As a teenager, he travelled the country racing dirt bikes and representing American Honda. Brandon may love Falcons Football more than anyone else you meet. He loves to travel, eat tacos, be outdoors and occasionally socialize with new people when he pokes his head out of introvert shell. Good music and hilarious standup comedy are the way to Brandon’s heart. He is also the Founder of iAccess Life, a mobile app that would allow people with disabilities to rate and review the accessibility of venues such as restaurants, lounges, clubs, and bars.
What I wanted to be when I grew up: A professional motocross racer.
Two Truths and a Lie: I grew up in California. I have a “Kennedy’s” cell phone number. I can play the piano.

Andrew was raised in good ole’ Loganville, GA. He played soccer at Darton College and then at Kennesaw State University where he earned a degree in business management. Andrew then turned his internship at a local coffee shop into a coffee career, and has now launched four different coffee shops around Atlanta including our beloved Kula Coffee Co as our Coffee Shop Manager. Andrew loves drinking coffee but even more so has a passion for leading people, developing culture, and connecting with guests. Outside of the Village you can find him sipping on a beverage (any kind really), enjoying the outdoors, or watching a movie.
What I wanted to be when I grew up: Marine Biologist
Two truths and a lie: I haven’t seen my face in 10 years, I hiked my first fourteener in Colorado…SOLO, I was a whitewater rafting guide on the Zambezi River for a summer.