Mar 25, 2025

Like this story? Please share! Southeast Shoutouts 1 | Atlanta company raises $275 million in new round Nexus Louisiana has announced a new tech competition set for this summer that will replace the longstanding Baton Rouge Entrepreneurship Week. From Atlanta, GA: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Flock Safety , an Atlanta-based maker of security cameras and other technology, announced recently that it has raised $275 million in fresh investment and is now valued at more than $7.5 billion. It is one of the top five biggest venture capital raises by an Atlanta company in the past five years, according to an analysis of figures from data firm Crunchbase. The investment was led by Silicon Valley venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, which has previously invested in Flock Safety and backed companies like Facebook, Airbnb, and Coinbase. Flock Safety was founded in 2017 by Garrett Langley, an Atlanta native and Georgia Tech alum, and one of his fellow Tech graduates, Matt Feury. The company makes license plate readers, gunshot detectors, artificial intelligence-powered video cameras, and drones. It works with more than 4,800 law enforcement agencies across the U.S., as well as businesses, malls, and health systems. Langley characterizes Flock Safety as a “technology crime-fighting company.” The company has more than 1,300 employees, and it says it hit $300 million in annualized recurring revenue in 2024. From Durham, NC: NC IDEA , a private foundation committed to supporting entrepreneurial ambition and economic empowerment in North Carolina, announced recently that the organization has awarded 18 NC IDEA ECOSYSTEM grants to partners and 11 Rural Impact grants to companies across the state totaling $1.7 million in funding. More than $1.2 million of the total funding is specifically earmarked to address the needs of rural entrepreneurs, with $500,000 of this amount contributed by Wells Fargo. “Today’s funding announcement marks a significant investment into the equitable startup ecosystems of North Carolina and underscores our commitment to empower more people to pursue their entrepreneurial ambition,” said Thom Ruhe, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NC IDEA. “In this critical moment, it is essential to continue our work to strengthen North Carolina’s entrepreneurial support infrastructure for underserved populations. We are grateful for the added support of our partner Wells Fargo to specifically champion and uplift rural entrepreneurship,” Ruhe added. The  NC IDEA ECOSYSTEM  grant program is designed to identify and support partner organizations across the state doing inspired things to help entrepreneurs and strengthen North Carolina’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. From New Orleans, LA: New Orleans Entrepreneur Week, which started March 24 and ends March 29, is an entrance point to the entrepreneurial world for New Orleans locals and students alike, with featured innovators and entrepreneurs from the Gulf South region. Featured organizations and universities include The Idea Village, The Nieux, Loyola University New Orleans, Tulane University, University of New Orleans, and Xavier University. The Loyola Center for Entrepreneurship and Community Development and The Idea Village will be co-producing the event. Sam McCabe, Director of Loyola’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Community Development, says the event this year is “built around four main themes: ‘Start it Here’, ‘Scale it Here’, ‘Business of the Future’, and ‘(Not So) Artificial Intelligence.’” From Baton Rouge, LA: The Baton Rouge Business Journal reports that  Nexus Louisiana has announced a new tech competition set for this summer that will replace the longstanding Baton Rouge Entrepreneurship Week (BREW) as the organization strives to deepen its commitment to the tech ecosystem. Nexus has hosted the BREW event for 13 years. The event was initially scheduled for May 6-8. Now, it will be replaced by the Nexus Technology Cup, scheduled for June 17-19. The new event will provide a platform for tech innovators statewide, inviting high school and college students, as well as skilled developers, to present their software and hardware projects. Participants can compete in one of three tracks: high school, collegiate, and an open track that welcomes anyone building innovative technology. “Our open track is specifically designed for creative minds who are pushing boundaries, regardless of their background or affiliation,” said Tony Zanders, President and CEO of Nexus Louisiana, in a prepared statement. “Whether you’re an independent inventor, a startup founder, or someone developing a side project with potential, Baton Rouge is the place to be if you’re serious about building technology.” Nexus Louisiana is one of the South’s premier business incubators providing resources for high-tech start-up companies to bring their products and services to market faster and more effectively. Another from Durham, NC: GrepTank will return at Grep-a-Palooza 2025 scheduled for June 5 at the Durham Convention Center. For those who may not have attended in the past, this is just what it sounds like: a spin on the pitch show Shark Tank, wherein local start-ups will pitch in front of an audience and take questions and feedback from a panel of real investors. The organizers are looking for five start-ups to pitch at the event. To qualify, a start-up must be headquartered in North Carolina, have annual revenue of less than $3 million, and reside in the tech space. Specifically excluded are life sciences/biotech/medical devices or agencies or consultancies. The deadline to apply is May 9 at this link .