History
Our Mission Statement
Tech North Atlanta activates and grows the technology and innovation ecosystem in the north metro region by enabling startups, mid-market and enterprise companies and talent to connect and collaborate, through programs, partnerships, and shared innovation infrastructure.
Our Vision
Tech North Atlanta’s vision is to activate and grow the technology and innovation ecosystem in the north metro region.
Our Story
Tech North Atlanta’s current CEO, Karen Cashion, founded the Greater Alpharetta Tech Network (“GATN”) in 2012, to connect and grow the local tech ecosystem through locally-based tech thought leadership events. At the same time, the City of Alpharetta formed the Alpharetta Technology Commission (“ATC”), an advisory board composed of local tech C-level executives. GATN and the ATC partnered and subsequently merged in December 2017, rebranding as “Tech Alpharetta” to reflect the organization’s growth and evolution.
In 2026, Tech Alpharetta, an independent, 501c(6) nonprofit, rebranded to “Tech North Atlanta,” to better reflect that the organization, today, serves the entire North Atlanta region.
In 2012, the City of Alpharetta formed the Alpharetta Technology Commission (“ATC”). The ATC consisted of a strategic advisory board of local tech C-levels charged with identifying and pursue key investment opportunities and policy decisions for the City’s technology companies and its robust technology sector. In late 2014, ATC became an independent, 501c(6) nonprofit. In August 2015, Tech Alpharetta opened its startup incubator in a city-owned building in downtown Alpharetta. Our incubator is home to more than 50 startups. The ATC changed its name to “Tech Alpharetta” in September 2017, to reflect the growth and evolution of the organization. In 2018, the Greater Alpharetta Tech Network (GATN), a nonprofit organization hosting tech thought leadership in Alpharetta, merged with Tech Alpharetta Today, Tech Alpharetta’s mission remains the same–to help grow technology and innovation in Alpharetta–but we now include three service pillars: Startup Incubator (Tech Alpharetta Innovation Center); Tech Events; Our Strategic Board. To reflect the organization’s expanded mission to serve the broader North Atlanta tech community, Tech Alpharetta rebrands to Tech North Atlanta.
The ATC was formed
ATC Becomes a Non-Profit
Tech Alpharetta’s Innovation Center Opens
ATC becomes “Tech Alpharetta”
GATN Merges with Tech Alpharetta
What is Tech Alpharetta today?
Tech Alpharetta Rebrands to “Tech North Atlanta”
