Which local governments in metro Atlanta pilot products from startups, and who do I contact?

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Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners

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Atlanta City Hall

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ATDC

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Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners

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Atlanta City Hall

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Yes. There are several metro-Atlanta governments worth approaching, but they differ a lot in how explicitly they welcome startup pilots. Based on their current programs and documented activity, I’d focus first on governments where there is an identifiable innovation owner and evidence of real-world experimentation.

Local government Evidence they pilot / test new products Best contact

Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners / City of Peachtree Corners The clearest target. The city operates Curiosity Lab specifically as a real-world deployment environment where startups test and validate connected mobility, infrastructure, logistics, IoT and other emerging tech. Companies can test even without relocating there.

Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners

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Pouyan Azizpour, Innovation Program Manager — he leads the deployment portfolio and works directly with founders on testing and validation. For an inbound pilot, the Lab also publishes [email protected]

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Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners

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City of Sandy Springs Very promising for govtech/SaaS/AI. Its Digital Innovation Initiative explicitly says it tests new ideas, measures impact, and scales what works. It…

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Named: Atlanta, Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners, City of Atlanta, ATDC, Georgia Tech

Sources cited: mapbox.com, curiositylabptc.com, sandyspringsga.gov, atlantaga.gov, fultoncountyga.gov, gwinnettcounty.com, atlsuppliers.com, atdc.org

Claude

Metro Atlanta has one genuinely open front door for this, a couple of grant-funded pathways, and then a lot of case-by-case relationship building. Here's how it breaks down.

Peachtree Corners — Curiosity Lab (by far the easiest entry point)

This is the only metro Atlanta local government built explicitly to host startup pilots. It's a city-run living lab where companies work with Curiosity Lab and the City of Peachtree Corners to pilot and validate technologies in real-world conditions, on a 5G-connected street with a 3-mile dedicated lane for autonomous vehicle testing, sensors, cameras and C-V2X infrastructure. Focus areas are connected/autonomous mobility, connected infrastructure and edge systems, intelligent logistics, and secure connected systems. They also run a 25,000 sq ft innovation center and are a regional affiliate of Georgia Tech's ATDC.

Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners | Peachtree Corners, GA +3

Who to contact:

Pouyan Azizpour, Innovation Program Manager — the right first call. He leads Curiosity Lab's deployment portfolio and works directly with founders on real-world testing and validation.

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Dave Rhodes, City Attorney / General Counsel — worth knowing about early. He built and manages the onboarding requirements for partner use cases and pilot programs involving drones, AVs, teleoperated scooters and connected roadside devices inside city limits.

Curiositylabptc

Bertrand Lapoire, Economic Development Director, and Brian Johnson, City…

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Named: Atlanta, Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners, Georgia Tech, ATDC, City of Atlanta, Tech North Atlanta, New York City, Chicago

Sources cited: peachtreecornersga.gov, curiositylabptc.com, pingeorgia.org, govlaunch.com, hoodline.com, connectedalpharetta.com, metroatlantaceo.com

Gemini

Multiple local government entities across metro Atlanta run dedicated programs, testbeds, and pilot initiatives allowing startups to validate and deploy emerging technologies:

1. City of Peachtree Corners (Curiosity Lab)

Peachtree Corners operates Curiosity Lab, a 500-acre smart city environment with a 3-mile autonomous vehicle lane, smart infrastructure sensors, and a 25,000-square-foot innovation center curiositylabptc.com. They pilot startups in autonomous transit, C-V2X (cellular vehicle-to-everything), robotics, smart grid, and computer vision technologies curiositylabptc.com.

Primary Contact: Dave Rhodes (General Counsel for Curiosity Lab / City Attorney) handles onboarding and legal requirements for pilot programs curiositylabptc.com.

Media & Partnership Inquiries: [email protected] curiositylabptc.com or Louis Svehla (Communications Director) curiositylabptc.com.

2. City of Atlanta

The City of Atlanta pilots startups focused on urban mobility, administrative efficiency, smart city infrastructure, and small business support through the Mayor’s Office of Technology & Innovation and Invest Atlanta atlantaga.gov, investatlanta.com.

Technology & Innovation Division: Office located in the CODA Building at 756 W. Peachtree St. NW, Suite 229, Atlanta, GA 30308 atltechhub.com.

Contact Email: [email protected] atltechhub.com

Phone: (404) 963-2850 atltechhub.com

Office of Innovation, Delivery, and Performance Contact: (404) 546-6842 atlantaga.gov

3.…

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Named: City of Atlanta, Atlanta, Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners, Invest Atlanta, ATDC, Georgia Tech

Sources cited: curiositylabptc.com, atlantaga.gov, investatlanta.com, atltechhub.com, atdc.org

Perplexity

The clearest startup-pilot prospects in metro Atlanta are the City of Atlanta, Atlanta Regional Commission, Sandy Springs, Kennesaw, Fulton County, Clayton County, and—through a shared civic-innovation network—Henry County and Woodstock. In most cases, there is not a standing “startup pilot” intake; the practical route is to pair a tightly scoped paid pilot proposal with the agency’s innovation/program owner and its procurement or vendor-registration channel.

Best targets

Local government / regional body Evidence it pilots or adopts innovative solutions Best first contact How to approach

City of Atlanta The Mayor’s Office of Innovation, Delivery and Performance works with city departments and external partners on “innovative solutions” and performance improvement. The city also runs an Innovation Ideation Portal addressing areas including utilities, public safety, community development, procurement, and technology improvements.

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Dr. Sametria McFall Epps, Executive Director, Mayor’s Office of Innovation, Delivery and Performance; use the office/Innovation Ideation Portal as the entry point.

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Strongest prospect for civic-tech, climate, mobility, public safety, infrastructure, benefits access, permitting, or service-delivery pilots. Ask for a 60–90 day pilot sponsor in the relevant department and whether a procurement vehicle or challenge process is available.

Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) ARC has run a substantial Transportation Demand Management…

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Named: City of Atlanta, Atlanta

Sources cited: atlantaga.gov, pingeorgia.org, fultoncountyga.gov, cdn.atlantaregional.org, ssl.doas.state.ga.us, procurement.atlantaregional.org, sandyspringsga.gov, claytoncountyga.gov, nadler.house.gov, contacts.google.com, govtribe.com, atltechhub.com, pur.doas.ga.gov, civiciq.com, dekalbcountyga.gov, citycouncil.atlantaga.gov, citydesign.atlantaga.gov