Atlanta’s Fintech Scene: A Haven for Practical Innovation and a Growing Hub for Talent and Investment

Jan 20, 2023

The fintech industry is in a state of constant evolution, with advancements in digital payments, insurtech, and the integration of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. Among the many players in this dynamic field, Atlanta’s fintech scene stands out for its focus on practical solutions to real-world problems and a steadfast adherence to regulatory compliance.

Atlanta: A Favorable Location for Fintech Start-ups and Investment: In light of recent declines in fintech valuations and increased regulatory scrutiny, Atlanta’s approach to fintech has made it a particularly attractive location for starting or investing in fintech companies. The city is home to a robust fintech industry, with a significant number of companies and employees.

Innovation in Payments: Atlanta’s Transaction Alley: Atlanta’s fintech scene is particularly renowned for its advancements in the realm of payments. The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta played a crucial role in establishing the city as a testing ground for new payment methods. This legacy lives on today, as Atlanta’s “Transaction Alley,” a stretch of businesses along Interstate 85, processes an estimated 70% of payment transactions in the United States.

A Haven for Fintech Talent: Atlanta is also an underrated hotbed for hiring fintech talent, with a strong focus on payments and a large number of publicly traded companies experiencing significant revenue growth. The public university system in the area also produces a significant amount of talent in engineering and business, further bolstering the city’s fintech capabilities. Georgia Tech, Georgia State, and Kennesaw State University all have programs designed to cultivate engineering and business talent, while HBCUs, collectively known as the Atlanta University Center Consortium, have specialized finance programs.

Atlanta’s fintech industry stands out: Atlanta’s emphasis on practical solutions and regulatory compliance, making it a favorable location for fintech start-ups and investment. The city boasts a robust fintech industry with a significant number of companies and employees, including notable players such as Assurant, BitPay, Bluefin Payment Systems, Elavon, eCredable, Equifax, Fiserv, Fleetcor, Global Payments Inc., InComm Payments, Kabbage, MerchantE, NCR Corporation, Priority Payments Systems, REPAY, Revel, Trust Stamp and Vesta. Atlanta is particularly renowned for its advancements in payments and is an underrated hotbed for hiring fintech talent, with a strong focus on payments and a large number of publicly traded companies experiencing significant revenue growth. Additionally, the public university system in the area produces a significant amount of talent in engineering and business, further bolstering the city’s fintech capabilities.

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About

David McInnis

President & Founding Partner

David has two decades of global recruitment experience and is Founding Partner of Willard Powell. Prior to founding Willard Powell, David worked with Leathwaite International, a global executive search firm. Before his employment with Leathwaite, David worked for Wachovia Securities (now Wells Fargo Securities) supporting the firm’s Investment Banking & Capital Markets Technology group. David is a graduate of Lasell College in Newton, MA, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a concentration in Management Information Systems. David also serves as a Trustee on Lasell’s Board.