The Georgia Bulldog Angel Network held its inaugural meeting in September at the UGA Terry College of Business Executive Education Center in Atlanta.

Sixty or so entrepreneurs, investors and fund managers across Atlanta met to share coffee and conversation and hear from up-and-coming founders.

“We’re excited to be here and share what we’ve been doing at The Players’ Lounge,” said Keith Marshall (BBA ’15), former UGA and NFL running back and co-founder of The Players’ Lounge, a media site that allows college players to talk directly to their fans.

Marshall received an MBA from Emory University following his football career  and presented to the Bulldog Angel Network with his co-founder, sportscaster and former UGA quarterback Aaron Murray (BS ’13). They asked for investment to expand The Players’ Lounge to cover sports programs at other universities. Today, the site offers content from players at UGA and the University of Tennessee.

“We’ve been at it since 2022,” he added. “We’ve learned a lot, and we’re excited to share what we’ve been building with you this morning.”

Aside from answering questions from potential investors, talking with business leaders at the meeting allowed Marshall and Murray to expand their network to folks from other industries and backgrounds.

While the opportunity to fund or find funding for the next big thing is a draw for the Georgia Bulldog Angel Network, it is really about building Georgia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, said Bob Pinckney, the Milton Anthony (Tony) Greene Director of Entrepreneurship and founder of the Georgia Bulldog Angel Network.

“Our emphasis is on networking and finding ways to support start-up companies presenting here,” Pinckney told the crowd at the first meeting. “Networking strengthens the overall entrepreneurial ecosystem, and we will focus a great deal on creating and strengthening that network.”

At the network’s most recent meeting on Oct. 16, Holman Hospitality Group sought $5 million to convert three floors of a historic downtown Athens building into a steakhouse and private dining club.

Of the serial entrepreneurs, fund managers and executives at the meeting, some were interested in investing in the project, and some were not — but everyone had thoughts to share.

“I like hearing other business owners ask questions of the presenting business because it makes me think more creatively about my own business,” said Matthew Efird (BBA ’14), owner of commercial holiday lights contractor Lighting Pros. “I enjoy the networking, but this is a room that I like to be in because of the questions being asked. It encourages me to ask some of those same questions of my business.”

Pinckney and his team at the UGA Entrepreneurship Program will continue to host the two-hour breakfast meetings at 7 a.m. on the third Tuesday of the month.

He sees the Georgia Angel Bulldog Network as a chance for founders to find the same excitement and encouragement from the Atlanta business community that the UGA Entrepreneurial Program brought to UGA students.

“This is not necessarily a social club, although there is a key social element,” he said. “We’re actively supporting the state and regional entrepreneurial ecosystem, and it will take a village to get it done.”