Women + Tech Meetup · Atlanta Tech Village · Presented by Atlanta Ventures
The Women + Tech Meetup is a monthly gathering at Atlanta Tech Village built around one idea: make "women in tech" the status quo, not a qualifier. This month's session brought in Kathryn O'Day, Partner at Atlanta Ventures, to break down what the VC fundraising landscape actually looks like in 2026 and what founders need to know before they pitch.
No fluff. Practical, direct, and honest about what's changed and what hasn't.
"The fundamentals haven't changed. VCs want big markets, authentic demand, and founders who won't quit. Everything else is just tactics."Kathryn O'Day · Partner, Atlanta Ventures · Women + Tech Meetup, April 2026
The AI wave hasn't changed what VCs fundamentally want — it's changed what they're willing to fund. Path to profitability is now the conversation, not growth at all costs. And traditional software businesses without defensible moats are feeling real pressure.
One of the most useful parts of the session: Kathryn's breakdown of how founders can generate revenue and validate before they're anywhere near ready to pitch VCs.
Partner at Atlanta Ventures. Five years backing Southeast founders. Former startup COO. One of the most genuine cheerleaders for founders in Atlanta — particularly women building in tech.
What makes Kathryn different: she makes the unsexy stuff accessible. Fundraising mechanics, investor psychology, what VCs actually think but don't say out loud. She shares all of it, freely, because she believes a better-informed founder ecosystem is good for everyone.
She replies to her newsletter. That alone says everything.
The table networking after Kathryn's talk was as valuable as the presentation. Multiple founder introductions, resource sharing, and real conversations about what people are building.
Annual founder/investor networking run hosted by Atlanta Ventures. Good way to meet Kathryn and the AV team in a low-pressure setting. atlantaventures.com for details.
