Thirty of the most promising new companies in Georgia had a coming-out party at the recent 6th annual Startup Riot, a daylong pitchfest. Cash prizes were awarded and connections made with potential investors.

Software, IT and mobile hardware entrepreneurs laid out their dreams in three minutes flat, among them the winner, Excelegrade, and fellow top five finishers Ten Eight and deductmor.

Afterwards, the founders of those three businesses, Lauren Miller, Patrick Braswell and Kevin Sandlin talked about what it’s like to launch.

Subscribers can read the full story in last Sunday's paper and on our new tablet edition, with a reader-friendly page-by-page format for iPad®, Android ™, Kindle Fire ™ and NOOK. One subscription, total access. Learn more or login now.

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Lee and Erin Hanson, co-founders of Guardian Sports, hold Guardian Caps with Georgia Tech and UGA logos as they pose for a photo at Guardian Sports' headquarters, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, in Peachtree Corners. The Guardian Cap is the leading soft shell helmet cover engineered for impact reduction. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

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Carleigh Knight (left) and her sister, Natalie Rogovin, look at Christmas ornaments while shopping at Kudzu Antiques + Modern in Decatur on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

Credit: Natrice Miller