Welcome to Access Point, the new monthly newsletter from the Access Georgia Foundation! Every month, we will feature the latest news and events from Access Foundation and our partners across the ecosystem.
Keep reading to learn about what’s new with Access Georgia Foundation.
Meet Access Georgia Foundation’s 2025 Board of Directors!
2025 is off to an exciting start at AGF with the welcome of this year’s Board of Directors. Their leadership, expertise, and passion for innovation and entrepreneurship will be invaluable in continuing AGF’s mission to support early-stage entrepreneurs through education, mentoring, and access to capital.
As champions of the Foundation’s strategic direction, board members play a vital role in driving growth and sustainability. The collaboration, time, talent, and insights they bring to AGF are invaluable—helping to fuel Atlanta’s thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Mike Binns is Director and Associate General Counsel, Head of Patents & Trade Secrets at Meta, where he chairs the Black@Legal affinity group. He is a founder and board member of ADAPT legal and serves on the boards of the National Council on Patent Practicum, Foundation for Advancement of Diversity in IP Law, Page Turners Make Great Readers, and Georgia Wildlife Federation.
Chris Bertrand is the President Latin America S.A. & Head Emerging Market Con at Cochlear. Prior to that, Chris worked at MED-EL as President & CEO North America and at Advanced Bionics as a Manager of Sales and Marketing. He currently serves on the board of Gilgal, Inc. and the Catholic World Mission, Inc.
Ross Kimbel is General Partner at Silicon Road Ventures and has deep expertise in early-stage and corporate venture capital. He previously co-founded Be Curious Partners and served as Global Director of Innovation at The Coca-Cola Company where he co-founded Coca-Cola Founders, the company’s corporate venture capital. Ross serves on multiple Silicon Road Venture portfolio company boards, and is a committee member of The Westminster Schools in Atlanta.
Devika Rao is the President and CEO of 23 East Group, a purpose-driven marketing and communications firm focused on state government agencies, nonprofits, and growth-stage B2B startups. Beyond her professional endeavors, Devika is actively involved in the community. She serves as the board president for Create Dunwoody, and has been involved with Access since its inception in 2020.
Michael Starling is the Director of Economic Development for the City of Dunwoody, GA. where he leads the City’s efforts to expand the local economy through business development and placemaking efforts. He is involved with the Perimeter Chamber of Commerce, Create Dunwoody, and Dunwoody Rotary.
Dana Weeks is the Co-Founder and CEO of MedTrans Go, a B2B healthcare technology startup. She previously co-founded the Black Angel Tech Foundation and held roles at AT&T and Pfizer. Dana also serves on the boards of Blue Owl Capital, The Westminster Schools, Wellstar Foundation, and Alliance Theater.
Calling all early-stage entrepreneurs! Applications are now open for the 2025 Founders Cohort!
If you are a company seeking access to angel investing, mentoring from business leaders, and connections to a wide network, Founders Cohort is for you. Now in its fifth year, the Founders Cohort pairs early-stage entrepreneurs with mentors in an eight-week program that provides access to capital, connections, and coaching – all culminating in a dynamic Investor Showcase in August.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity! Applications close April 30th.
Learn more & apply today here: Founders Cohort
Access and Verizon Partner to Help SMBs and Entrepreneurs Become Digital Ready
Access Foundation and Verizon have come together to support entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, and small business owners to become digital ready!
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready is a free online program with resources and online learning courses to help scale and grow your business. From using AI to marketing and even how to leverage your network, there is something for everyone.
Developed by small businesses, Verizon Small Business Digital Ready offers a personalized experience tailored to a small business’ specific needs through personalized learning plans in modules that can be completed in about 20-35 minutes.
Special Bonus: Participants will also be eligible to apply for grant funding exclusive to users of Verizon Small Business Digital Ready.
Access SPOTLIGHT: Dana Weeks
Dana Weeks is Co-Founder and CEO of MedTrans Go, a B2B healthcare technology start-up and Co-Founder and former President of the Black Angel Tech Foundation.
She shared with Access Point about her entrepreneurial journey, the impact of mentoring, and advice to other entrepreneurs.
What is MedTrans Go’s mission and how is it addressing gaps in access to healthcare services?
When we first started MedTrans Go, our focus was on supporting healthcare providers facing business disruptions due to patient cancellations. MedTrans Go could connect these healthcare providers to ancillary services, like vetted and reliable medical transportation and interpretation, to ensure their patients could attend their scheduled appointments and procedures.
As we’ve evolved, we’ve seen many demographics facing a medical transportation shortage. In Georgia alone, 90% of rural counties are healthcare transportation shortage areas. Access to healthcare is at the heart of better long-term health outcomes, and we support that mission by securing safe and reliable transportation and interpretation easy.
In launching MedTrans Go, can you share a milestone or challenge in your entrepreneurial journey that has shaped the way you lead your business?
COVID-19 marked a shift in how we positioned our value proposition to healthcare providers. The pandemic highlighted the financial and operational costs of delayed care in a way not seen before. It became clear there was a need for a streamlined solution to alleviate the procedural inefficiencies that slowed an already strained workforce. Reducing cancellations and making it easy to find patient transport became a priority for providers, and we made sure that was at the forefront of our messaging.
Truly understanding the needs and broader circumstances impacting our customers ensured we found our footing within the industry as we continued to grow.
What is one key skill that has been critical to your success as an entrepreneur?
Fundraising – both the act of fundraising itself and the ability to deliver on the milestones you set for the funds. As an entrepreneur, you also must be innovative in the ways you seek fundraising opportunities. For example, alongside raising capital, our team has pursued grants and business accelerators to reduce costs, gain new connections within the industry, and acquire new skill sets that further improve our operations.
Networking is one key component for business development. What is your approach to ensure you are not just collecting business cards but cultivating genuine relationships?
Focus on building relationships outside of the immediate ‘ask’ you might have for that individual. After forming a connection with someone I want to add to my network, I reengage with them through events, meetups for coffee, or even just a simple phone call or email. Be open to having conversations, sharing ideas, and asking yourself not only how could they support me but how can I support them?
As a Founders Cohort alum, what do you feel makes a successful mentor/mentee relationship?
Authenticity, trust, and support are key. As a mentee, be sure to understand the background and skill sets of your mentor to know which areas they can best provide recommendations and assistance. And even when the formal mentorship relationship ends, continue to stay in touch and provide updates.
I have had many wonderful mentors from the Access Foundation – thank you Sanket Patel, Joyce Freeland, and Greg Johnson for your guidance!
Best advice you received during MedTrans Go’s startup phase?
Never underestimate the importance of hiring the right talent and building strong teams within your organization. Especially as a startup, finding smart, adaptable individuals that will grow with your business is one of the core foundations of success.
Do you have a fun or restorative ritual or hobby that keeps you grounded?
Recently, I’ve had the pleasure of going on after work walks with my son. Not only am I grateful for the quality time we get to spend together, but walking has been a wonderful way to get some fresh air and organize my thoughts for the next day.
Event Calendar
Atlanta’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is bustling with events and workshops to help founders and business owners scale their business and network. Check out some of the events below happening around the ATL.
- March 21: Pitch Practice at Atlanta Tech Village
- March 26: TiE Atlanta Happy Hour
- March 26: Masterclass: Your First Sales Leader
Have an event you want to share? Email us at media@accessgaf.org
