October 23 Changemaker Speaker: Aly Merritt, President, Atlanta Tech Village

We are excited to announce that our Center for Entrepreneurship Changemaker Speaker is Aly Merritt, President of Atlanta Tech Village and a driving force for community and historic economic development in South Downtown ATL. Focused for more than a decade on the Atlanta startup ecosystem, Aly has worn many hats – from Head of Community and Chief of Staff at SalesLoft to organizing ATL Startup Village pitches for rising startups. With an MBA from Georgia State University, her career spans roles in product management, customer experience and journalism. A co-founder of ATL Unlocked, Aly continues to connect and collaborate with startup hubs across Atlanta while (sporadically) sharing insights on tech and startups at AlyintheATL.com.

📅 Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025, 1:40–2:55 p.m.

📍 Location: Wells Fargo Auditorium
<pAly Merritt, President, Atlanta Tech Village

Aly Merritt is the President of Atlanta Tech Village and a community builder in South Downtown ATL. She has been a pivotal figure in Atlanta’s tech ecosystem for more than a decade. Her startup journey includes Head of Community at SalesLoft, where she also contributed to product management and customer experience, and served as Chief of Staff.

With a background in journalism and a passion for innovation, bolstered by an MBA from Georgia State University, Aly has dedicated her career to advancing local startups and elevating Atlanta’s national profile. She previously organized and emceed ATL Startup Village, fostering connections between entrepreneurs and investors. As a co-founder of ATL Unlocked, she continues to drive collaboration between startup hubs across the city. With the advent of the South Downtown ATL project, she is driving new interpretations of innovation and helping revitalize Atlanta’s historic business district.

Aly (sporadically) shares her insights on tech and the startup community through her blog, AlyintheATL.com. Her multifaceted experience, from copy editing to community strategy, uniquely positions her to support and inspire entrepreneurs in America’s fourth-largest tech hub.