Southeast Tech News From The Week Of October 20-24, 2025
We've curated the most important pieces of news from this week from across the Southeast.
This is the place to get all the Southeast tech headlines in one place. We've curated the most important pieces of news from this week to help keep you up-to-date on the local business community. Take a skim through the funding, acquisition, and growth news from across the local ecosystem:
Funding News
- Community management software Vantaca (Wilmington, North Carolina): $300 million growth equity round
- Newsletter and email startup Letterhead (Miami, Florida): $34 million Series A
- BricklayerAI (Virginia): $5 million seed round, led by Atlanta-based Tech Square Ventures
- Banking startup Atrium (Atlanta): $4 million seed round
- HealthTech Vega Health (Durham, North Carolina): $4 million seed round
- Software startup RiskReady (New Orleans): $2.5 million seed round
- Budget planning app Piere (Fort Lauderdale, Florida): $2.1 million pre-seed round
- EdTech Startup Knack (Tampa): Undisclosed Series B amount
- $250k for Unified Track from Knoxville, US (Analytics, Data & Analytics) with funding from ECMC Group.
- NC IDEA awarded 16 startups $10,000 as part of their microgrant program. The recipients include:
- Afuse – Raleigh, NC
- Asobo Education – Southport, NC
- Deliveri – Cary, NC
- Doculingo – Raleigh, NC
- Full Moon Tea Company – Black Mountain, NC
- LS Adaptive – Charlotte, NC
- Majentics – Durham, NC
- RO-bot – Chapel Hill, NC
- RYSE Kids – Charlotte, NC
- Shuttlebee Solutions Holding, Inc. – Asheville, NC
- STEM PLUG – Chapel Hill, NC
- Teen Health Research – Raleigh, NC
- The Gamrly Company – Charlotte, NC
- The Horse Concierge – Raeford, NC
- Trialogix – Cary, NC
- Verdia Diagnostics – Raleigh, NC
Acquisition News
- Atlanta-based Digital Health startup Panda Health was acquired by AVIA Health
Top Hypepotamus Stories
- Meet one of the latest startups to move into Chattanooga's Brickyard location. Cultra, an AgTech startup started by graduates of the University of Florida that has found a new home in Tennessee. More here.
- Get To Know The CEO of Oversight, a 20+ year old fintech building...and continuing to grow...in Atlanta. More here.
In Other News
Startup Runway held its latest pitch competition where Atlanta-based Guala, took home the judge's top prize of $10,000. We highlighted founder Austin Evans earlier this year on Hypepotamus.
Irish-based fintech Wayflyer announced it is setting up its US HQ in Charlotte. In 2021, Wayflyer had set an office in Atlanta.
Skillmaker.ai (previous Hypepotamus reporting here) was named the Future of Work winner at the EDTECH WEEK 2025 Shark Tank Finale in New York
Atlanta-based Alloy received nine new industry honors. Alloy earned four w3 awards from the Academy of Interactive Visual Arts, receiving two Gold and two Silver awards for outstanding website and UX design on behalf of Georgia Aquarium, the Barr Foundation and Digital Hands.
The Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) announced a record number 17 startups in its portfolio graduated from its incubator program. Graduates include Finosec, Gatherly, Max Rewards, Orderly Wellness, PorterLogic, ReadyForSocial, Rippleworx, Skintelligent, Slip Robotics, Solopulse, Speedscale, SpotSource, Terzo, Vennfi (CharityVest), VoiceWorx, Wave Health Technologies, and Wripple
People To Know
Atlanta-based PlayOn Sports today announced the appointment of Perkins Miller as Chief Executive Officer as part of the company's planned leadership transition. Miller previously served as the CEO of Fandom. David Rudolph, who founded and has led the company for 17 years, will continue in a senior leadership role overseeing video streaming and sports analytics – the origin of the PlayOn platform. Press release here.
Launch Fayette in Georgia has named Jason Bass as the organizations' Entrepreneur-in-Residence. Bass brings more than 20 years of experience in brand strategy, digital marketing, and creative leadership. As founder of Jason Hunter Design and Pixel Partner Digital, he helps businesses clarify their message, strengthen their online presence, and turn brand confusion into measurable growth. In addition to his agency leadership, Jason serves as CTO of TheCitizen.com, co-leads 1 Million Cups Atlanta South, and co-chairs StartUp Fayette. He also founded The Nexus, a creative community for entrepreneurs and innovators.
Tami McQueen, Chief Marketing Officer at BIP Capital, will be the emcee The Siggie Awards, taking place on November 11 at Emory University.
Human Driven AI, the AI training and consulting firm for marketing and communications professionals led by Atlanta-based Jennifer Jones-Mitchell, announced the launch of a new, 100 percent live certification program – HDAI Certified™ – designed for corporate marketing, PR and communications teams to ensure the immediate optimization and operational use of generative AI intelligence. More details here.
What Else To Read & Watch
ChatGPT released Atlas, its new browser (YouTube announcement here)
CBS News: Flock Safety - Georgia Tech uses drones to enhance campus security
From Encore Magazine: TO PREDICT A HIDDEN KILLER: Wilmington startup strives to improve global health standards
From Rough Draft Atlanta: Georgia college students tackle World Cup technology in Atlanta Tech Week’s Innovation Cup
