The Hangar is Delta’s Global Innovation Center where the Fortune 500 company crowd sources ideas and builds minimal viable products. 

This collaboration between Sandbox ATL and ATDC offered the Tech Square twist on work hard, play hard — and it went off without a glitch.

In this month's podcast episode, we consider questions like: How much does it cost exactly to build a cellular network underground? Can sensors really improve the grim state of Atlanta traffic? What do we mean by “intelligent transportation”? And perhaps the greatest mystery of all: is “smart city” the new “cloud”?

Flashpoint’s recent “Innovation For All” conference gave entrepreneurs and investors a behind-the-scenes look into the method behind the madness at one of the most successful, if under-celebrated, programs in Atlanta’s startup ecosystem.

Starting last fall, MARTA has found many willing helpers in the Atlanta technology community. Teaming up with Sandbox ATL, Code for Atlanta, Hack GT and other community groups, MARTA launched a yearlong strategic technology initiative to create the next great thing in Atlanta transit. 

ThyssenKrupp is a German company dedicated to transforming the elevator industry. Why build its Research Innovation Center in Tech Square? To be close to the epicenter of breakthrough talent and research, of course. 

Emerson applies machine learning technology to refrigeration systems. “You’ve probably never heard of Emerson before,” explains Director of Innovation John Wallace, “but if you’ve shopped at a grocery store, convenience store, gas station, dollar store, or pharmacy, you’ve interacted with our equipment.” The team leverages their Tech Square location by driving partnerships with other startup companies.  

Tech Square is home to The Home Depot’s Technology Center, where a dedicated team of innovators operates outside the shadow of The Home Depot’s corporate office. Anthony Gregorio, Global Innovation Lead, says sharing ideas, challenges, and successes with his counterparts at other enterprise innovation centers in the area, like Delta and AT&T Foundry, is an essential part of being in the neighborhood. 

Not sure whether you need to pull over in the next 10 seconds or 10 miles when that check engine light comes on? Don’t panic – ATDC company Fixd has a product that quickly decodes the mystery of the scariest 194 watts known to man. CEO John Gattuso loves working in Tech Square because it fosters a get-your-hands-dirty work ethic for people who are really trying to build something that people want.  

In a twist on the Hump Day Exchange model, this month's episode dives deep with a single speaker: Bal Bansal, Associate Director of IT Innovation and Digital at Coca-Cola European Partners. 

EngeniusMicro is an ATDC company which uses micro- and nano-scale sensors to collect data to ensure the safety and reliability of chemical tank storage in industrial parks. Chris Heaton says being part of the Tech Square ecosystem is invaluable because of the knowledge shared among engineers, startup catalysts, and entrepreneurs. 

The AT&T Foundry is one of six foundries across the nation that search for technologies which enhance or refine existing AT&T products. The Atlanta Foundry focuses on innovations for access, home, and cars.  AT&T chose to locate in Tech Square because they’re looking for the very best talent to bring innovation to life. 

This fall, HackGT hosted the third official Georgia Tech hackathon, welcoming over 1,000 student hackers to descend upon campus for 34 hours to make amazing hacks for awesome prizes.

Hump Day Exchange is one part social gathering of the Tech Square community and one part podcast recording. This month's special episode was recorded live at the A3C Festival and Conference, and features a conversation on the interplay of advanced technology in the music industry from three fascinating minds witnessing the evolution in real time. 

ATDC Company VeriSolutions is building the connected restaurant. Avery McGregor says Tech Square has been imperative to Verisolutions’ success because the team is surrounded by influential and inspiring entrepreneurs.