TAG Societies

Corporate Development

Connecting leaders focused on growth through mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, and strategic expansion.

employees collaborating in a meeting room

About

TAG’s Corporate Development Society provides a series of networking opportunities and educational content sessions geared towards the ecosystem of Corporate Development professionals in the Atlanta area. Through our series of events, we aspire to develop a well-connected Community of corporate development professionals and to provide that Community with a forum for growth and discussion of industry trends, issues, and concepts.

What is Corporate Development?

Corporate Development is a discipline that involves developing, planning, and executing strategies to grow and develop companies either through organic or inorganic methods. Inorganic growth strategies most often include mergers & acquisitions, divestitures, alliances/strategic partnerships, and venture capital.

Corporate Development is performed across the spectrum of company sizes and ownership structures:

· Startups/Early Stage

· Middle Market and Private Equity-Backed

· Large Cap/Enterprise

Society Annual Sponsor

macon-georgia-skyline

Georgia Startup Stats

The BIP Ventures mid-year report for 2024 highlights key shifts in venture capital, including investment strategies, sectors, and private market opportunities.

Shift in Investment Strategies: The venture capital market has shifted from the “growth at any cost” mentality to a more measured approach, focusing on follow-on and later-stage deals. This change reflects a heightened sense of responsibility and recalibration in funding.

Sector Focus: Healthcare Tech, Consumer Tech, and Fintech remained strong in 2023, but SaaS, particularly AI-driven startups, saw significant investment. However, investors are cautious about distinguishing genuine innovation from hype.

Private Market Opportunities: Despite market challenges, the private market remains robust, with startups staying private longer and VC activity back to pre-pandemic levels. This environment favors well-equipped private investors and promising startups.

The report highlights the following Georgia startup statistics for 2024:

  • Investment Growth: Georgia saw a significant increase in startup investments, with a focus on healthcare tech, fintech, and AI-driven solutions.
  • Funding Rounds: The number of funding rounds increased, particularly in seed and early-stage investments.
  • Sector Leadership: Georgia startups are leading in innovative sectors such as AI, cybersecurity, and healthcare technology.
corporate development

Audience

The ecosystem of Corporate Development professionals includes Dealmakers, Investors, Bankers, Legal and Financial Advisors, and M&A Consultants.

Background

The TAG Corporate Development Society was founded in 2017 by senior industry leaders from IBM Corporation and Morris, Manning & Martin LLP, one of the leading technology law firms in the country. The Society is run by a group of 15 Board of Directors. Our Board Alumni Group contains more than 100 members!

Upcoming Events

Corporate Development Events

No upcoming events found.

Corporate Development Society Board

Christy Rushing

Corporate Development Society
CorpDev Consulting

Scott May

Scott May

Immediate Past Society Board Chair
JM Search

Ann McDonald

Ann McDonald

Past Society Board Chair
Gunderson Dettmer

Sarah Broberg

Sarah Broberg

Society Marketing Chair
Carabiner Communications

Tim Christie

Tim Christie

Membership Chair
CorpDev Consulting

Greg Gossett

Greg Gossett

Society Finance Chair
Deloitte

Leigh Ann Groome

Leigh Anne Groome

Waymo

Noel Hardin

Noel Hardin

Cox Enterprises

Steve Hasty

Steve Hasty

Circadian Ventures

Amit Jain

Amit Jain

Roadz

Joe Nau

Joe Nau

Alantra

Evan Ottaviano

Evan Ottaviano

Bennett Thrasher

Peter Stewart

Peter Stewart

Cyviz

TAGwire