Atlanta Tech Scene Gains New Venture Capital Firm: Overline

Michael Cohn achieved prominence within Atlanta’s startup community following the sale of the company he helped establish to Accenture for a sum estimated between $350 million and $400 million approximately six years ago.

In the same period, Sean O’Brien also garnered attention for his role in facilitating the sale of PGi, a collaboration software provider, to a private equity firm for $1.5 billion.

Launching Overline: A $27.4 Million Fund

These two individuals are now focused on establishing themselves as key players in the city’s expanding technology sector with the finalization of their seed-stage venture capital firm’s inaugural fund – a $27.4 million investment.

Overline’s initial fund has already allocated capital to companies that are redefining investment parameters within the Southeast and, specifically, Atlanta’s startup landscape.

Examples include Grubbly Farms, a provider of insect-based feed for poultry, and Kayhan Space, which aims to provide air traffic control solutions for the space industry.

Furthermore, companies such as Padsplit, an Atlanta-based marketplace for flexible housing, are addressing the challenges of affordable housing in the United States. 

“The Overline team’s operator mindset and distinct approach differ significantly from typical software startups, and their guidance has been crucial to our company’s growth,” stated Sean Warner, CEO and co-founder of Grubbly Farms. 

This investment activity complements existing strengths in Atlanta’s financial services, payments, and business software sectors.

Addressing Underfunding in the Southeast

Despite the increasing activity, O’Brien and Cohn contend that Atlanta and the broader southeastern region remain significantly underfunded.

In 2020, the region secured less than 10% of all institutional venture capital investments.

An Overline survey revealed that only 7% of Atlanta-based founders initially seek funding from local sources.

“Our observations, gained through years of building, investing in, and nurturing startups, are reflected in this data. The Southeast and Atlanta are home to a wealth of exceptional founders and businesses, but they frequently encounter difficulties securing early-stage institutional funding,” explained O’Brien. “Overline intends to be the leading initial institutional investor for these companies, offering genuine partnership and support throughout their development – assisting with critical strategic and operational decisions.” 

Regional Support for Overline

The limited partners contributing to Overline’s first fund underscore the firm’s commitment to regional ties.

Mailchimp, a prominent email marketing company, served as the anchor investor, alongside partners like Cox Enterprises and Social Leverage.

Overline benefits from a strong network of partners deeply rooted in the Southeast. In addition to Mailchimp, partners include Cox Enterprises, Social Leverage based in Scottsdale, Arizona, Hallett Capital from Wilmington, Delaware, and David Cummings, founder of Atlanta Tech Village, as well as Techstars co-founder David Cohen. 

“Mailchimp is proud to support the growing startup ecosystem in our hometown of Atlanta. Overline’s vision of strategically investing local capital into Atlanta and Southeast startups aligns with our commitment to fostering local innovation,” said Rick Lynch, CFO of Mailchimp. 

Investment Strategy and Portfolio

The firm plans to invest between $250,000 and $1.5 million in seed-stage companies.

To date, Overline has invested in 11 companies, including Relay Payments, a fintech company specializing in logistics, which has secured over $40 million in funding from leading investors. 

“Our primary objective in establishing Atlanta Tech Village nearly a decade ago was to elevate Atlanta to a top 10 startup city, fostering an environment where all entrepreneurs could succeed. We are making significant progress, as demonstrated by the increasing number of newly established unicorns,” commented David Cummings, serial entrepreneur and founder of Atlanta Tech Village. “I firmly believe in Overline’s approach of providing value-added, early-stage institutional capital to fuel the ecosystem’s continued growth. Michael and Sean have consistently been active members of our community, offering mentorship, guidance, and advocacy for Atlanta founders. I am honored to be among their initial investors.”