Ignite Small Business Academy | Kickoff Event

Ignite Small Business Academy | Kickoff Event

By The DRL Group

Back for its 3rd year—Ignite Small Business Academy helps Atlanta entrepreneurs scale, grow & do business with Atlanta Housing.

Date and time

Location

Emma Darnell Aviation Museum & Conference Center (formerly Aviation Community Cultural Center)

3900 Aviation Circle Northwest Atlanta, GA 30336

Good to know

Highlights

  • 2 hours
  • In person

About this event

Business • Startups

Ignite Small Business Academy: Hosted by Atlanta Housing & The DRL Group

Dates: October 21 – November 18, 2025
Format: Hybrid | 2 in-person sessions + 3 virtual sessions
Registration Deadline: October 19, 2025

About the Program
Now in its third successful year, the Ignite Small Business Academy has helped Atlanta-based entrepreneurs build stronger operations, adopt growth strategies, and prepare to do business with Atlanta Housing.

Hosted by Atlanta Housing and led by The DRL Group, a nationally recognized leader in federal contracting and small business growth, this free academy equips you with the skills, strategies, and connections needed to scale your business and become a valued supplier to Atlanta Housing.

Who Should Attend

  • Small businesses that meet SBA size standards
  • Companies with 2+ employees
  • Entrepreneurs interested in becoming an Atlanta Housing supplier
  • Business owners seeking long-term growth and procurement success

Why Attend

  • Proven program trusted by Atlanta small businesses for three years
  • Access to The DRL Group’s 30+ years of expertise in growth and procurement
  • Direct connections with Atlanta Housing procurement staff
  • Strategies in operations, finance, marketing, and compliance to help your business scale sustainably
  • A graduation certificate validating your procurement readiness (must attend at least 4 classes. )
  • Valuable information about becoming Section(3) certified through Atlanta Housing


Program Schedule

Tuesday, October 21 | MODULE 1: Strategy & Operations of a Scaling Business (In-Person) 10: 00AM- 12:00PM

Location: Emma Darnell Aviation Museum & Conference Center

3900 Aviation Circle, NW, Atl, GA 30336

  • Meet & Greet / Kickoff – Welcome, introductions, program expectations
  • Aligning Vision, Mission, and Goals with Operations
  • Identifying Operational Gaps and Bottlenecks

Tuesday, October 28 | MODULE 2: Marketing & AI Strategies for Small Businesses Seeking Growth (Virtual) 11: 30AM- 1:030PM

  • Leveraging AI for Efficiency and Customer Acquisition
  • Traditional & Digital Marketing Best Practices
  • Case Studies in AI Adoption

Tuesday, November 4 | MODULE 3: Financial Strategies to Scale & Build Stability (Virtual)11: 30AM- 1:30PM

  • Business Financing & Access to Capital
  • Financial Planning & Cash Flow Management
  • The 5 Cs of Capital: What Lenders Evaluate

Thursday, November 13 | MODULE 4: Procurement Preparedness & Tools for Growth (Virtual)11: 30AM- 1:30PM

  • Preparing for Procurement Opportunities
  • Capability Statement & Proposal Best Practices
  • Compliance, Performance, and Supplier Expectations
  • Contractual Obligations & Legal Concerns

Tuesday, November 18 | MODULE 5: How to Do Business with Atlanta Housing (In-Person)11: 30AM- 1:30PM

~ Location will be announced soon ~

  • Direct Engagement with AH Procurement Teams
  • Walkthrough of AH’s Procurement Processes
  • Networking & Relationship Building
  • Graduation & Certification Ceremony


Organized by

The DRL Group

Followers

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Events

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Hosting

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Free
Oct 21 · 10:00 AM EDT