Three companies have been recognized as winners of the Atlanta Metro Export Challenge (MEC) pitch competition, receiving grants to support their international business efforts. The event, hosted by the Metro Atlanta Chamber on Wednesday evening, marked the conclusion of the year-long program and launched the application period for its 2026 cohort.
LockThreat secured first place and a $15,000 grant. ZCorum was awarded second place with a $10,000 grant, while Compac Industries received third place and a $5,000 grant. All three companies also received flight vouchers provided by Delta Air Lines.
Katie Kirkpatrick, president & CEO of the Metro Atlanta Chamber, said: “It’s initiatives like the Atlanta Metro Export Challenge that lay the groundwork for regional success. We’re excited to bring together targeted resources from regional partners to support growing companies ready to expand into global markets.”
Each company participating in the program receives a $5,000 reimbursement grant for expenses related to international business growth. Participants benefit from mentorship and counseling programs focused on developing global sales plans and market strategies. According to organizers, 38% of this year’s grant recipients are minority-, women-, or veteran-owned businesses.
The Atlanta MEC began in 2016 with funding from JPMorgan Chase and has expanded into a collaborative effort among several organizations across the region. Since its start, it has supported 149 metro Atlanta companies with $920,000 in financial assistance and guidance.
Exporting firms tend to experience faster growth rates, higher employee wages, and increased patent activity compared to non-exporters. U.S.-based exporters often benefit from perceptions of quality associated with American products and gain advantages through scale and diversification.
Judges for this year’s competition included Darrel Hulsey from UGA Small Business Development Center – International Trade Center; Daraka Satcher from Georgia District Export Council; and Michael Howley from Georgia Department of Economic Development.
Companies that pitched at this year’s event represented diverse industries:
– Compac Industries manufactures goods under six brands for B2C and B2B markets.
– Ecoslay produces eco-friendly haircare products sourced from local farms.
– LockThreat LLC offers an AI-powered platform for governance, risk management, and compliance.
– Patientory, Inc. uses data analytics via a mobile app to improve health outcomes.
– ZCorum provides broadband products and services to various operators.
The 2025 MEC cohort was funded by multiple entities including the Georgia Department of Economic Development; Atlanta Mayor’s Office of International and Immigrant Affairs; Invest Atlanta; Partnership Gwinnett; Select Cobb; Select Fulton; NRW Global Business; as well as proceeds from Certificate of Origin processing fees collected by the Metro Atlanta Chamber. These funds are reinvested in export initiatives such as MEC.
Applications for next year’s cohort are open until January 17, 2026. More information is available at https://www.metroatlantachamber.com/metro-export-challenge.
Photos from the event can be found at https://metroatlantachamber.pixieset.com/2025metroexportchallenge.
