Talent
Recruiting Top Talent to Expand Your Startup Team
Finding the right people is critical for growth, yet sourcing, engaging, and recruiting top talent can be time-consuming and competitive. ATDC’s Talent Connect program helps portfolio companies attract, engage, and hire the best candidates, from interns to executives, through strategic resources and personalized support.
Our dedicated Talent Connect Manager works closely with founders to streamline recruiting, amplify job visibility, and build strong pipelines. From leveraging ATDC’s exclusive networks to facilitating introductions and campus connections, Talent Connect ensures startups have the talent they need to scale.
Through our startup job board, we connect ATDC portfolio companies with talent.
Meet Sammy Klekot
Talent Connect Manager
Sammy Klekot serves as the Talent Connect Manager at ATDC, where she helps portfolio companies strengthen their recruitment strategies and connect with top-tier talent. She manages ATDC’s resume database, facilitates candidate engagement, and promotes open roles across professional networks and university channels. Her work supports startup companies hiring by building strong teams through strategic sourcing, role promotion, and campus partnerships.
How We Help Startups with Expanding Their Team
- Exclusive access to ATDC’s resume database, LinkedIn Recruiter tools, and candidate introductions.
- Resume screening and facilitating introductions to best-fit candidates.
- Promote open roles across targeted platforms, ATDC channels, and job boards.
- Connect with top candidates through ATDC career fairs and networking events.
- Build relationships with universities, access resume books, and explore internships, fellowships, and capstone projects.
Case Studies
SENTINEL DEVICES
ATDC played a pivotal role in helping Sentinel Devices scale its team quickly and strategically. We connected founder Forrest to his first engineer through an ATDC career fair, facilitated a Georgia Tech computer science capstone sponsorship that enabled collaboration with students on a key development project, and, when a marketing intern was urgently needed before an upcoming event, we made an introduction that resulted in a successful hire within 24 hours.
HEAR2THERE
When Hear2There set out to hire its very first intern, ATDC Talent Connect provided end-to-end support. We introduced the company to a strong slate of candidates, including their eventual hire, and guided them through best practices for engaging students in the hiring process. Beyond recruitment, we offered resources and consultation on structuring the internship and managing interns effectively, ensuring a successful experience for both the company and the student.
Frequently Asked Questions about Talent Connect
Who has access to ATDC's resume database and job board?
Employer access to the resume database and job board is an exclusive benefit of ATDC’s portfolio of Accelerate and Signature companies, as well as graduates. Candidate access is available to all job seekers at any stage of their career. There’s always a variety of roles, and new roles opportunities open up regularly.
What is ATDC’s Talent Connect program and who is it designed to support?
The Talent Connect program supports ATDC portfolio companies and candidates interested in working with high-growth Georgia startups.
How does Talent Connect support portfolio companies’ hiring processes and help them find qualified candidates?
Talent Connect offers guidance, light education, and consultation on hiring considerations and general best practices, along with targeted outreach and curated referrals to help companies connect with talent that aligns with their needs.
What types of roles or experience levels can Talent Connect assist with?
Talent Connect supports roles across a wide range of functions and levels, from intern to executive. The most common needs include technical roles such as software development and engineering, as well as business operations roles including marketing, sales, and administrative positions.
How can candidates express interest in working with ATDC portfolio companies?
Creating a profile in ATDC’s resume database is the most important way for candidates to engage, as many founders and hiring managers use the database directly in addition to—or instead of—posting roles. However, candidates can also set up job alerts in their candidate panel to receive email notifications for opportunities that match their interests.
What is the process for a startup to share an open role with Talent Connect?
Companies can either create an employer profile on the job board to post roles and review resumes directly, or they can schedule time with Sammy, who can then create job descriptions, post roles, and review resumes available on the database and received on their postings, on their behalf.Â
Does Talent Connect screen candidates before connecting them with companies?
Talent Connect does not formally vet candidates beyond a first review and screening of resumes on a company’s behalf, if desired, before an introduction is made. The goal is to create warm, informed connections so founders and hiring managers can engage directly with candidates to determine fit.
Is there a cost for companies or candidates to participate in the program?
There is no cost to participate in the Talent Connect program.
How does Talent Connect fit into a company’s overall recruiting strategy?
Talent Connect is designed to complement and inform (rather than replace) a startup’s existing recruiting strategies, including their own LinkedIn outreach, networking, and other job boards. The program provides an additional channel to connect with candidates interested in ATDC portfolio companies while offering consultative guidance and insights to help companies refine their hiring processes.