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HACK AUGUSTA<br />
BY GRACE BELANGIA and ERIC PARKER<br />
IF THERE’S ONE THING MOST PEOPLE THINK ABOUT when they imagine<br />
Augusta, it’s probably hacking their way around the back 9 of an azalea lined course and<br />
heading into the clubhouse to enjoy some libations and soak in a beautiful spring day.<br />
What they may not realize is the amazing growth the city’s technology sector has seen<br />
over the last 5-10 years. The growth of US Army Cyber Command and NSA Georgia<br />
at Ft. Gordon, along with the continued expansion of health technologies at Augusta<br />
University, and Energy & Environmental Research at Savannah River National Lab have<br />
formed the building blocks to merge southern hospitality and collaborative innovation.<br />
Aside from the golf course,<br />
these days you’re as likely<br />
to find folks hacking code<br />
and building startups in one<br />
of the many coffee shops<br />
around town, or taking it to<br />
the next level at theClubhou.<br />
se the Augusta community’s<br />
collaborative incubator. In<br />
it’s fifth year downtown,<br />
theClubhou.se is the place<br />
where entrepreneurs,<br />
techies, and the creative<br />
class meet. Newcomers can<br />
show off their chops at a<br />
hackathon, or try learning<br />
new skills through meetups<br />
such as PyAugusta or 3D<br />
Printing Club. Entrepreneurs<br />
meet each other and find<br />
mentors & structure through<br />
weekly Founders Circles and<br />
monthly Lunch & Learns.<br />
And of course, libations<br />
flow monthly at Beer &<br />
Bytes where the community<br />
gathers to network and learn<br />
what is the next BIG thing<br />
to be made in Augusta.<br />
In the Old Academy of<br />
Richmond County building,<br />
theClubhou.se operates a<br />
co-working space, where<br />
members have access to<br />
a desk, wifi, free coffee,<br />
meeting space, and mail<br />
service. Members also have<br />
access to a full makerspace<br />
where they can learn how<br />
to use laser cutters, 3D<br />
printers, CNC routers, and<br />
more to help tinker on new<br />
ideas and build prototypes.<br />
Classes and bootcamps<br />
are available in coding,<br />
fabrication, and business. For<br />
those ideas that are really<br />
taking off, private office<br />
space is available as well.<br />
Startup resources don’t<br />
end there. A few blocks<br />
over in the mills district,<br />
the UGA Small Business<br />
Development Center offers<br />
coaching and business<br />
plan assistance for small<br />
businesses at no charge.<br />
Once startups have figured<br />
out how to solve a business<br />
problem, they can make a<br />
short trek across the river<br />
to visit Central Savannah<br />
River Angels. As part of the<br />
Venture South network,<br />
CSR Angels provide angel<br />
investment opportunities<br />
to help startups scale their<br />
business to the next level.<br />
Any mention of technology<br />
in Augusta would be<br />
incomplete without including<br />
the Information Systems<br />
Security Association’s<br />
Greater Augusta Chapter.<br />
The group meets monthly<br />
at Augusta University and<br />
is responsible for organizing<br />
the annual cyber security<br />
conference, BSidesAugusta.<br />
SO, WELCOME TO TOWN.<br />
THERE’RE NO EXCUSES.<br />
COMMUNITY<br />
www.The<strong>NewcomersGuide</strong>.com | 81
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