Hooga, a Savannah Georgia based startup, won the Startup Stage event at the 10th Annual Geekend in Savannah Georgia. Six companies competed to win the April 26th event which was sponsored and presented by the ATDC.

The Startup Stage capped off the first day of the 2019 Geekend, a two-day conference for entrepreneurs, technologists, creatives, makers, leaders and change agents from Savannah and beyond. Established in 2009, the event has evolved to become a celebration of innovation in business, technology, and the arts. ATDC is a proud sponsor of the event, which this year featured several ATDC companies and staff members as speakers and panelists.

Hooga is a marketplace platform that is curating reviews on rental properties in Savannah, connecting renters and landlords to ensure all parties have a positive experience. Savannah is a city with an above average percentage of housing which is rental properties. As part of the prize for winning the startup stage event, Hooga won a $1,000 cash prize.

“With momentum from the Startup Stage Pitch Event win, Hooga is now building a social media base and collecting landlord reviews so that we can start changing the renting game in Savannah,” said Hooga Founder Elizabeth Kaiser.

The event was hosted by ATDC Statewide Program Manager Ben Andrews. “There was a great group of companies at this year’s event,” said Andrews. “I’ve been a part of this event for several years now and I am always impressed with the quality of ideas and the companies that pitch. I’m excited to see what Hooga does over the next year, and I expect to see big things from all of this year’s participants.”

Savannah is one of the cities in the ATDC @ program, where ATDC has two part-time staff positions. “There is a lot of momentum in Savannah, and we are excited to see how companies like Hooga can thrive here over the next few years,” said Andrews.