The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), Venture Atlanta, and the Metro Atlanta Chamber announced that Gimme (www.gimmevending.com; @GimmeVend) – the developers of a device and software solution that enables vending machines to communicate sales, cash and inventory data to handheld devices – is the winner of the 10th annual TAG Business Launch Competition. The event was held on May 11 at SCADShow.

Gimme’s hardware and accompanying analytics and tracking software helps prevent theft, saves labor costs, and improves inventory management. The company, co-founded by Georgia Tech electrical engineering senior Cory Hewett and 2014 Georgia Tech electrical engineering alumnus Evan Jarecki, bested three other startups in the final round of a bracket competition.

“We congratulate Gimme and all of the companies who participated in this year’s extremely strong competition,” stated TAG President and CEO Tino Mantella. “We look forward to the growth and continued success of these companies and we thank all of our sponsors and volunteers who have made the TAG Business Launch Competition possible.”

As a result of the win, Gimme will receive $50,000, a spot in Venture Atlanta (the premier technology conference in Georgia that connects Georgia’s entrepreneurs with the capital they need to grow their businesses), and more than $100,000 in donated services from the Atlanta business community to help them grow.

“Our team is ecstatic to be recognized by TAG and the Chamber of Commerce as this year’s winner,” said Hewett. “With the support of our customers and Georgia Tech, we are very optimistic to see what the future holds. A big part of our forward progress will involve bringing dynamic new talent into our team!”

Gimme is growing, and Hewett and Jarecki are adding more talent to the Gimme team, especially in the area of software development, and would love to hire current Georgia Tech students or alumni.  To learn more about Gimme and the startup culture at Georgia Tech, read “Workshop Maker Culture Meets Startup Incubators” in the latest issue of Georgia Tech Research Horizons Magazine.

Photo cutline information

Top photo: Check presentation to Gimme co-founders at the TAG Business Launch Competition, held on May 11. Pictured left to right are Chris Hart, Southern Refreshment Services; David Hartnett, Metro Atlanta Chamber; Allyson Eman, Venture Atlanta; Tino Mantella, Technology Association of Georgia; Cory Hewett, founder of Gimme Vending LLC; Evan Jarecki, CTO/co-founder at Gimme Vending LLC; and Amanda Hendley, Technology Association of Georgia.

Middle photo: Chris Hart, owner of Southern Refreshment Services, presents award check to Gimme co-founders Cory Hewett (L) and Evan Jarecki (R). Southern Refreshment Services was Gimme’s first customer.

Bottom photo: Gimme co-founders Cory Hewett and Evan Jarecki are pictured with Lizzie Jarecki (center), Gimme's user experience designer.

About the TAG Business Launch Competition

Since it was founded in 2006, the TAG Business Launch Competition has become one of largest competitions of its kind in the United States, providing $550,000 in cash and over $1,900,000 in donated services to more than 200 young entrepreneurs.

Applicants are screened by an experienced panel of entrepreneurs and the most promising companies are assigned a mentor for the duration of the competition.  Representatives from out-of-state venture capital companies sit on the judge’s panel and a multitude of angel and venture capital investors attend the final event. 

About the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering

The School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) is one of eight schools and departments in the College of Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. All ECE undergraduate and graduate programs are in the top 10 of the most recent college rankings by U.S. News & World Report. Over 2,800 students are enrolled in the School’s graduate and undergraduate programs, and in the last academic year, 792 degrees were awarded.

Over 100 ECE faculty members are involved in 11 areas of research, education, and commercialization – bioengineering, computer systems and software, digital signal processing, electric power, electromagnetics, electronic design and applications, microsystems, optics and photonics, systems and controls, telecommunications, and VLSI systems and digital design.