Startup Summer School 2025 | The Failure Flip

‍

What will this session cover? 

In this session, The Failure Flip: From Stumble to Summit, tech founders will explore how to turn setbacks into strategic wins. Using the real-life journey of building SparkyAI!—including early tech missteps, customer challenges, and market shifts, this workshop introduces the “Failure Flip” framework, a practical tool for navigating failure with resilience and clarity. Founders will leave with actionable insights to reframe failure, spark innovation, and continue their ascent with confidence.

About the host: 

Ted Tagalakis doesn't just build AI; he architects connections. As Founder and CEO of SparkyAI!™, he’s pioneering a new frontier where behavioral science meets cutting-edge AI, enabling brands to influence decisions and resonate deeply with audiences at a subconscious level.

With two U.S. patent applications for behavioral design in AI content generation, Ted is a recognized leader pushing the boundaries of marketing innovation. His unique approach includes revolutionizing market research with synthetic insights panels – AI personas delivering profound audience understanding in a fraction of the time – and crafting behaviorally-informed creative briefs that guarantee content impact. Holding a Master's in Data Analytics, Ted seamlessly blends data precision with human psychology, ensuring SparkyAI!™ crafts content scientifically designed for measurable success.

Named among Georgia's Top 10 Most Innovative Companies, SparkyAI!™ under Ted's leadership is reshaping how businesses connect, making every interaction count. A sought-after futurist and speaker, Ted shares his vision for leveraging behavioral AI to build powerful connections and drive unprecedented ROI in marketing and beyond.

About the series: 

‍

Have an idea? Do you crave to build something? . Even if you have an established startup, gain refreshers to the basics and small group time with the best of ATL's ecosystem! Join us this summer for a semester of Startup Summer School.

Learn from the best in the industry about what it looks like to start your own company and how to do it well.

13 workshops taught by experts in the field:

Tuesday, June 10, 9:00 AM-10:30AM

• How to Build a Billion Dollar Business, Kathryn O'Day, Atlanta Ventures

Tuesday, June 10, 1:00 PM - 2:15 PM

• Building Your MVP: Focus to Validate, Scale to Win Rich Bailey, Amazon

Tuesday, June 17, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

• Entrepreneurship at the Dawn of AI, Nick Hasty, GIPHY

Tuesday, June 24, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

• Build your MVP in days (using vibe coding) , Karthik Puvvada "KP", Paddle

Tuesday, July 1, 2025, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

• Sales 101: Everything You Need To Start Selling As A Founder, Margaret Weniger, Rising Tide

Tuesday, July 8, 2025, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

• Accounting Toolkit for Startups, Jeff Johnson

Tuesday, July 15, 2025, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

• Startup Legal Essentials, David Pierce, Founders Legal

Tuesday, July 22, 2025 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

• AI Strategy as Culture Strategy, Alex de Aranzeta, Accessity

Tuesday, July 29, 2025 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

• The Customer Discovery Playbook, Kyle Painting, EZ Innovation

Tuesday, August 5, 2025 1:30 PM - 3:000 PM

• Pitching the best YOU, Jacey Cadet, Atlanta Ventures

Tuesday, August 12, 2025 10:00 AM -11:30AM

• Fundraising 101, Scott Lopano, TechSquare Ventures

Tuesday, August 19, 2025 10:00 AM -11:30AM

Growth Marketing 101, Landon Howell, Startup Advisor: Techstars, ATV

Tuesday, August 26, 2025 10:00 AM- 11:30AM

• The Failure Flip, Ted Tagalakis, SparkyAI

‍