ManTech announced a partnership with the Georgia Institute of Technology's Advanced Technology Development Center to support the growth and acceleration of startups built on cyber security-related technologies and emerging innovations. The announcement marks ATDC's first such agreement with a federal systems integrator. Leveraging ManTech's deep government experience, the partnership will help entrepreneurs in ATDC's Cyber and Emerging Technologies Program develop innovative, disruptive solutions that target and resolve federal agencies' most pressing and difficult challenges.

ManTech provides advanced mission-focused technology solutions and services for every branch of the federal government including the Department of Defense, intelligence community and federal civilian agencies. ATDC, the state of Georgia's technology incubator, works with entrepreneurs to build, scale and launch successful technology companies. Since its founding in 1980, ATDC has provided coaching, curriculum, community, connections and access to capital and customers.

Among the many benefits for young technology ventures, this partnership builds on ATDC's platform with training and mentoring on how startups can grow their business with funding by the government's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. As part of the partnership, ATDC has hired Blair Tighe to lead the vertical. In that role, Tighe, a U.S. Army veteran with a combined background of private sector cyber strategy and emerging technologies, will manage the pipeline, evaluate technologies and coach companies.

He will leverage ATDC's Connect program and expertise to secure opportunities for pilot projects, investments and customers. He also will work with ManTech to mentor companies and host classes and educational programming built around the specific needs of the cyber and emerging tech sector. The cyber focus comes as ATDC is seeing increased startup activity from entrepreneurs and founders in the cybersecurity space.

The portfolio already has 12 companies in its incubator program.