Last week, more than 8,000 developers, founders, and creatives gathered in downtown Atlanta for RenderATL, a culture-driven tech conference that continues to raise the bar.
Held as the cornerstone event of Atlanta Tech Week, this year’s edition blended deep technical programming with high-energy social moments, proving that connection and code don’t have to be separate.
Across three full days, attendees explored more than 80 sessions spanning tracks like Build, Create, AI & Innovation, and Career & Culture. With over 100 brand partners and sponsors present, the expo floor stayed lively all week, right up to Friday’s close. RenderATL’s playful identity came through in every detail, from the carnival theme and food truck park to dress-up days and pop-up concerts.
Keynotes and panels featured leading voices in tech, including Winston Nwanne (Sr. AI Tech Specialist, Microsoft), Kevin Whinnery, (DX from OpenAI), and Kedron Abbott (Sr. Software Engineer from HashiCorp, an IBM Company).
At the AI & Innovation Summit, speakers like Ava Toro (Global Strategic Insights Researcher, Reddit), Zach Maybury (Chief Technology Officer, DraftKings), and Sean McQuaid (Lead Software Engineer, Chick-fil-A) tackled topics ranging from machine learning infrastructure to product personalization.
The Career & Culture track, co-hosted by Zillow, created space for dialogue around hybrid work, equity, and evolving workplace expectations.
Logistics were smooth across the board. Check-in was fast, with QR codes shared via app and clearly labeled badge pickup lanes for VIP and General Admission attendees. Separate wristbands for RenderATL and ATL Tech Week made access levels clear, and many attendees appreciated the streamlined security process, including consistent metal detector checks and an enforced bag policy.
One particularly standout feature of this year’s conference was the headphone-based session format in the AI Summit space. Attendees could pick up wireless headsets and tune into the stage of their choice, helping create a more focused and immersive environment without the usual audio overlap that can happen in large venues.
Photo credit: RenderATL
What began as a small developer-focused gathering has quickly grown into one of the most anticipated industry events in the Southeast.
Special thanks to Mela AI for providing cred a ticket to RenderATL 2025!
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