As companies increase their use of AI, it’s clear that some industries are embracing the use of new technology.
The food industry? Maybe not so much. But Noelle Ross is aiming to change that.
The metro Atlanta entrepreneur has grown up around prep stations and menu planning. But she sees a need for technology in the industry, and found Georgia AIM to help her advance that mission.
“I was lucky enough to be with Georgia AIM from the very beginning, and there’s been so many ways I’ve been able to reach out, and people have been open and understanding about dealing with startups, especially in manufacturing,” said Ross. “It’s about how much you’re willing to put into it, but if you’re willing to show up for yourself, then they’ll show up for you. I just feel very fortunate to even be here.”
Over the past few years, Ross has attended Georgia AIM events offering tech start-up networking, expert panels, and manufacturing insights. More recently, she attended an event at the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center in Augusta. This Georgia AIM partner provided Ross with cybersecurity consulting for her company, Sweet Ross.
Called a site-assistance visit, the analysis is a free service the Cyber Center offers to small businesses across Georgia. The analysis involves trained undergraduate students at Augusta University who work alongside industry professionals to gauge a company’s cybersecurity and potential threats. Then, they explain how a company can shore up their vulnerabilities and better protect themselves against a data breach.
The experience was eye-opening, she said. As a small business owner, she now views security and running her business in a different light.
“It’s given me the opportunity to look beyond the veil, to a certain extent, and I can see different things,” she said. “Do you have a fob? Do you have a gate? I mean, there’s just so many different layers to security now that I see, where before I just wasn’t very aware.”
The experience was one part understanding how her business can protect itself, but it was also beneficial to simply learn about key terms and speak the language of cybersecurity. For example, she now feels confident to talk about spyware or hactivism — concepts that aren’t front and center in the food industry.
These words aren’t often used in the food world. In the casual environment of a kitchen, the staff is more casual, and vendors can come and go. But working with the Cyber Center helped her learn more about trust and security.
“In the food industry, we try and embrace a lot of different vendors, and we try to be innovative in general, and it can be kind of relaxed, just culturally speaking,” she added. “But with the cybersecurity focus, it’s made me understand how to protect myself as well as protect my employees. It’s been very exciting to be part of Georgia Tech and the infrastructure they created.”
Understanding her company’s cybersecurity position is just one more way Ross has added to her business toolbox through Georgia AIM. First, it was learning about AI agents and how to incorporate them into her business. Now, she’s able to see AI through a cybersecurity lens, too.
It all adds up, she said.
“The AI infrastructure is amazing and it’s going to be a good tool for you,” she said. When it’s incorporated into the food industry, it can help with scheduling, food waste, and overall business optimization. “Combining nature with AI technology can create an abundant supply of diverse options, which could be applied for the betterment of our global society.”