Coaching Entrepreneurs at Startup Runway

Ted Fleming has always thrived on solving problems and moving quickly to the next challenge. As a management consultant, that rhythm suited him well — until an intrapreneurship project at Cox Automotive allowed him to build something from the ground up. For the first time, he didn’t want to move on to the next thing.

“I hadn’t really contemplated that my consulting career would shift,” Ted explained, “but working for a company that is committed to making the world a better place is a part of why it has been so easy to build my career here.”

That early project offered a glimpse of what it takes to launch something new, giving him firsthand experience building and scaling ideas inside a large organization. Since then, Ted has grown his career at Cox Automotive from strategy and operations into his current role as senior director of product management. 

During his time at Cox, he has supported Atlanta’s startup community by sharing his experience and perspective with founders along the way. Most recently, he served as a mentor for Startup Runway’s pitch competition, hosted at Cox Enterprises’ Atlanta headquarters, where he and other Cox employees coached early-stage founders on how to position their ideas for maximum impact. 

Drawing from years of pitching ideas within Cox Automotive, Ted used the speed-round format to help founders refine their positioning in real time. He encouraged entrepreneurs to connect their passion to a clear business case, framing their vision in a way that decision-makers can understand and support. 

“I helped them build that bridge between their passion and their revenue stream in the story they’re telling,” Ted said. “What you’re pitching as a startup is partly the founder: their expertise, knowledge and passion. Then we turn the page and show judges the revenue opportunity.”

Those brief exchanges during the event help founders sharpen their messaging and clarify their value proposition before pitching live to a judging panel. At each showcase, the top presenter receives the $10,000 grant, providing an initial boost as they prepare for institutional funding.

“Startup Runway is really about closing the friends-and-family gap,” explained Jack Semrau, senior manager of strategy and investments at Cox and a board advisor for the foundation.

But the real value goes beyond the award: every participant walks away with stronger ideas, new connections and insights from experienced business leaders.

“The whole concept of Startup Runway rings true to Cox’s values and our purpose to empower people to build a better future for the next generation,” said Brien Faucett, corporate social responsibility and community impact manager at Cox. “By supporting these early entrepreneurs as they get their businesses off the ground, the impact can create a ripple effect.” 

For Ted, an afternoon spent mentoring founders offered more than a chance to give back. It renewed his own sense of purpose. Seeing entrepreneurs pursue bold ideas with limited resources reminds him what determination looks like at its purest.

“It’s nice to get that taste of it, to see that passion and energy,” Ted said. “These folks are facing harder challenges and longer odds with far less support behind them. If they can do that, why can’t I step in and tackle whatever the big challenge is on my plate today?”

Stories like Ted’s reflect a larger belief at Cox: innovation doesn’t happen in isolation. By mentoring startups, investing in emerging ideas and partnering with local accelerators, we’re carrying forward our entrepreneurial spirit that began with our founder’s leap of faith more than a century ago. Supporting today’s entrepreneurs isn’t just about advancing technology — it’s about helping new generations create opportunity, strengthen communities and shape what comes next.

Learn more about our workplace and how you can make an impact at Cox.