TA

Theodore Alling

Managing Partner Dynamo Ventures & Co-Founder Chattanooga Preparatory

Greater Chattanooga

Invests in

Stages:

  • Min Investment:

    $250,000.00
  • Max Investment:

    $1,500,000.00
  • Target Investment:

    $875,000.00

Work Experience

  • Member Board Of Directors

    2022

2021

  • Partner

    2021

    A first-round venture capital firm + residency

  • Partner

    2016

    We invest in extraordinary founders building startups in supply chain and mobility. We are equipped to support founders through the seed stage in their effort to transform global trade and commerce. Please email hello@dynamo.vc to chat!

  • Co-Founder

    2015

    Chattanooga is a city with a rich history and a bright future, a community with boundless capacity for innovation, transformation, and economic prosperity. Unfortunately, these opportunities are not equitably accessible for all members of our community. For too many residents of urban core neighborhoods, the social determinants associated with poverty create intergenerational cycles of poor academic attainment, un- / under-employment, and disproportionately poor health and social outcomes. These challenges have a disproportionate impact on young men of color. Inspired by the success of the Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy (CGLA) in changing the trajectory of girls from underperforming schools and moved by the tremendous needs among boys and young men in Chattanooga, in 2016 a visionary group of innovators led by Ted and Kelly Alling initiated a planning process to create an all-boys public charter to extend the benefits of single-gender, leadership-focused education to young men.The purpose of the school is to change the lives of young men who face multiple challenges to academic success. Chattanooga Preparatory expects to open its doors August 2018.

  • Board of Directors

    2012

    Steam Logistics is a high growth international logistics company, driven by technology and centered on people. We deliver world class transportation experiences with the most unique service model in the industry—delivering on time and on budget with exceptional care for your products and commodities

2014

  • Advisory Board Member

    2014

    StuRents strives to help students from all over the world make the most informed choice when choosing student accommodation. To this end, StuRents is increasingly a leading property listing partner of landlords, letting agents and purpose built student accommodation owners and operators as they navigate and prosper in a booming and exciting marketplace. Ted brings guidance and a wealth of experience in key strategic decisions to the StuRents advisory board.

2016 - 2023

  • Board Of Directors

    2016 - 2023

    SKUPOS provides store owners, distributors, and brands with a clear view into inventory, ordering, and critical timed marketing opportunities. We integrate at the PoS, generating real-time data and analytics which allow retailers and distributors to spend more time on what's important: serving their customers.

2009 - 2022

  • Board of Directors

    2009 - 2022

    Reliance Partners is one of the fastest-growing, full-service insurance firms in the United States. Progressive thinking, innovation, and teamwork allow the company to deliver the highest-quality customer service in the industry. Reliance Partners provides comprehensive, customized risk management strategies to our commercial, personal and transportation clients. As a leader in the transportation and logistics insurance space, Reliance Partners has relationships with thousands of motor carriers, third-party logistics providers and warehouse operators. It is the company’s “Go the Extra Mile” mentality that has made Reliance Partners emerge as a preferred provider for its rapidly growing portfolio of commercial and transportation clients.

2010 - 2015

  • Partner and Co-Founder

    2010 - 2015

    Together with co-founders Allan Davis and Barry Large, Ted envisioned a company that not only invested in startups, but gave them the tools they needed to succeed, from workspace to back office services, and a network of passionate, proven mentors who could offer advice and encouragement. The three friends founded Lamp Post Group as their sophomore venture, the name evoking both the lamp post in the Narnia books by C.S. Lewis and the lamp post in the TV series Lost, which act as guideposts and beacons to the characters. As a partner and co-founder, Ted actively recruits and mentors entrepreneurs, encouraging them to build startups with long-term potential. Based on his decade of experience founding startups and seeing them transform into full fledged sustainable, scalable businesses, Ted helps each of the Lamp Post startups navigate the challenges of creating new businesses while cultivating positive work culture and camaraderie.

  • CEO - Cofounder

    2002 - 2014

    In 2002 Ted co-founded Access America Transport, a third-party logistics company specializing in truckload, less-than-truckload, specialized freight, and supply chain management solutions for approximately 8,000 customers throughout North America. The Chattanooga, Tenn.-based company employs approximately 500 people in nine offices in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Ohio, Minnesota, Texas, and Colorado. Access America saw rapid organic growth, going from zero in sales to over $500 million in revenue in just 12 years without venture capital or private equity. Access America’s industry focus includes customers across categories as diverse as construction and building supplies, retail, food and beverage, consumer goods and manufacturing. It was named one of the Top 100 Third Party Logistics Providers (3PL) nationally by Inbound Logistics magazines in 2011 and 2012, receiving honorable mention for the list of Top 10 providers both years. Additionally, Inc. magazine recently rated Access America one of the nation’s 500 fastest growing companies. The company is ISO 9001:2008 certified, SmartWay approved and an industry leader in technology. In 2014 Access America Transport merged with Coyote Logistics, who together will create revenues of more than $2 billion and will have 17 North American locations, with about 40,000 contracted carriers and about 1,750 employees.