I am quite sure that the Georgia Research Alliance and Technology Association of Georgia will get around real soon to officially announcing the finalists to the GRA/TAG Business Launch Competition.  But since I was in the room and people keep asking me I am going to give you loyal FoG readers the scoop.  Here they are.

ATM Direct.  Founded and funded by Nandan Sheth, the co-founder and COO of Harbor Payments, ATM Direct seeks to become the leading alternative payments provider with a platform technology that enables PIN debit payments on the Internet. 

Global Crypto Systems. Global Crypto provides strong, easy to use authentication software to companies that expose sensitive information on the Web by embeding cryptographic information in digital images.  Or said another way, they protect consumers and financial institutions from phishing.  CEO Todd Merrill went through ATDC’s CapVenture program last fall and word is they are about to close a small angel round.

ProperNotice.  Made their way into the semifinals as the winner of the Peoples Choice video competition.  The company bills itself as a penalty prevention service.  They have a web based notification system to save a user money by enabling informed business decisions and eliminating contractual penalties.

SkyBlox.  Founded by a bevy of key members of EarthLink’s former muni wi-fi group, SkyBlox is working to become the leading site for neighborhood wireless networks and the source for up to the minute information about those neighborhoods.  They currently have a pilot program up in Virginia-Highland.  While it looks like a network play, long term this is a hyper local advertising business.  And they have the best logo.

The final four.  Congrats to each of them.  And the 15 companies that made it to the semifinals.

If you are interested in seeing the final four companies make their pitch for $300,000, presentations are open to the public and will take place on June 4 at IBM.

Update: Here is the official release.