Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

Meet the 7 innovators competing for $10,000 and the future of Knoxville’s startup scene.

An agricultural drone service, an AI-enhanced calculator and an app that tracks the energy of local nightlife secured the top three spots at this semester's Vol Court.

The companies span three tracks Project Healthcare, TakeOff, and InFlight and represent a wide mix of experience levels and industries.

This expansion will create more than 130 jobs and invest nearly $30 million in the area.

Now operating a sattellite office in Knoxville, Mathew Grell has represented more than 700 clients – from Fortune 500 giants down to independant inventors and machinists.

Recticel Group's U.S. facility will create nearly 80 jobs and invest almost $50 million throughout Maury County.

“The impact of this is massive,” said the founder Ian Nott. “This one program could go on to affect well over a million opioid risk patients in the U.S. over the next year.”

The eco-friendly cleaning supply company is growing from a Johnson City base, supplying dish soap, laundry, and dishwasher detergent solutions.