Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

The Innov865 Alliance has announced the lineup of entrepreneurs who will take the stage at Startup Day, the signature event of Innov865 Week. The event will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 12, at the Mill and Mine, showcasing Knoxville’s entrepreneurial spirit and innovation. Innov865 Week runs from September 8-15.

Startup Day has been a cornerstone of Innov865 Week for the past decade, bringing together a dynamic community of investors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders to recognize and celebrate the achievements of Knoxville’s vibrant startup ecosystem

Featuring a roster of six startup companies, this year’s pitchers represent a diverse range of groundbreaking ideas, creations, and technological advancements. Each will pitch before a live audience and panel of judges in hopes of winning the Judges’ Choice, presented by the Innov865 Alliance, and/or Crowd Favorite, sponsored by Boston Government Services, totaling up to $10,000 in cash prizes.

The Innov865 Alliance selected the following companies to pitch at the 10th annual Startup Day:

B-Roll Bank, an artificial intelligence-powered Digital Asset Management software built for production companies that make content. It makes a database of footage easily searchable, eliminates storage bloat, and turns one of their biggest expenses and untapped potential into a revenue source.

FarmGrub, a single shopping source for local farms and grocery brands and offers same-day delivery every day of the week. FarmGrub’s goal is to empower local farms, offer same-day delivery of fresh local groceries, and give 15 percent of all profits to Second Harvest Food Bank.

Holocene, a direct air capture (DAC) technology developer and carbon removal service provider developing and deploying a scalable, low-temperature, aqueous carbon removal system that aims to deliver a meaningful dent in slowing and ultimately reversing the effects of global warming.

KnoxFill, a simple yet revolutionary way to get necessary household products. Unlike traditional stores that offer soaps, detergents, and other personal care and household goods in single-use packaging, KnoxFill provides high-quality versions of these products in reusable, refillable containers. Customers can bring their own containers and refill them with hundreds of zero-waste bulk options.

Orion Therapeutics, a life science start-up born from the collaborative efforts of researchers and scientists in Knoxville that offers a breakthrough lipid nanoparticle (LNP) platform has the potential to revolutionize the field of RNA therapeutics.

Vitriform3D, a member of the “Innovation Crossroads” program and a start-up focused on harnessing glass waste with a patent-pending method to 3D print synthetic stone from 95 percent recycled glass. This team of experts uses technology to 3D print recycled glass tiles with 4x lower embodied carbon than ceramic tiles, and developed exterior grade paneling with less than half the carbon footprint of fiber cement board and brick cladding.

“We are immensely proud to present this outstanding lineup of entrepreneurs for this year’s Startup Day,” said Lilly Tench, Innov865 Alliance Member and Director of the Spark Cleantech Accelerator. “This event has become a testament to Knoxville’s entrepreneurial spirit. We invite everyone to join us as we celebrate a decade of growth, connect with the brightest minds in our community and witness the exciting possibilities that lie ahead.”

Startup Day’s program also includes an entrepreneur panel, a fireside chat, and the presentation of the annual Traction Award. The Traction Award, presented by CGI, is given to a Knoxville entrepreneur who has made the most traction in their industry and community.

The Innov865 Alliance encourages all interested parties to attend Startup Day on Sept. 12 at The Mill and Mine. The event is free and open to the public. Click here to register.

---