Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

From Across Tennessee:

The Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council (TAEBC) has announced new officers and members to its Board of Directors. The new officers and board members were recognized at TAEBC’s Annual Meeting on March 5, hosted by Schneider Electric at its Nashville Hub.

Robert Hardin, Senior Quality Manager with WACKER, was elected to serve as TAEBC’s President. He succeeds Steve Seifried, Tennessee Account Executive with Ameresco, who will continue to serve another three-year term on the Board of Directors. Angela Chan, Head of Operations, Transformation and Culture, Operations & AI, North America, Schneider Electric, was elected to serve as TAEBC’s Secretary.

Additional new board members include:

1. Stuart Hunter, FirstBank Vice President, Commercial Banking;
2. Jason Mennino, Bridgestone Americas Director, Carbon Strategy and Sustainable Programs Environmental Affairs; and
3. Matt Miles, Type One Energy, Senior Vice President, Marketing and External Affairs.

“TAEBC anticipates significant opportunities within the advanced energy sector, primarily through technology-based economic development,” said Cortney Piper, TAEBC’s Executive Director. “Our board will provide strategic direction to the organization and the state as we adjust to a new national energy agenda, rapidly increasing demand for power, major technology advancements, and the release of the nation’s largest public power provider’s Integrated Resource Plan, which guides its portfolio direction through 2035.”

Continuing members of the TAEBC Board of Directors include:

1. Chris Bowles, Partner, Bradley;
2. Marc Gibson, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research, University of Tennessee, Knoxville;
3. Heath Jones, Managing Director, Kanadevia Inova; and
4. Matt Kisber, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board, Silicon Ranch Corporation.

From Cookeville:

Téa Phillips, Founder of ATS Innovations Inc. and the Co-Inventor of the MetaFlex Therapy Glove, has announced that it is now covered for reimbursement. According to a post on social media, the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Billing Code L3912.

According to AI Overview, the specific code refers to a “hand finger orthosis (HFO), flexion glove with elastic finger control, prefabricated, off-the-shelf,” meaning it is a pre-made glove-like orthotic used to control finger flexion, and its reimbursement amount will vary depending on the specific insurance plan and geographic location, but it falls under the category of upper extremity miscellaneous orthotics.”

Phillips and several fellow students at Tennessee Tech University invented the device, then known as Hands On, in 2018.

From the State of Texas but with Oak Ridge Ties:

The Texas Nuclear Alliance (TNA) has announced that Kairos Power, a nuclear energy engineering, design, manufacturing, integration, and operations company, has joined as a Founding Member. The company is singularly focused on commercializing advanced reactor technology that can be deployed with robust safety at an affordable cost.

“Kairos Power recognizes the tremendous potential that nuclear power offers for Texas and is leading the way in developing advanced reactor technologies to help unlock a reliable, affordable, cleaner energy future,” said TNA President Reed Clay. “Kairos Power’s unique technology and leadership in nuclear will play a pivotal role in the future of the power industry in Texas.”

“Texas is taking bold steps to secure its clean energy future by embracing nuclear energy to power homes, businesses, and industries. As a member of the Texas Nuclear Alliance, Kairos Power is proud to align with this mission, furthering our commitment to enable the energy transition while promoting human wellbeing,” said Mike Laufer, Kairos Power’s Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer. “We are excited about the opportunity to drive technological leadership and continued economic growth by deploying advanced reactors in Texas.”

The company is constructing Hermes 1 and 2 in Oak Ridge and recently unveiled a new Operator Training Simulator Laboratory in partnership with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) Tickle College of Engineering.

From Knoxville Initially:

TruGolf Holdings Inc. has announced a significant franchise development deal with Knoxville native and Tennessee entrepreneur John Young to develop 40 new TruGolf Links centers across the state. The expansion will begin with a flagship location in Knoxville.

As a Regional Developer, he will also serve as the distributor for TruGolf’s product line in Tennessee.

TruGolf Links facilities will feature state-of-the-art golf simulators, with flagship locations requiring 5,000+ square feet and including a double-size bay with stadium seating. Standard facilities will occupy 3,800+ square feet with five simulator bays, full food and beverage service, a club cleaning station, and a pro shop.

From Nashville:

360 Privacy, a leading digital executive protection platform, has announced that it has secured a $36 million growth equity investment from FTV Capital, a sector-focused growth equity firm with a successful track record of investing across the enterprise technology landscape. The investment will enable 360 Privacy to expand its engineering and revenue teams, accelerate technology and product innovation, and further enhance its ability to deliver best-in-class customer service to safeguard organizations and their executives.

In 2024, the average cost of a data breach reached $4.88 million, with nearly one-half (46 percent) of all breaches involving personally identifiable information (PII), such as addresses, social security numbers, credit card information, and social media posts. As cyber attacks continue to grow in frequency and sophistication, they are significantly outpacing traditional defenses, targeting executives across both the digital and physical world. This necessitates solutions that can bridge the gap between cybersecurity and physical protection imperatives.

Seamlessly combining software with white glove service, 360 Privacy delivers a turnkey digital executive protection platform that automatically scrapes the internet and dark web in real time to identify, remove, and continuously monitor for PII. Protection starts faster than other industry-standard tools, with daily scans beginning at the time of enrollment. Serving both B2B and B2C customers, 360 Privacy remediates risk to Fortune 500 enterprises and their executives, as well as high-net-worth families, athletes, and entertainers. Today, 360 Privacy serves one-third of Fortune 100 companies as customers.

From Chattanooga:

Just one day after the Chattanooga City Council unanimously approved the agreement, the Hamilton County Commission also signed off on the deal. All that remains is action by the Chattanooga Industrial Development Board, appointed by the Chattanooga City Council, that will allow NOVONIX to purchase 182 acres of industrial park land for about $4.5 million and pay no property taxes in the first year of the deal, beyond those dedicated to public schools.

According to an article in the Chattanooga Times Free Press, the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce backed the agreement that forgives $54 million in property taxes over time, in exchange for the promise of a $1 billion investment at Enterprise South Industrial Park and as many as 1,175 new jobs.

NOVONIX is a leading battery technology company revolutionizing the global lithium-ion battery industry with innovative, sustainable technologies, high-performance materials, and more efficient production methods.

From Johnson City:

FoundersForge is launching a 30-Day Habit-Building Accountability Challenge, designed to help participants take small, consistent steps toward a new, productive habit. The habit you choose is completely up to the individual – whether it’s exercising, journaling, or something work-related – you just need to commit to it once a day.

Here’s how it works:

1. Join the “accountability challenge’“ space and choose ONE habit you want to build in April (follow the posting guidelines in the link).
2. Check in each week with our community for accountability and encouragement.
3. Celebrate progress and keep the momentum going.

The challenge starts on April 1, and it’s completely free to join starting at this link.

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