Hustle and Grow | New Sky City event helps founders realize their business potential
The Sky City Entrepreneur Center is focused on helping small business owners in Blount County make money doing the work they love.
The Sky City entrepreneur center in downtown Maryville is a hub for local small business owners, founders, and hobbyists looking to transform their side gig into a full-time hustle.
teknovation.biz met with Shannon Bryant, the Executive Director of Sky City to get a better understanding of how the local hub is serving the Blount County community.
The non-profit organization hosts educational programs like Starting Your Business 101, pitch competitions like Launchpad, and offers a coworking space off Washington Street. Bryant shared that Sky City supports founders in all stages – from Hobby to established businesses. Plus, they serve the broadest range of companies from local makers who run an e-commerce store online to software developers hoping to bring the latest fintech brand to market.
“A lot of people in this community are already running their own businesses – whether it’s general contracting, photography, landscaping, or something completely different,” Bryant said. ” So, a lot of what we do is help materialize a business strategy, and help legitimize their offerings in a way that will be sustainable for them and their families.”
However, Bryant was most excited to share about an inaugural offering from Sky City coming up on Saturday, March 29. The event is called the “Hustle and Grow Small Business Summit” and is geared toward entrepreneurs who are ready to take the leap in launching their business.
“This will not be your typical business summit,” she said. “This will be an interactive, hands-on opportunity to connect, learn, and turn business ideas into a reality.”
The Saturday event will be hosted at the Pellissippi State Community College Blount County Campus, and will feature breakout sessions, keynote speakers, and real-world advice from founders who have “been there, and done that.”
Kris Tatum, the President and Co- Founder of Company Distilling is the keynote address for the day-long event. He also is a founder of the Tennessee Distillers Guild and served as its President, advancing legislation that increased revenue and alleviated taxes for all distillers in the state—large and small.
There are also 13 other presenters on various tracks and breakout sessions – some of which include Darrell Benton with Benton’s Bacon, Gregg Bostick with the Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC), Jeremy LaDuke with Epic Nine Marketing, Em Burge with Em Burge Pottery, and Halee Sprinkle with Czech Yourself Marketing.
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