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September 20, 2021 | Tom Ballard

Five more Tennesseans make third wave of the “Forbes Next 1000″ honorees

Another 250 individuals have been named to the list of “Forbes Next 1000″ honorees for 2021, and five more Tennesseans were recognized, bringing the Volunteer State’s total to 12.

In making the third announcement this year, Forbes wrote that the “year-round initiative showcases the ambitious sole proprietors, self-funded shops and pre-revenue startups in every region of the country—all with under $10 million in revenue or funding and infinite drive and hustle.”

New to the list are:

  • Matt Schroeder, Co-Founder of Shelly Cove LLC in Chattanooga. The apparel company that donates 10 percent of net profits to benefit sick and injured sea turtles.
  • Yasar Chaudhary, Co-Founder of Eat Well Nashville which, as its name implies, delivers fully-cooked meals to homes or offices.
  • Ashley Little, Founder of the HBCU Experience Movement LLC, also in Nashville. The company collects and shares stories from alumni of historically Black colleges about how the collegiate experience has molded their lives.
  • Anna-Vija McClain, Founder of Piccolo Marketing, again in Nashville.
  • Mia Lopez, Owner of Ivory & Oak LLC, a Memphis-based event planning and design company.

They join previously announced East Tennessee recipients that include two participants – Erica Grant of Knoxville, Founder of Quantum Lock Technologies LLC and Leila Safavi-Tehrani, Co-Founder of Purist – in the “Innovation Crossroads” program operated by Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The third previously announced East Tennessean is Felicia Jackson of Chattanooga, Founder of CPR Wrap Inc. Also announced earlier were:



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