Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

East Tennessee entrepreneurs have less than one week to submit applications for the annual PYA Ballard Innovation Award. Apply now!

The Ballard Innovation Award is the largest gift of cash and in-kind services available to East Tennessee entrepreneurs and startups. It is a reflection of PYA’s commitment to the region.

The first-place winner of the PYA Ballard Innovation Award will receive:

• $50,000 package of capital and in-kind services:
  • $10,000 of Monetary Capital
  • $ 2,500 of In-Kind Tax Advisory Support
  • $ 7,500 of In-Kind Outsourced Accounting
  • $10,000 of In-Kind Marketing Support
  • $10,000 of In-Kind Strategy Support
  • $10,000 of In-Kind Video Development
• Marketing and promotional awareness through earned media
• Physical award for presentation and marketing purposes

Subscribe to the teknovation.biz newsletter to keep up with the deadlines for the 2024 PYA Ballard Innovation Award.

Judging Panel

Over the last five years, PYA has welcomed some big names to the judging panel, and this year is no different.

The judges include Patricia Bible, the Owner and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KaTom Restaurant Supply, Inc., Billy Carroll, the President and CEO of SmartBank, Shannon Harper, the President and Dealer Principal of Harper Auto Square, Pierce LaMacchia the Co-founder and Owner of K Brew, and Cynthia Gibson, the General Counsel for Bush Brothers & Company.

Qualifications

Applicant qualifications include a company that:

• Is located in the geographic East Tennessee area (33 counties as defined by the state of TN) – metro areas include Chattanooga, Knoxville, and Tri-Cities;
• Has established a “proof of concept” with accompanying revenue (as outlined);
• Has secured financial resources of a minimum of $200,000 total;
• Has a business plan to optimize existing business operations by reducing costs, increasing revenues, and/or gaining new efficiencies;
• Can demonstrate clear innovations that will improve the business;
• Has a focus on empowering the consumer to become more informed and engaged.

The PYA Ballard Innovation Award honors Tom Ballard, PYA’s Chief Alliance Officer, and a well-respected East Tennessee entrepreneurial community member. An East Tennessee native, Tom spent more than four decades building relationships for the University of Tennessee System and Oak Ridge National Laboratory throughout the region, state, and nation before joining PYA in 2012. He is the Editor and Publisher of teknovation.biz.

Visit the official page for award information at pyapc.com/ballard

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