Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

Launch Tennessee announced Monday a total of $70,000 in investments in 11 entrepreneur-support projects across the state – from summits and marketing for Black founder-led initiatives to an open-access library of business documents and how-to templates.

Many of the recipients are in the eastern half of Tennessee, the primary focus area for teknovation.biz. They include:

• BGBO Co. and Arvo in Cookeville will provide a statewide resource library with free templates, how-tos, business resources, and employee upskilling for Tennessee entrepreneurs with additional workshops.
• Bold In Business from Nashville will offer “The Wealth & Wellness Fempreneur Summit,” a two-day event providing strategies, frameworks, and hands-on support in lead generation, marketing and content creation, and money management.
• Creative Soulz Printing, also from Nashville, is offering the Black Business Coupon Book showcasing Black-owned businesses in Nashville and the Middle Tennessee area.
• Cumberland Business Incubator at Roane State Community College in Crossville will expand tactical classes and assistance opportunities for entrepreneurs throughout East Tennessee.
• FoundersForge in Johnson City is hosting the “Startup Mountain Summit” in October.
• LAUNCH Chattanooga for its 10-week “LAUNCH CHA Academy” for entrepreneurs building their businesses.
• Pathway Lending of Nashville for a capital educational and technical assistance coaching program for entrepreneurs in Montgomery, Hamilton, and surrounding counties.
• Sky City Entrepreneur Center in Maryville for a pitch event highlighting startup companies in Blount County
• The Inventor Center in Kingsport supports its “Promote Yourself Supper Series” program for entrepreneurs, makers, and artists learning the tools to promote their work and themselves.

Two other recipients were from Memphis. They are:

• Memphis Medical District Collaborative to support 10 Memphis entrepreneurs joining the Consumer Packaged Goods cohort with Proof Incubator, and
• Start Co. to support its Sustainable Mobility Summit featuring startup-focused programming, panel discussions, office hours, and a demonstration event highlighting start-ups and emerging mobility systems and innovations.

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