Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

From Oak Ridge:

Dan Miller, “Innovation Crossroads” Program Lead, reminds that the deadline to apply for the 2025 cohort is November 8. Those selected for the two-year program will:

• Receive an annual living stipend of $115,000, along with a health insurance stipend and a professional development allowance for travel, training, and customer discovery activities; and
• Gain access to Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s advanced facilities, research tools, and expertise, along with $150,000 in R&D funding to collaborate with lab researchers.

Interested? Here’s the link to apply.

From Knoxville:

The Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ACEI) in the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee (UT), Knoxville will announce the winners of the fall “Graves Business Plan Competition” at an event Friday afternoon at the ACEI Accelerator at the UT Research Foundation’s Business Incubator. Twelve students are vying for a total prize package of $10,000. The winner will receive $5,000, with second place taking home $3,000 and third place earning $2,000.

The finalists are:

1. AdaptMold, founded by Ethan Andes, a mechanical engineering major, offers the versatility of 3D printing with the speed and efficiency of casting methods.
2. AluminAiry, founded by Brian Washington, a chemical engineering graduate student, is developing on-site renewable energy generation systems based on aluminum-air battery technology.
3. Guardian Chic, started by Elle Redrow, a marketing major, solves the issue of personal safety for women by embedding advanced tracking and alert features into elegant jewelry designs.
4. Mama’s Pumpkin Bread, launched by Macaira Midgley, also a marketing major, commercializes a 50-year-old popular family pumpkin bread recipe into the bread-baking industry.
5. MedSpa Growth Solution, founded by Connor Langford, another marketing major, provides a comprehensive marketing strategy tailored specifically for medical spas.
6. NarConnect, started by Maxwell Gallinek, a supply chain management major, is a campus-wide software solution that bridges the gap between those in need of Narcan to save their life and individuals carrying the medication.
7. Partnerly, launched by founder Blake Hopkins, another supply chain management major, provides a service to connect businesses with social media creators through custom filtering, browsing, and search methods.
8. Pink Apron Logistics, founded by Grant Coggin, a chemical engineering major, offers high quality European pastries to local coffee shops and corporate gatherings.
9. Retrinket, started by Rondi Quass, a mathematics and applied artificial intelligence double major, takes clothing waste and upcycles the items into a sustainable, fashion-forward solution.
10. Student2Student Coaching, launched by Anna Chen, an industrial and systems engineering major, offers personalized career coaching from a peer who is actively navigating the modern job market.
11. Youth Gainz, founded by Jawan Qura, a human resources management major, provides a targeted solution to help skinny individuals build muscle through personalized coaching and tailored workout programs.
12. ZNAKICKS, launched by Zain Zitawi, another marketing major, secures and sells exclusive shoes through proven sourcing methods and supplies thousands of vendors the inventory they need to supply their own customers.

From Nashville:

Music City and its neighbors in Franklin and Murfreesboro are the 20^th most friendly communities for veteran entrepreneurs, according to a recently released study from the PenFed Foundation, a national 501(c)3 founded by PenFed Credit Union. The PenFed Foundation Veteran Entrepreneur Program, which supports veteran entrepreneurs from the idea stage to Series A and beyond, conducted the study in partnership with Edelman Data and Intelligence.

Topping the list is Raleigh, NC, followed by:

• Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metro Area;
• Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area; 
• Cleveland-Elyria, OH Metro Area; and
• Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO Metro Area. 

Click here to learn more.

From Chattanooga:

The Chattanooga Times Free Press reported last week that Chattanooga resident Felicia Jackson, creator of CPRWrap, won $20,000 on a new Amazon show titled “This Is Small Business: Behind the Buy.” It is the official companion podcast to the Buy Tt Now show from Amazon Prime Video.

Hosted by Andrea Marquez from “This is Small Business” (TISB) and featuring Jamie Siminoff, creator of Ring, this special season of TISB dives deep into the world of Buy it Now and the entrepreneurs who are building their businesses one pitch at a time.

“During this episode, I dive into the pivotal moment that inspired CPRWrap, the challenges of pitching to an audience of 100, and how winning the $20,000 prize on ‘Buy It Now’ will help elevate my business,” Jackson wrote in a Facebook post.

What exactly motivated her? You can read our first article in January 2017 where Jackson described what propelled her to start the company that was initially known as The CPR LifeWrap.

Another from Nashville:

The Nashville Entrepreneur Center is hosting a “Program Showcase” from 4 to 7 p.m. CST on November 6 featuring recent graduates of three of its programs: TakeOff, InFlight, and Project FinTech. During the event, each company will introduce itself through short pitch presentations, giving attendees a unique opportunity to witness their innovative solutions firsthand. To register, click here.

From Johnson City:

City Manager Cathy Ball announced on Friday that Alicia Summers has been named Johnson City’s newest Assistant City Manager. Summers has served as the city’s Economic Development Director since 2022. She has served more than two decades in the economic development arena, including nearly three years with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development and more than eight years with the Northeast Tennessee Regional Economic Partnership.

Summers begins her role as Assistant City Manager on November 4, overseeing the Planning and Development Services and Economic Development departments.

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