Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

From Nashville but with Statewide Implications:

Launch Tennessee has scheduled an hour-long virtual “Ask Me Anything” session for this Thursday (November 2) focused on the new “Regional Seed Fund.”

Funded through the federal State Small Business Credit Initiative, the program will provide investments ranging from $25,000 to $250,000 into pre-seed and seed stage start-ups located in Tennessee.⁠

The program for Founders and Chief Executive Officers will run from 9 to 10 a.m. CDT. To register, click here.

From Knoxville:

The Knoxville edition of the Tennessee Ledger has a lengthy article spotlighting Brandon Bruce, local serial entrepreneur who is now Managing Director of the “Techstars Industries of the Future Accelerator.” Click here to read it.

From Cookeville:

This Wednesday is the final day for individuals to apply for the opportunity to present at the November 15 “Start-up Here Pitch Competition.” Organized by The Biz Foundry in partnership with the Highlands Economic Partnership and the Tennessee Center for Rural Innovation at Tennessee Tech University, the event is designed for start-ups looking to launch in the Upper Cumberland region. The winner will receive a grand prize of $10,000 as well as an opportunity to pitch to the Upper Cumberland Angel Investors Fund. More information can be found here.

From Chattanooga:

Launch Tennessee and Pinnacle Financial Partners are bringing their “Capital Conversations” to Chattanooga on November 9. The event will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. EST at 110 Somerville Avenue, #Suite 266. To register, click here.

Like the inaugural one held week before last in Knoxville, the conversation will include a discussion about “InvestTN,” the $70 million equity fund established as part of the Volunteer State’s allocation under the federal State Small Business Credit Initiative.

There will also be ample opportunity for networking.

From Boulder, CO but with Ties to Knoxville:

Team Wildfire, a start-up developing technology and tactics for fighting wildfires that was a participant in Cohort 2 of the “Techstars Industries of the Future Accelerator,” has raised a $3.6 million seed round led by Cottonwood Tech with participation from Muus Climate Partners, Tum Draper and Techstars.

Founder Steve Wolf, who spent much of his professional life coordinating stunts and special effects for television shows and movies, described his technology in this teknovation.biz article as a “a hurricane on wheels.” The description comes from how it combines used jet engines, a mist injection chamber, and an all-terrain vehicle in fighting wildfires.

From Oak Ridge:

Navarro Research and Engineering Inc. was recently awarded the contract for Program Management and Operational Support to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Deployment Office for the Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund (PR-ERF).

Under terms of the agreement, Navarro will support the implementation of the PR-ERF and its programs, benefitting the residents of Puerto Rico that was devastated after Hurricane Fiona caused a territory-wide blackout on the island that was still rebuilding the grid after Hurricane Maria.

“We see this as a way to give back to our community,” says Susana Navarro, a native Spanish-speaker and Founder and President of the company that bears her name. “We have a strong commitment to leveraging our successful infrastructure, experience, and approach to improve the lives of low-income, at-risk Hispanic households by improving the sustainability, affordability, and resilience of the electric supply to their homes and communities.”

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