Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

From Knoxville:

The Maker City is accepting applications through November 1 for its annual Holiday Marketplace. “We will accept more than one entry, but cannot guarantee we will be able to include each one,” the organization says. “Here’s the deal: This is FREE to be included. (Makers win.) We will post FIVE items by local makers on our Monday Instagram Feed and let people know they can bid for the items. You set the starting bid and people can increase their offer throughout the day. The market opens at 8 a.m. and closes at 8 p.m. EST. You must take the highest bid at 8 p.m.

To apply, click on this link.

From Clarksville:

The Patton Foundation has announced the finalists for this year’s “Patton Entrepreneurship Challenge,” which is being held in partnership with Austin Peay State University. These promising innovators will compete for three cash prizes during the final competition at 6 p.m. October 28 in the George and Sharon Mabry Concert Hall at Austin Peay.

The 2024 finalists and their ideas are:

1. Jaire Tariq Richardson and Isabella Blackwell with MomentMuse;
2. Chris Lopez, Big Moppa;
3. Chelsae Thompson, Money Monologue;
4. Ajaya Wright, Heating/Cooling Backpack;
5. Jalia Chester, Resource Center for African American Families; and
6. Justin Edwards, Chaotic Minds.

“Entrepreneurship has the power to change communities more than anything else I know,” said Spencer Patton, Founder and President of the Patton Foundation. “I’m passionate about equipping the next generation of entrepreneurs with the tools they need to succeed. By fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, we can drive economic growth and create lasting change in our communities.”

The final competition will be a public event, providing an opportunity for the community to witness Austin Peay’s brightest entrepreneurs in action as they pitch their ideas to a panel of judges. First place comes with a cash prize of $5,000 with second place receiving $2,500 and third place $1.000.

From Kingsport:

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has selected Heath Guinn, President of the Sync Space Entrepreneur Center, to participate in the 2024-2025 class of the Appalachian Leadership Institute, a leadership training opportunity that equips Appalachian community leaders to use economic development as a tool to drive positive change. The 2024-2025 class comprises a diverse network of 40 professionals representing all 13 Appalachian states and a wide spectrum of perspectives and sectors, including tourism, healthcare, education, civil service, and more.

The nine-month curriculum is anchored by six multi-day seminars across the Appalachian region focusing on each of ARC’s strategic investment priorities, which aim to strengthen economic and community growth in Appalachia. The class will run from October 2024 through July 2025.

From Nashville:

The Greater Nashville Technology Council (NTC) announced that Elise Cambournac will be stepping down as Chief Executive Officer effective December 31, 2024.

“It has been an honor to serve as the leader of the NTC and to support the growth of our tech community,” Cambournac said. “I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our incredible staff, Board of Directors, and our dedicated members for making this journey so rewarding.”

During her nearly three-year tenure, Cambournac successfully represented the Middle Tennessee tech community on a national stage while also moving organization operations forward. She helped expand NTC’s programming and drove initiatives that enhanced technology education. She championed partnerships that bridged gaps between employers, educators, and the tech community, helping to meet the growing demand for skilled talent in Nashville’s thriving tech sector. Her advocacy on both local and national platforms has further cemented Nashville’s position as a leading technology hub.

Another from Nashville but with Multi-State Implications:

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Office of Energy Programs has been awarded $2,000,000 to establish the ‘Southeast Residential Energy Auditor Collaborative Partnership’ to fill the demand for certified auditors in the historically underserved Southeast and U.S. Virgin Islands. It is a partnership with Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“There are over two million American workers in the energy efficiency sector and the demand for their skills continues to grow thanks to the Biden-Harris Investing in America agenda,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “Today’s funding will expand our clean energy workforce as we move swiftly to deploy energy-saving solutions to homes and consumers across the nation.”

From Lexington, KY but with Tennessee Ties:

We inadvertently left the GAME Change initiative off Friday’s article about the 71 projects that are advancing to the next stage of the second-ever U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) “Regional Innovation Engines” (NSF Engines) program. Led by the University of Kentucky Research Foundation, the partners include the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The article has been updated.

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