LaunchTN celebrates 10 years of hosting the state’s premier entrepreneurship festival 

3686 Early Bird tickets on sale now for Sept. 19-21 festival

Nashville, TN — As Early Bird tickets go on sale for this year’s 3686 Festival, LaunchTN is celebrating 10 years of hosting the state’s premier entrepreneurship festival. 

“Although the names have changed, the mission to create valuable connections through our annual entrepreneurship festival has remained consistent,” LaunchTN CEO Lindsey Cox said. “The milestone also represents 10 years of work LaunchTN has done to build the state’s innovation economy.” 

Initially called Southland, LaunchTN’s annual festival started in 2013. 

This year’s festival, which has fresh branding, will be at Nashville’s iconic Wildhorse Saloon. 

3686 — named for the geographic coordinates of Nashville — will bring back past successful components, including:

• fireside chats and panel discussions with top entrepreneurial leaders
• industry-specific programming
• one-on-one meetings between entrepreneurs and investors
• a pitch competition  

The LaunchTN team is also working on new programming, including live entertainment and a video series that highlights LaunchTN’s Network Partners, which include seven entrepreneur centers and six industry organizations. 

Get your tickets now 

Early Bird tickets are on sale now through June 15 for $199. 

Prices go up as we get closer to the festival. General admission tickets cost $399 after Early Bird registration ends. 

Timeline — a look back

As Early Bird tickets go on sale for this year’s 3686 Festival, we are taking a look back at the last 10 years. 

And be on the lookout for a call for 3686 memories in coming months, when we will put out a call for attendees favorite memories of the annual festival.

2012: Working with ECD, rebranding 

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development joined the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Technology Development Corporation to reimagine the organization as a public-private partnership, under the LaunchTN brand. 

2012: Statewide network of connections
Entrepreneur centers statewide establish larger network for entrepreneurs

2013: Seed capital
Facilitated over $16 million in seed-capital investment to the accelerated startups

2013: Southland
Hosted annual conference, called Southland, which drew about 600 attendees 

2014: Summer Internship Program
LaunchTN launches internship program (to date nearly 400 students have done paid internships through the LaunchTN program)

2015: Commercialization
Implemented SBIR and STTR support programs for early-stage companies; hosted the national SBIR road tour and introduced over 100 Tennessee researchers 

2015: 3686
Rebranded annual innovation conference 36|86 (formerly Southland); increased attendance from 700 to 900 while bringing in 86 different investment firms from around the country

Check out the rest of the timeline.

For media inquires:
Contact:
Chloé Morrison
423-304-9693
Chloe@launchTN.org