LaunchTN announces lineup, panelists and new programming for 3686 conference, Sept. 8-10 in Nashville
The entrepreneurial conference’s lineup includes new ‘Ask Me Anything’ stage and sessions on AI, nuclear energy, cross-border growth and more
Nashville, TN — Launch Tennessee unveiled the schedule for this year’s 3686 conference, which will take place Sept. 8 – 10 at Cannery Hall with other popups across the city.
Each year 3686 brings together entrepreneurs, investors, and economic development supporters from across the Southeast and beyond. Now in its 12th year, LaunchTN has reimagined the event to focus on education, experiences, and networking.
“3686 has grown into a legacy event, and we’re always exploring new ways to engage our audiences,” LaunchTN CEO Lindsey Cox said. “This year we have three times the number of Partner Popups across Nashville, we’re focusing more on networking, and we’ve added the AMA stage. We’re making the conference even more reflective of our entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
3686 event design and production will be provided by Harbor, an experience agency rooted in strategy, technical mastery, and next-level creativity.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Harbor again this year. Their intentional, creative design ensures that every detail contributes to a meaningful and memorable experience for all 3686 attendees,” said Emily Masters, Vice President of Development at LaunchTN.
This year 3686 will debut an ‘Ask Me Anything’ stage where attendees can seek candid advice from a rotating lineup of leaders representing everything from professional sports teams to higher education.
Confirmed participants include:
- Randy Boyd, President, University of Tennessee System
- Lauren Carnell, VP, Marketing, Memphis Grizzlies
- Marcus K. Dowling, Nashville Country Music Reporter, The Tennessean
- Shaun Gleason, Director, Partnerships, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
- Andrew Goldner, Co-Founder & CEO, GrowthX
- Joe Maxwell, Managing Partner, Fintop Capital / Torch Collective
- Rod McDaniel, CEO, S3 Recycling Solutions
- Lindsey Paola, CBO at Nashville SC
- Charity Toombs, Director, TN Whiskey Guild
- Geof Vickers, Managing Partner of the Nashville office and co-head of the firm’s technology and procurement practice, Nelson Mullins
- Hanna Yu, Senior Trade and Investment Officer of Technology, British Consulate-General, Atlanta.
Other sessions at 3686 on Sept. 9 include:
- Stamp Your Passport: Taking Startups International: Strategies to take your startup across borders featuring Paola Allegra Baistrocchi, Consul of Italy in Detroit; Rachel Galloway, Consul General at British Consulate General Atlanta; Frank Groome, Consul General of Ireland in Atlanta; and Brie Knox, U.S. Commercial Service Director.
- What’s New (& Next) in Nuclear: A preview of the latest nuclear energy technologies that are transforming Tennessee with Dr. Jamie B. Coble, Associate Department Head, Professor, and Southern Company Faculty Fellow, Department of Nuclear Engineering, UT Knoxville; Patrick Ellis, Director of Business Development, Type One Energy; Jean-Luc Palayer, CEO, Orano USA; and Braden Stover, Chief Policy Office, TN Department of Economic & Community Development.
- What Does It Mean to Go AI-Native in Your Business: Updates on how everyone from startups to enterprise businesses can keep pace with an AI-native culture with Grace Hanson, CEO, Elysian; Christopher Liljenstolpe, Sr. Director of next-generation data center architecture, Cisco; Wen Sang, COO, Genspark; and Tiffine Wang, CEO, Managing Partner, Onsen Global.
- Exploring Environmental Resilience: The challenges and opportunities in building a sustainable future with Miguel Granier, Distinguished External Fellow, Strategic Energy Institute, and Managing Director, Cox Cleantech Accelerator by gener8tor; Matt Kisber, Chairman and Founder of Silicon Ranch; Reed Omary, MD, Founder of GreenWell Project; Julia Polk, Founder, ClimateWiser; and Lacie Thorne, Founder of Threadline.
- Amazon Sellers’ Success Stories: A firsthand account of entrepreneurs who have found success on Amazon with Rob Haralson, Principal, Public Policy for the Americas, Amazon; Madison Lee, CEO, Nemah; Scott Marquart, Founder, Stringjoy; and Mike Yewdell, President and Co-Founder, Be Amazing.
- Tennessee: Where Creative Brands Thrive: Discover how ingenuity and imagination might just be the secret ingredient towards entrepreneurial success in the Volunteer State, with Nick Bishop Jr., Co-Founder, Hattie B’s; Jackie Campbell, COO, Results Global; Jennifer Cummins-Askew, Marketing Operations & Advertising Manager, McKee Foods Corp; and Lindsay Sheets, Founder, Red Rock Tileworks.
- Fan-favorite, The Pitch Competition, presented by Amazon, will showcase five up-and-coming startups as they pitch for the chance to win a $10,000 cash prize and in-kind resources (valued at up to $5,000) from The Operations Guide.
- One-on-one networking guided by an AI matching service
On Sept. 10, attendees can explore Nashville through a number of experiential popups, including:
- Innovation Without Borders: What Italy’s Startup Surge Means for Tennessee | Baker Donaldson, 8-10 a.m.
- X-Factor: Advising Beyond _____ How Your Accounting, Banking, Legal, and Advisory Teams Enable Success | Calvetti Ferguson office, 10-11 a.m.
- Early Risers, Early Rounds: Founders, Funders, & Financiers Breakfast | The Lighthouse, 9:30 – 11 a.m.
- Read the Signals: What Founders Can Learn From Real-Time Customer Behavior | Ampersand Studios, 11-noon
- Tech Bio | Calvetti Ferguson office, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- How to be Dynamic, Memorable, and Conversational in an Interview | Launch Tennessee office | 1-2 p.m.
- Brews, Bites & Brains | Monday Night Brewing, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
- Behind the Deal: Diligence and the Details that Kill Deals | Frost Brown Todd Nashville office, 3-5 p.m.
- Standups and Startups | Monday Night Brewing, 6 – 8 p.m.
Tickets for 3686 are available now. General tickets start at $199 and can be purchased at attend3686.com.
3686 is powered in part by:
LAUNCHTN SUPPORTING PARTNERS:
Pinnacle Financial Partners • Oak Ridge National Laboratory • Interlaced • Calvetti Ferguson • Nelson Mullins • Acklen Avenue • The University of Tennessee system • Vanderbilt University • JP Morgan Chase
3686 SPONSORS:
Harbor • Amazon • Edison Partners • The Operations Guide • Ecomap • GNPCA • Hypepotamus • GrowthX • Possip • Brook Beyond Banking • EO Nashville • The Malin • ConcertIDC • Fidelity
About Launch Tennessee
As Tennessee’s hub for startups and innovation, Launch Tennessee’s mission is to empower innovators across Tennessee by providing capital, commercialization and connections.
As a public-private partnership, we are uniquely positioned to provide direct investment, while also supporting collaboration among founders, investors, researchers, the private sector and government.
Media inquiries:
LaunchTN Communications Director Chloé Morrison, chloe@launchtn.org
Media assets: Dropbox