Expanded partnership with Lightning 100 features Job Fair and Adventure Science Center for Kids Nashville, TN—Launch Tennessee (LaunchTN), a public-private partnership that fosters technology development and entrepreneurship across the state, is excited to announce the inaugural 36|86 Pavilion at Live On The Green, Nashville’s free outdoor music festival. The pavilion is part of LaunchTN’s expanded partnership with Lightning…

LaunchTN’s SBIR Road Tour features virtual, 1:1, and lunch-and-learn sessions with innovation experts. Ready to take your research from the lab to the marketplace? We’re kicking off a virtual SBIR Road Tour featuring 1:1 meetings with representatives from five federal agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the just-added Naval…

How a Chattanooga entrepreneur grew a startup from mobile soda fountain to mass production Pure Sodaworks co-founder Matt Rogers advises entrepreneurs to scale slowly for long-term growth. When Chattanooga entrepreneurs Matt and Tiffany Rogers founded Pure Sodaworks in 2011, they had no idea how far — or fast — their craft soda startup would take them in…

Annual entrepreneurship festival puts the spotlight – and $60K in prizes – on empowering the next generation of innovators Nashville, Tenn. – Launch Tennessee (LaunchTN), a public-private partnership that fosters entrepreneurship across the state, today announced a programming track dedicated to students and young startup founders at 36|86 Entrepreneurship Festival. 36|86 is the South’s premier gathering of entrepreneurs, investors, and…

Why Dorm Room Fund invests in student entrepreneurs Entrepreneur and former Dorm Room Fund CEO Rei Wang talks VCs, collaborative creativity, and the need for diversity and community among startups. As the former CEO of First Round Capital’s Dorm Room Fund and founder of startup The Grand, Rei Wang knows the entrepreneurial ecosystem inside and out. Featured in Forbes’ 30…

How a Nashville entrepreneur turned personal heartbreak into a successful startup Taking on tasks for grieving families, Sunny Care Services founder Mollie Lacher focuses on community and the power of authenticity. Mollie Lacher is no stranger to grief. Her brother-in-law passed away unexpectedly during minimally invasive heart surgery, leaving behind a bereaved family and a…

Tennessee makes a fashion statement Nashville Fashion Alliance founder Van Tucker on the economic impact of our statewide couture culture. Fashion is big business in Tennessee. Statewide, the industry contributed nearly $27 billion to the economy. Middle Tennessee’s impact alone accounts for $6 billion and more than 16,000 jobs. The numbers have convinced former CEO…

Additional funding for SBIR/STTR Matching Program will provide much-needed capital for qualified TN-based startups Nashville, Tenn. – Launch Tennessee (LaunchTN), a public-private partnership that fosters entrepreneurship across the state, applauds the Tennessee General Assembly and Lee Administration for passage of the 2019-2020 budget that includes increased funding for the Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer…

Overcoming inequalities as an underestimated entrepreneur Stephanie Cummings, CEO of Please Assist Me, shares how access to startup resources accelerated her company’s success. You’re crushing it at work right now, impressing both your colleagues and clients with your dedication to the job. While your career may be headed for huge success, let’s face it, things…