An investor, educator, product manager and marketer, Rei Wang has done it all. She calls herself a community builder, and considering she spends every day growing America’s student startup ecosystem, we couldn’t agree more. Rei is the National Director of Dorm Room Fund, a student-run venture fund powered by First Round that backs student founders […]
Oak Ridge National Lab Is Growing New Technology Companies In Tennessee
By Tom Rogers, Director of Industrial and Economic Development Partnerships at Oak Ridge National Laboratory Innovation Crossroads is one of the country’s top advanced energy accelerators Some of the brightest technology innovators in the country are coming to Tennessee to build companies through Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Innovation Crossroads accelerator—and they’re getting important support from […]
Backstage at 36|86: Abe Minkara
You’ve probably heard of the hit ABC show Shark Tank, where entrepreneurs from across America pitch their businesses to a panel of seasoned, known investors, hoping to strike a deal that will give their company the capital and market support they need to make it big. And you’ve probably heard of Mark Cuban, an American […]
Backstage at 36|86: David Cummings
If you’re an entrepreneur, David Cummings is definitely on your team. He is the founder of Atlanta Ventures, an investment group that helps entrepreneurs succeed through education, resources and capital – but that’s not all he does to back founders. David is also cofounder of Atlanta Tech Village, a 103,000 square-foot entrepreneur center, and he’s […]
LaunchTN Announces 36|86: Student Edition Finalists
Launch Tennessee offers $60,000 in prizes at 2018 student pitch event Nashville, Tenn. (July 2, 2018) – Launch Tennessee (LaunchTN) announced today finalists selected to compete at 36|86: Student Edition, a student pitch competition held annually in conjunction with 36|86 Entrepreneurship Festival, the Southeast’s premier technology and entrepreneurship gathering. 36|86 Student Edition is designed to create […]
Nissan to Showcase Intelligent Mobility and Autonomous Future at 36|86
Nissan North America, Launch Tennessee partner for annual entrepreneurship festival in Nashville NASHVILLE – Launch Tennessee (LaunchTN), a public-private partnership that fosters entrepreneurship across the state, today announced a partnership with Nissan North America for 36|86 Entrepreneurship Festival. Nissan will be the presenting sponsor of the event, which is the Southeast’s premier gathering of founders, investors and […]
Backstage at 36|86: Arlan Hamilton
Have you ever had a dream you just can’t shake? Maybe you know where you want to go, but you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel because it’s covered by all the obstacles standing in your way. We know someone who can relate. Just a few years ago Arlan Hamilton was […]
Why Epicenter Is Launching A $15M Small Business Loan Fund in Memphis
By Leslie Lynn Smith, President & CEO, Epicenter Pathway Lending and three private banks are key partners in the fund for minority- and women-owned businesses As the entrepreneurship hub in Memphis, we wake up every day focused on the health and well-being of the system of support that helps local entrepreneurs successfully launch and grow […]
Here’s How to Pitch Investors Smarter (Hint: Only With This Tool)
Exclusively at 36|86 Entrepreneurship Festival, the data-driven quiz that matches you with an investor looking for dealflow at your exact stage Imagine that you’re talking to an investor about your ground-breaking product or service. The conversation is going well and you seem aligned on market size and growth strategy. But then you hear it. Two […]
5 Ways to Write A Better SBIR Grant Application
The SBIR/STTR grant is all about getting the government to bet on you and your technology. Here are expert tips and tricks to writing a better application You’ve heard us talk about Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) grants and brag about past winners in Tennessee who have taken advantage of our matching program. […]