Launch Tennessee sporadically publishes essays written by entrepreneurs, investors, and supporters of the startup ecosystem here in Tennessee and across the southeast region, sharing thoughtful and unique observations and perspectives on the business landscape and the challenges they’re encountering. Interested in submitting a blog article as a guest author? Contact Rory Levine, Marketing and Communications…

Position: Strategy Coordinator Reports to: Director of Strategy Launch Tennessee aims to make Tennessee the best state in the nation for start-ups by empowering a high-functioning network of resources focused on core priorities that support Tennessee’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Partnering with state-wide Network Partners and other stakeholders, we aim to build an accountable environment of systemic…

(The following letter, supported by numerous stakeholders in Tennessee’s entrepreneurial & innovation ecosystem, was sent to the Tennessee federal delegation earlier this year to bring awareness to the broad spectrum of policy ideas available in the Kauffman Foundation’s white paper, “America’s New Business Plan”. To read more about this initiative and to learn more about…

Get to know the entrepreneurial researchers leading the charge in Tennessee’s science- and tech-based innovation. This week, meet Purist. Purist is developing a technology to enable a distributed network of small-scale and underutilized nuclear reactors to produce high-purity radioactive ingredients for nuclear medicine applications. What differentiates Purist is the capability to concentrate the radioisotope product,…

To increase available capital for Tennessee companies, we conducted a survey from June-August 2020 to capture information and insight for three primary groups: Investors, Founders, and Ecosystem Builders. Tennessee is one of the few states in the nation that coordinates resources on a statewide basis. LaunchTN connects investors from around the world to our Network…

It’s likely your feeds have been filled with small businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups facing the dismaying effects of COVID-19. In February 2020, LaunchTN partnered with ItsBundled, a Tennessee-based startup founded by Courtney Jones, to expand the Bundled Initiative that connects startups to immediate resources that can help them accomplish their next milestone. The Appalachian Regional Commission funded the…

State initiatives take Tennessee to №8 nationwide for the National Institutes of Health SBIR/STTR application success rate. Why is our state performing so well? For PreTel Health, the fourth time was a charm. After submitting three applications to the National Institutes of Health for Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer awards, the company sought…

Get to know the startups and entrepreneurs changing the Tennessee landscape — designing innovative solutions, creating jobs, and building communities. This week, meet GoCheck Kids, an app that detects risks of vision impairments. Give us your elevator pitch. GoCheck Kids is a pediatric iPhone-based app that detects risks of vision impairments, the №1 disabling condition in…

As we prepare for next week’s kickoff of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Week on the Hill, we revisit our Startup Policy Workshops series. Our Cookeville session explored guidance for relationship-building with policymakers, the intersection of “town and gown,” and how favorable policy impacts universities. Our Legislative Reception to kick off Week on the Hill takes place Feb….