Contact:
Chloé Morrison
423-304-9693
Chloe@launchTN.org
For immediate release
Feb. 27, 2023
LaunchTN leadership hitting the road to share information on new fund
Nashville, TN — Launch Tennessee leadership will be traveling the state in a 9-city roadshow to share information about a new fund that will provide investment capital for startups and venture capital funds.
LaunchTN will be administering $70 million in equity investments through the new fund, called InvestTN (formerly referred to as BuildTN Fund).
“These funds are a testament to Tennessee’s growth as a nationally-recognized startup ecosystem,” LaunchTN Chief Investment Officer Monique Villa said. “Making right-sized capital available to early-stage entrepreneurs and venture capital fund managers will have an outsized impact on our state’s future.”
CEO Lindsey Cox, Villa and members of the LaunchTN capital team will be visiting cities across Tennessee to tell entrepreneurs and other interested parties about InvestTN, which is part of the state’s broader initiative Fund Tennessee.
Cox said LaunchTN is eager to support Tennessee founders so they can continue innovating.
“Access to investment capital has been a challenge in Tennessee, so these funds will fill an immediate demand and support growth in startups that are primed to reach their potential,” she said.
The road tour will be between Feb. 27 and April 4, when LaunchTN will join Tennessee Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart McWhorter to host info sessions about Fund Tennessee and InvestTN.
The Fund Tennessee initiative also includes a debt lending component, called LendTN, and a technical assistance program, called AssistTN.
For more information, attend one of the road show stops, or sign up here to stay updated about InvestTN.
Road show dates, times, locations
City: Chattanooga
Date: Feb. 27
Location: Business Development Center
Address: 100 Cherokee Boulevard #UNIT 100
Time: 3:30 – 5 p.m. EST
City: Cookeville
Date: March 1
Location: Upper Cumberland Development District
Address: 1104 England Drive
Time: 9:30 – 11 a.m. CST
City: Nashville
Date: March 1
Location: Avon Williams Campus Auditorium and Atrium
Address: 330 10th Avenue South Nashville
Time: 6-7:30 p.m. CST
City: Jackson
Date: March 2
Location: Southwest Tennessee Development District Building
Address: 102 E College Street
Time: 9:30-11 a.m. CST
City: Memphis
Date: March 2
Location: University of Memphis, University Center
Address: 499 University Street Memphis
Time: 6-7:30 p.m. CST
City: Martin
Date: March 3
Location: Martin Public Library
Address: 410 South Lindell Street Martin
Time: 9:30-11 a.m. CST
City: Kingsport
Date: March 7
Location: Meadowview Marriott Conference Resort and Convention Center
Address: 1901 Meadowview Pkwy
Time: 3-4:30 p.m.
City: Knoxville
Date: March 7
Location: Lighthouse Knoxville
Address: 6800 Baum Drive Knoxville
Time: 9:30-11 a.m.
City: Pulaski
Date: April 4
Location: Gault Fine Arts Center
Address: 423 West Madison Street
Time: 9-10:30 a.m.
About LaunchTN
LaunchTN is a public-private partnership that supports entrepreneurship and economic development with the intention of making Tennessee the best state for startups in the country.
The 5013c nonprofit is uniquely positioned to support collaboration among founders, investors, researchers, private sector institutions and government. We promote entrepreneurship, tech advancement and workforce development through capital access, commercialization, and connections.
About SSBCI
LaunchTN is joining the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) as applicants to the reauthorized State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Program. On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed The American Rescue Plan Act, which reauthorized and funded the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). The new version of the SSBCI program provides a combined $10 billion to states, the District of Columbia, territories, and Tribal governments to empower small businesses to access capital needed to invest in job-creating opportunities as the country emerges from the pandemic. The funds will also support recipient jurisdictions in promoting American entrepreneurship and democratizing access to startup capital across the country, including in underserved communities.
