LaunchTN Timeline
A look back at where we've been
LaunchTN Timeline
A look back at where we've been
Timeline
-
1998: Organization starts to support tech and entrepreneurship
The Tennessee General Assembly created the Tennessee Technology Development Corporation in an effort to strengthen the economy and support businesses through science and technology
-
2009: Focus refined
The legislature updated functions of the organization to reflect increased focus on tech and entrepreneurship through capital, commercialization and connections
-
2011
Incite Co-investment fund created in 2011 using $28.8M of federal funding awarded under the State Small Business Credit Initiative
-
2012: Working with ECD, rebranding
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development joined the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Technology Development Corporation to reimagine the organization as a public-private partnership, under the LaunchTN brand.
-
2012: Statewide network
Entrepreneur centers statewide establish larger network for entrepreneurs
-
2012: Co-investment
LaunchTN oversees the state’s INCITE co-investment fund, which had invested nearly $7 million in Tennessee-based companies in 2012
-
2012: SBIR/STTR
Secures over $3 million in SBIR/STTR support for Tennessee small businesses
-
2013
Charlie Brock takes over as CEO
-
2013
Facilitated over $16 million in seed-capital investment to the accelerated startups
-
2013
Invested over $12 million in capital to high-growth Tennessee companies through the INCITE Co-Investment Fund
-
2013
Hosted annual conference, called Southland, which drew to 650 attendees
-
2014
Launch of TENN master accelerator program, which included a statewide Demo Day and road trips across the state and to Silicon Valley and New York to showcase top companies
-
2014
Launch Tennessee Fellows program starts
-
2014
LaunchTN launches internship program
-
2014
Raises $1-million toward goal of becoming self-sustaining
-
2014
Invested $4.2 million across 19 deals — matching $14 million of private investment — representing a total of over $18 million of capital in Tennessee companies
-
2015
Oversees Tennessee’s $30 million INCITE Co-Investment Fund
-
2015
Implemented SBIR and STTR support programs for early-stage companies; Hosted the national SBIR road tour and introduced over 100 Tennessee researchers to federal program partners
-
2015
Invested $3.4 million in capital to high-growth Tennessee companies through the INCITE Co-Investment Fund and leveraged an additional $18 million in private capital
-
2015
Rebranded annual innovation conference 36|86 (formerly Southland); increased attendance from 700 to 900 while bringing in 86 different investment firms from around the country
-
2016
Branding reflects LaunchTN effort to make Tennessee the top state in the Southeast for entrepreneurs
-
2016
Hosted the national SBIR road tour and introduced over 100 Tennessee researchers and entrepreneurs to the various federal agencies providing grant funding
-
2017
Invested nearly $5 million in capital to high-growth Tennessee companies through the INCITE Co-Investment Fund and leveraged an additional $12.5 million in private capital
-
2017
Developed the Angel Tax Credit that was passed by the General Assembly and will be used to encourage more angel investment in the state’s early stage, high-growth companies
-
2017
36|86 saw an increase in attendance from 900 to 950 with over 100 different investment firms from around the country attending
-
2017
Established the Impact Fund
-
2017
Launch Tennessee reduced the number of entrepreneur centers funded with “front door” money from nine to seven
-
2018
CEO Charlie Brock announces exit
-
2018
1,200 attendees at our recent 36|86 Entrepreneurship Festival, drawing from 33 states and including nearly 200 investors
-
2018
LaunchTN received a coveted $300,000 grant from Kauffman Foundation, one of five winners nationwide
-
2018
LaunchTN made its first investment from the Impact Fund in Hytch, a social impact technology platform that inspires and rewards people for ridesharing
-
2018
Issued $1.9 million in tax credits through Angel Tax Credit fund
-
2018
To date, all $28.8M from the INCITE fund has been invested for an impact of 1.25 billion
-
2018
SBIR/STTR Matching Fund established
-
2019
Margaret Dolan takes over as CEO
-
2019
SBIR/STTR Matching Fund doubled for FY20 from $1.5 million to $3 million
-
2019
Angel Tax credit — 3.28 million dollars leveraged +$1 million credits approved + pending
-
2019
$1.5 million SBIR funds awarded; $4.8 million in SBIR funds matched
-
2019
More than 1,200 founders, investors, and ecosystem builders came together in Nashville for LaunchTN seventh-annual 36|86 Entrepreneurship Festival.
-
2020
Van Tucker takes over as CEO
-
2020
INCITE fund: To date, all $28.8 million has been invested, leveraging $210 million in additional private capital raised
-
2020
To date, all dollars returned from INCITE Fund investments have been allocated to the Impact Fund to continue making new investments in Tennessee companies.
-
2020
$1.4 million was deployed to 11 companies through the Impact Fund
-
2020
$8.6 million invested with Angel Tax Credit
-
2020
SBIR/STTR Matching Fund: FY20, the Fund awarded $3 million to 28 companies, leveraging almost $11 million in federal dollars
-
2020
During the pandemic, leveraged digital platforms to broadcast our mix of live and pre-recorded content and create cultivated networking opportunities to over 960 registrants
-
2020
February featured the third annual Innovation and Entrepreneurship Week on the Hill
-
2020
Launched Southeast Capital call
-
2021
Abby Trotter takes over as interim CEO
-
2021
$7 million in SBIR Matching Funds to 44 companies since FY20
-
2021
$10.2 Million in Angel Tax Credit investments were made across 33 companies
-
2021
More than 240 undergraduate and graduate students have participated in our internship program to date
-
2022
Lindsey Cox takes over as CEO
-
2022
$7 million in SBIR funds deployed (67.5% to diverse founders)
-
2022
$1.6 million in total investments from IMPACT Fund
-
2023
Fund Tennessee and InvestTN launch
-
2023
Community Partner Program launches, completes three cohorts
-
2024
Tennessee Technology Advancement Consortium launches pilot program
-
2024
Tennessee House launches at SXSW
-
2024
Startup Tennessee, a one-stop, online shop for entrepreneurial resources, launches
-
2024
Annual conference 3686 draws more than 900 people
Looking for more information?
Learn more about Launch Tennessee and the work we do through our Reports + Governance.
Annual Report
Click here to read our most recent Annual Report.