Three Roots Provides $25.5M for Real Estate Development Projects at the University of Tennessee Research Park

Collaboration between developers, banks, research institutions and innovative financing companies like Three Roots Capital on forward-thinking projects is critical for creating more economic development opportunities and access to capital in the greater East Tennessee region. Over the past few years, Three Roots Capital has worked with the University of Tennessee Research Park (UTRP) on numerous real estate projects and efforts to support … Read More

Orion Therapeutics Making Good Progress

The University of Tennessee start-up came out of stealth mode less than a year ago. The latest issue of the UTRF Newsletter from the University of Tennessee Research Foundation provides an update on one of the start-ups in the UTRF portfolio: Orion Therapeutics. As noted in our original teknovation.biz article from last September, the new venture is the result of a decade-long collaboration between a researcher at … Read More

2023 Spark Incubator Program Update

SPARK INCUBATOR PROGRAM SUMMARY SINCE SEPTEMBER 2022: HOLOCENE: Website: https://www.theholocene.co/ CQ INSIGHTS: Website: https://www.cq-insights.com/ RAEV: Website: https://www.raev.tech/ SAFIRE: Website: https://www.safire.co/ FC Renew: Website: https://fcrenew.com/index.html AMERICAN NANOTECHNOLOGIES INC (ANI): Website: https://www.americannano.tech/ ORION THERAPEUTICS: Website: https://orionthx.com/

Applications Now Open for the Spark Cleantech Accelerator at the University of Tennessee Research Park at Cherokee Farm

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Spark Cleantech Accelerator at the University of Tennessee Research Park at Cherokee Farm is now accepting applications to its 12-week business acceleration program, kicking-off on August 14th, 2023. Applications will be accepted until midnight on May 12th. The accelerator is based at the University of Tennessee Research Park in Knoxville, Tennessee and is designed to assist … Read More

Lilly Tench Joins Spark Innovation Center as Director of Spark Cleantech Accelerator

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee (UT) Research Park announced today that Lilly Tench has joined the Spark Innovation Center team as Director of the Spark Cleantech Accelerator. Over the past ten years, Lilly has supported entrepreneurs working to develop solutions in key global industries from energy to agriculture. Early in her career, Lilly worked alongside No Impact Man … Read More

UT Research Park Receives $100,000 Grant from Truist Foundation to Support Spark Innovation Center

Knoxville, Tenn, (Dec. 13, 2022) – The University of Tennessee Research Park at Cherokee Farm announced today it received a $100,000 grant from Truist Foundation to support the Spark Innovation Center. Grant funds will be used to increase the Spark Center’s core principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion, helping the Center recruit and serve more women- and minority-led entrepreneurs and … Read More

Spark Bi-Annual Report Now Available!

The Spark Innovation Center at the University of Tennessee Research Park has issued its first report (2020-2022 SPARK Bi-Annual Report) covering two years of operations, and there are some impressive numbers recorded by its inaugural portfolio companies. Collectively, the seven start-ups raised nearly $35 million, employed 26 full-time people, have 10 contract employees, and supported 10 internships. The funding total … Read More

Knoxville Orthopaedic Surgery Center Recognized As One Of Country’s Best

The Leapfrog Group, described as a national watchdog organization of employers and other purchasers focused on health care safety and quality, announced this week the 2022 recipients of its annual “Top Hospital Award” and “Top Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Award.” The latter recognition went to 12 centers around the country including the Knoxville Orthopaedic Surgery Center. More information on the … Read More