Two-year incubator program at UT Research Park supports East Tennessee’s most promising hard tech startups with crucial resources and guidance KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Spark Incubator Program, a strategic initiative within the Spark Innovation Center at the University of Tennessee (UT) Research Park at Cherokee Farm, has selected eight early-stage tech companies to participate in its 2022-2023 program. The two-year … Read More

The Innov865 Alliance has announced the six entrepreneurs who will pitch for dollars during next month’s annual “Startup Day” in Knoxville. Scheduled for September 20 at The Mill & Mine in Downtown Knoxville, the six represent the region’s growing ecosystem as well as the diversity in terms of types of new ventures that are starting here. They are: Alex Weber whose D3D VR … Read More

By Tom Ballard, Chief Alliance Officer, PYA Less than 24 hours after six very diverse Knoxville area companies pitched their businesses at “Startup Day,” another seven, including one from Johnson City, presented what they are doing to make a difference in the lives of people during “Raising & Rising.” Sponsored by CGI, one of the largest independent information technology and business consulting … Read More

By Tom Ballard, Chief Alliance Officer, PYA Don DeRosa and Eonix LLC captured the eyes of the judges and a $3,000 prize award from Truist, while John Phillips of Primeaux wowed the audience to become winner of the $7,000 “Crowd Favorite” during Tuesday’s annual “Startup Day” in Knoxville. The two winners underscored the diverse nature of Knoxville’s growing ecosystem with one of the winners being … Read More

By Shannon Smith, Teknovation Assistant Editor, PYA “Innov865 Week” is here, highlighting all the entrepreneurs and startups fueling the passion of Knoxville’s business community. Headlining the week of lectures, networking events and informational panels is Startup Day, where six area startups will pitch to a live judging panel and audience with the hopes of winning investment money for their companies. “Startup Day” is … Read More

The Knoxville Entrepreneur Center (KEC) and presenting sponsor CGI, one of the largest independent information technology and business consulting services firms in the world, have announced the seven companies that will participate in this year’s “Raising & Rising” event. Part of Innov865 Week that begins Friday and continues through September 23, the 90-minute session beginning at 12 noon EDT on September 21 brings … Read More

Chicago-based mHUB, a leading independent hardtech and manufacturing innovation center and a collaborator with the Spark Innovation Center at the University of Tennessee Research Park, has announced the closing of its $15 million mHUB Product Impact Fund I LP. According to this news release, 79 limited partners, mainly individual investors and some institutions, contributed to the new fund that is currently investing in … Read More

Knoxville, Tenn. — Cohort One of the Spark Cleantech Accelerator (Spark CTA), a partner of the Heartland Climate Tech Partnership, marked its graduation after presenting final pitches during the Spark Demo Day event at the University of Tennessee’s Howard Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy.  “The Spark Demo Day marked more than just a graduation of five cleantech startups,” said Cortney Piper, Executive Director of … Read More

William Fitzhugh, a member of Cohort 3 of the “Innovation Crossroads” as Founder of Knoxville-based American Nanotechnologies, Inc. (ANI), is now heading a new start-up in Boston. Adden Energy Inc. recently announced its launch in a news release (click here). The company is developing a solid-state battery system for use in electric vehicles (EVs). Lab-scale prototype batteries have fully charged in minutes and lasted more than … Read More

By Tom Ballard, Chief Alliance Officer, PYA There’s a baker’s dozen set of events scheduled for the 2022 edition of Knoxville’s “Innov865 Week,” including one offered daily over the eight-day period that kicks-off in 10 days, and there could be a few more opportunities added in the coming days. The two premier events are The Maker City Summit and “Startup Day.” … Read More