By Grady Vanderhoofven
Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Three Roots Capital
“Great on paper,” is how Knoxville was described by former Apple Vice President of International, John Brandon, during initial conversations about relocating his anti-counterfeiting 3D printing startup, TreisD, from its Atlanta beginnings to East Tennessee.
Two weeks ago, I joined Dennis Corley, our Director of Lending and Investing at Three Roots Capital, on a trip to Mascot, Tennessee, to tour the new proprietary multi-optical polymer production line at TreisD’s manufacturing facility. As the first local investor in TreisD Corporation, 3Roots was able to provide approximately $1.5 million to support, among other priorities, the company’s purchase of this essential production equipment.
But long before we toured their factory, TreisD joined us for a tour of Knoxville and all it has to offer.
Being early investors in a business venture allows us to do more than finance equipment. 3Roots gets to take a journey with business leaders and their teams, walking with them and learning about their goals and priorities. From sourcing talent and capital to aligning strategy, we have an opportunity to engage creatively and productively with each of the companies in which we choose to invest. We’re a team that envelops our partners, borrowers, and portfolio companies with community, and these integral conversations help set the stage for a company’s success.
Getting to witness the capabilities of this artful production technology in person only confirmed our intuition that TreisD would thrive here in East Tennessee. But truthfully, it wasn’t really intuition at all. We know from experience what happens when 3Roots helps connect people with the robust resources our region offers, and now, John does too.
“We are delighted to be in East Tennessee. I am a Silicon Valley guy, so I did not really know what to expect bringing a startup to Knoxville…but I feel like it is a hidden gem when it comes to creating an environment where startups are going to flourish.” – John Brandon, CEO, TreisD (Teknovation)
TreisD’s vision is becoming a reality not only because of the company’s superb expertise and leadership from John and his management team, including Chief Operating Officer, David A. Ivey, and Executive Vice President of Technology, Sam Pol, but also because of the potent relationships and capabilities available in our region. Capital is a critical piece of the puzzle that passionate entrepreneurs can indeed find, no matter the market, but coaching, connections, and collaboration are foundational pillars that make all the difference.
Following our introduction to TreisD by our friends at the Knoxville Chamber (Knoxville, Tennessee), we encouraged the company to expand its regional relationships and begin establishing roots in the region. We made our initial investment and loan, and we made direct introductions and referrals to others in the regional innovation ecosystem, including additional prospective investors, Mollenhour Gross Real Estate, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and LaunchTN. In part by leveraging this expanding network and foundational support, TreisD raised millions of dollars in additional funding. Essential collaborations like this are attractive to businesses interested in coming to East Tennessee, and we love introducing newcomers to our established ecosystem of economic opportunity.
Back in 2016, at the inception of our nonprofit financial institution, we recognized the need for research and development space and industrial space to support regional entrepreneurs. Over the years, 3Roots has financed $25.5 million of real estate development projects at UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm, including the construction of the Innovation South building, which now houses TreisD’s corporate headquarters. The university’s polymer science department at the Institute for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing, a world-class facility, provided the perfect pipeline for skilled professionals to join TreisD’s ranks.
The first month of 2026 is in the books, and TreisD’s production line is now operational. It’s always been our ambition to help bring this kind of advanced manufacturing and new job opportunities to our community, and together, we are excited to see it all come to life.
Celebrating our 10th year in business with much gratitude, we reflect with pride on the past decade, throughout which we have financed the creation and retention of more than 4,100 full-time jobs, 1,100 units of affordable housing, and more than 4,000,000 sq ft of industrial, commercial, and retail space. As our portfolio has grown, community development has remained our focus; its lasting impact is the primary goal for our legacy, and companies like TreisD are creating it as we speak – in 3D.
Strong Roots. Smart Business.