By Launch Tennessee Published January 27, 2017
NASHVILLE — Launch Tennessee (Launch TN) is gearing up to take members of The TENN, its master accelerator program, on a Roadshow that will put them in front of investors, customers and business leaders in Tennessee, San Francisco and New York.
The current TENN cohort, announced in October 2016, is composed of eight startups that previously engaged with Launch Tennessee through its regional entrepreneur centers or other programming. Each company is at least two years into its growth process, and is ready for the additional exposure to business development and networking opportunities that the roadshow will provide, says John Lanahan, Director of Capital Formation at Launch Tennessee.
“At each stop, we’ll introduce these companies to established C-level executives, investors, successful entrepreneurs, technologists and other decision makers,” says Lanahan, a former New York-based investor who has worked with TENN companies over the last three years. “Each company will make a five-minute pitch to educate attendees about their business needs; and they’ll highlight partnership opportunities that could yield major benefits for early supporters.”
The TENN Roadshow runs from Feb. 6-9, 2017, with stops in Kingsport, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Nashville and Memphis. The San Francisco and New York trips follow in early March. Want to attend and meet The TENN companies? All events are free to the public. Check out the full schedule now!
“These stops are prime opportunities to showcase the startup network that Launch Tennessee has built, as well as to expand our founders’ networks of customers, partners, investors and mentors,” Lanahan says. “The TENN is all about putting these companies in front of investors and anyone else who is interested in seeing how Tennessee startups impact the existing business community.”
In fact, the four-month accelerator is designed to appeal to a broad range of entrepreneurs that will want to remain in Tennessee to grow their businesses.
This year’s cohort represents a diverse set of industries from across the state, with female founders comprising half of its members. The accelerator program also fast-tracks participants’ business growth, so that they are equipped to mentor other local startups while building their own businesses and creating high-quality jobs in Tennessee.
The TENN Master Accelerator and the Roadshow are two high-impact ways Launch Tennessee aggressively engages with entrepreneurs in an effort to transform Tennessee into one of the nation’s most startup-friendly states.
TENN participants are highly visible at Launch Tennessee’s annual 36|86 technology conference, which brings together entrepreneurs, nationally known innovators, venture capitalists and other thought leaders to explore how the Southeast is innovating in manufacturing, logistics and other categories historically core to the region’s economic health. The focus is on the startups that are positioning the region to lead the country’s next wave of entrepreneurship. Tickets to 36|86 are on sale now at 3686south.com.
To learn more about program eligibility or the application process for future accelerator classes, check out The TENN Master Accelerator.
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About Launch Tennessee
Launch Tennessee is dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship, with the goal of making Tennessee one of the most startup-friendly states in the country. In service of this mission, Launch Tennessee focuses on four key areas: Entrepreneurship, commercialization, capital formation and community outreach. Launch Tennessee is in part funded by a grant from the State of Tennessee. Follow Launch Tennessee on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/LaunchTN), Twitter (www.Twitter.com/LaunchTN), YouTube (www.YouTube.com/LaunchTN) and Flickr (www.Flickr.com/LaunchTN).
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