KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (August 20, 2025) – Knoxville’s “865 Fest” (formerly Startup Day) is back this year with a new location and a full day of engaging programming. The rebranded event, hosted by the Innov865 Alliance, will take place Tuesday, Sept. 16 at Bridgewater Place in West Knoxville and includes pitch competitions, keynote speakers, panel discussions and breakout sessions designed to spark ideas, foster collaboration, and celebrate innovation.

865 Fest invites investors, students, entrepreneurs, business leaders and community members to celebrate Knoxville’s vibrant and growing entrepreneurial ecosystem. Each year, hundreds of attendees gather to attend this signature event.

865 Fest will feature keynote speakers, including Jordan Harper, NP, Founder and CEO of Barefaced, and Mark Pancratz, Founding Partner and Private Wealth Advisor of Axiom Wealth Management. City of Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon will provide welcoming remarks.

Expanded programming will include two featured panels – one focused on the business behind Knoxville’s multipurpose Covenant Health Park, presented by Visit Knoxville, and another focused on opportunities for collaboration and innovation between startups and established corporations, presented by Three Roots Capital and Carrasco | Trump.

New this year, 865 Fest will feature two breakout session rooms presented by PYA and LocaliQ. These sessions will cover various topics designed to inspire and equip entrepreneurs, from celebrating milestones like 10 Years of the Maker City to exploring practical strategies such as building authentic customer connections.

865 Fest’s signature startup pitch competition will celebrate its thirteenth year in Knoxville. Six of Knoxville’s top startups will pitch their companies before a panel of judges and a live audience for a chance to win up to $15,000 in cash prizes. Attendees will vote for their favorite startup to win the $5,000 Crowd Favorite Award, and judges will select the $10,000 Judges’ Choice winner.  

865 Fest is honored to host three judges for this year’s startup pitch competition, including Jim Holleman, Principal of Avison Young, Matt Park, Director of IT and CET Business Partner at Cirrus Aircraft and Ramsey Cohen, National Sales at Clayton Development Group. Wesley Pitts, Founder of KnoxBots and TerraSYNC, Esteban Hernandez-Fuentes, Startup Coach at the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Erica Stump, Partnerships Director, IonQ, will judge the emerging entrepreneur pitch competition.

The Innov865 Alliance, which spearheaded 865 Fest, is proud to announce six startup companies to pitch at 865 Fest that reflect Knoxville’s diverse entrepreneurial spirit. Those startups include:

Returning for the second year is the emerging entrepreneur pitch competition for students and new graduates, organized by the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The emerging entrepreneurs will showcase their ideas for a cash prize of $3,000. Those selected to pitch in the emerging entrepreneur pitch competition include:

The annual Traction Award, presented by AXLE Logistics, will also be announced. This award recognizes a Knoxville entrepreneur who has made significant progress since participating in Startup Day.

“Knoxville’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is stronger than ever,” said Marc A. Nabhan, PhD, Director of Entrepreneurship and New Ventures at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. “This year’s 865 Fest will raise the bar with a new location, expanded programming, and dynamic keynote speakers. Attendees will gain valuable insights, make meaningful connections, and experience the innovation that continues to define our region.”

Doors for the event will open at 8:30 a.m. EST on Sept. 16 for a networking breakfast and registration. Programming will begin at 9 a.m. EST and lunch will be provided for attendees. General admission tickets are available for purchase online for $75. Tickets will be available to students at no cost. Click here to purchase tickets.

For more information on 865 Fest, visit innov865.com/865-fest/. 

ABOUT 865 FEST & THE INNOV865 ALLIANCE

865 Fest is a full-day entrepreneurial event hosting visionary keynotes, premier pitch competitions, thought-provoking panels, and much more to explore how big ideas move from concept to reality. It is presented by the Innov865 Alliance, a coalition that develops, supports, and promotes the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Founding members of the Innov865 Alliance include the University of Tennessee Research Foundation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, PYA, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Three Roots Capital, Tennessee Valley Authority, Launch Tennessee, Knoxville Chamber, Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm and the City of Knoxville. To learn more, visit innov865.com.

Media Contact: 

Sarah Pope

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