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About the Innov865 Alliance

The Innov865 Alliance develops, supports, and promotes the Knoxville region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. It is a collaborative effort to celebrate and showcase Knoxville as a great place for entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses and increase access to capital. Innov865 Week is our signature event; however, the Alliance coordinates other activities throughout the year, including pitch competitions, educational opportunities, and social events.

Founding Members

University of Tennessee Research Foundation

University of Tennessee Research Foundation logo

The University of Tennessee Research Foundation is a non-profit organization that promotes the commercialization of UT intellectual property, encourages an entrepreneurial culture, contributes to state and regional economic development, and promotes research and education to benefit the people of Tennessee and beyond.

In its role as the technology transfer office of UT, UTRF works to identify and support UT inventions and discoveries with the highest potential to be developed into commercial products. Through the launch of new startups and via partnerships with existing companies, inventions are brought from the laboratory to the marketplace. Technology transfer benefits the public through the launch of innovative new products in healthcare, technology, agriculture, education and more.

The UT Research Foundation frequently partners with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the State of Tennessee for research and education initiatives.

For more information, contact:

Robyn Geron
Assistant Commercialization Manager
& Patent Coordinator
rgeron@tennessee.edu
865-974-1811

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Oak Ridge National Laboratory logo

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is the U.S. Department of Energy’s largest multiprogram science and energy laboratory, with scientific and technical capabilities spanning the continuum from basic to applied research. These resources enable the lab to tackle an exceptionally wide range of research and development (R&D) assignments, from fundamental nuclear physics to applied R&D on advanced energy systems. In addition, ORNL has a well-deserved reputation for combining insights from fundamental science with an in-depth technical understanding of applied systems to deliver practical solutions to real-world problems.

ORNL aggressively pursues opportunities to put these solutions to work, often collaborating with industry to accelerate their deployment by the private sector.

For more information, contact:

Dan Miller,
Program Lead, Innovation Crossroads
millerdw@ornl.gov

Jesse Smith
Manager, Industrial Partners and Economic Development
smithj1@ornl.gov

Tennessee Valley Authority

Tennessee Valley Authority logo

The Tennessee Valley Authority is a corporate agency of the United States that provides electricity for business customers and local power distributors serving 9 million people in parts of seven southeastern states. TVA receives no taxpayer funding, deriving virtually all of its revenues from sales of electricity. In addition to operating and investing its revenues in its electric system, TVA provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists local power companies and state and local governments with economic development and job creation.

For more information, contact:

Amy Henry
Director, Transformative Innovation
Innovation & Research
abhenry@tva.gov

City of Knoxville

City of Knoxville logo

Knoxville is a city in and the county seat of Knox County in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of July 1, 2019, Knoxville’s population was 187,603, making it the largest city in the East Tennessee Grand Division, and the state’s overall third largest city after Nashville and Memphis. Knoxville is the principal city of the Knoxville Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 869,046 in 2019.

For more information, contact:

Carter Hall
Policy and Strategic Projects Manager
chall@knoxvilletn.gov

LaunchTennessee

LaunchTennessee logo

Launch Tennessee (LaunchTN) is a public-private partnership focused on supporting the development of high-growth companies in Tennessee. Its ultimate goal is to make Tennessee the No. 1 place in the Southeast to start and grow a business.

LaunchTN supports entrepreneurship by providing resources, mentorship and connections for entrepreneurs, plus helping entrepreneurs obtain funding and connecting inventors with entrepreneurs and investors. The organization assists entrepreneurs with raising capital and focuses on outreach, hosting events that bring together entrepreneurs, mentors, researchers and investors from across the state and country and serving as the marketing arm for entrepreneurship in Tennessee.

For more information, contact:

Mahni Ghorashi
Strategy Director
mahni.ghorashi@gmail.com

Knoxville Chamber

Knoxville Chamber logo

The Knoxville Chamber is an economic prosperity organization located in Knoxville, Tennessee. The organization is committed to its mission of driving regional economic prosperity.

Its five-year strategic vision, Path to Prosperity, prioritizes the creation of a vibrant, innovative economic ecosystem for the entire Knoxville region that considers today’s realities while contemplating tomorrow’s aspirations.

For more information, contact:

Mike Odom
President and CEO
modom@knoxvillechamber.com

Knoxville Entrepreneur Center

Knoxville Entrepreneur Center logo

The Knoxville Entrepreneur Center (KEC) provides access to a regionally recognized company development program, an involved network of dedicated capital sources, successful local mentors, and world-class training.  The KEC connects entrepreneurs with mentors and the resources necessary to start their businesses. It inspires, encourages, and enables entrepreneurs by adding value to their business ideas. The KEC is a place where entrepreneurs come daily to move their business ideas to a higher level.

For more information, contact:

Jim Biggs
Executive Director
jim.biggs@knoxec.net

Three Roots Capital

Three Roots Capital logo

Three Roots is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation and is a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), working to aggregate multiple pools of capital along a continuum of capital, ranging from early-stage to later-stage, including both equity and debt.

Three Roots Capital provides impact capital products and advisory services that create successful outcomes for client companies and attractive returns for financial partners.

For more information, contact:

Dennis Corley
Business Development and
Community Relationships Manager
dennis@3rootscapital.org
865-220-1713

Pershing Yoakley & Associates

Pershing Yoakley & Associates logo

Pershing Yoakley & Associates provides timely insight and delivers comprehensive support in accounting, consulting, and management. The company has a proven track record of unsurpassed performance in healthcare, finance and business practice. PYA has been built with an unyielding commitment to integrity at all levels, objective research and reporting, creative problem solving and an attention to clients that starts at the executive level and filters through the entire organization.

PYA launched Teknovation.biz in 2012 as a vehicle to allow East Tennesseans to spotlight and celebrate “all things” related to technology, innovation and entrepreneurship in East Tennessee. It is intended to help create more awareness of our region’s assets and help drive technology, innovation and entrepreneurial job growth.

For more information, contact:

Tom Ballard
Chief Alliance Officer
tballard@pyapc.com
865-684-2826

UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm

UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm logo

The University of Tennessee Research Park at Cherokee Farm in Knoxville, Tennessee, is the Southeast’s only research and development park where the resources of a major research university and a leading national laboratory are combined with globally recognized researchers expressly for the benefit of tenants. The campus offers tenant access to the research capabilities at UT and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Located on 188 acres on the banks of the Tennessee River, the campus has 77 developable acres and includes 16 building sites that support approximately 1.6 million square feet of development. Parcels are available for immediate development, and research suite leasing is underway.

For more information, contact:

Rickey McCallum
Vice President
UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm
rickey@tnresearchpark.org
865-202-5554

Veteran Ventures

Veteran Ventures logo

Veteran Ventures Capital specializes in making private investments into veteran-affiliated companies that show great promise in regards to revenue growth and business acceleration. Specifically, Veteran Ventures Capital focuses on making investments into new businesses that have promising technology, an innovative business concept, or are existing businesses that are seeking rapid growth within their field.

For More Information, contact: 
Derren Burrell
Founder & President
derren@veteranventures.us

University of Tennessee Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation

University of Tennessee Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation logo

The University of Tennessee Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (ACEI) is a university-based resource for entrepreneurship across the region and the state of Tennessee. The center works to foster an entrepreneurial culture at the university and across the state by developing student skills, providing experiential learning opportunities, conducting meaningful entrepreneurial research, and connecting students with mentors and resources that enable them to successfully start and grow new businesses.

ACEI also works externally with regional partners in Knoxville, government partners in Nashville, and colleagues across the state for both “for profit” and “social cause” organizations.

For more information, contact:

Lynn Youngs
Executive Director
lyoungs@utk.edu


Innov865 Events

The Innov865 Alliance hosts events throughout the year that celebrate entrepreneurship and innovation, and showcase Knoxville as the destination for startups and entrepreneurs in East Tennessee.

May 26, 2022 5:00 pm

Industries of the Future Demo Day

We look forward to welcoming you in person in Knoxville/Oak Ridge, TN to the Inaugural Techstars Industries of the Future 2022 Demo Day!

June 1, 2022 5:30 pm

Knoxville Veterans In Residence Showcase

Bunker Labs’ Veterans in Residence Showcase is a nationwide event spanning across 23 cities and 3 virtual cohorts, celebrating over 400 veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs launching their startups and businesses from our recent cohort.

July 11, 2022 12:00 am

Cultivate Appalachia: AgLaunch Bootcamp for Food & AgTech Pioneers

AgLaunch is partnering with a diverse group of partners across the Appalachian region to host a bootcamp for innovators in food and agriculture. In-person in Knoxville, Tennessee, July 11-14. Applications open on May 2nd and close on May 31st.


More events →


Innov865 News

The Innov865 Alliance is an advocate for Knoxville’s startups and entrepreneurs, ensuring our ecosystem is strong, vibrant and coordinated. Tune in for articles, Q&As, press releases, and other updates about our community’s thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem.

March 29, 2022

Q&A with Stacy Baugues of PowerUp Fitness

For Women’s History Month, the Innov865 Alliance sat down with Stacy Baugues, CEO and Founder of PowerUp Fitness, to discuss female entrepreneurship. Thinking back on your career to date, what were some of your proudest moments as an entrepreneur? Looking…

March 22, 2022

Q&A with Courtney Jones of Boulo Solutions

For Women’s History Month, the Innov865 Alliance sat down with Courtney Jones, Founder of MomSource Network and current CRO of Boulo Solutions, to discuss female entrepreneurship. MomSource Network was acquired by Birmingham-based Boulo Solutions. You joined the Boulo team as…

March 15, 2022

Q&A with Angelique Adams of Angelique Adams Media Solutions

In light of Women’s History Month, the Innov865 Alliance sat down with Dr. Angelique Adams, Founder and CEO of Angelique Adams Media Solutions, to discuss female entrepreneurship. Thinking back on your career to date, what were some of your proudest…


More articles →

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