Week-long series of events celebrates Knoxville’s entrepreneurial spirit

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Today marks the start of Innov865 Week, a week-long series of events taking place September 19-23 that brings together start-ups, entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders, students, and the East Tennessee community to celebrate and showcase Knoxville as a great place for entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses.

“The Knoxville area is a hub for innovation – not just in Tennessee, but nationally,” said Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero. “This is our time – the best is yet to come for our young entrepreneurs and for our city. I invite you to experience all Knoxville has to offer during Innov865 Week.”

Innov865 Week kicks-off today with the Kauffman Foundation’s Mayors Summit on Entrepreneurship and culminates with its signature event, Startup Day, on Thursday, September 22 at the U.S. Cellular Stage at The Bijou Theatre. Additional event programming includes educational panels, pitch competitions, investor roundtables, and social events. A full list of events can be found on the Innov865 Week event calendar.

“We are excited to build on the momentum generated by Startup Day 2015, and expand that one day celebration of entrepreneurship into a week-long showcase of the best East Tennessee has to offer startups and entrepreneurs,” said Jim Biggs, Executive Director of the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, a founding member of the Innov865 Alliance.

About

Innov865 Week is the signature event of the Innov865 Alliance, which develops, supports, and promotes the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Innov865 Alliance includes the University of Tennessee Research Foundation, Oak Ridge National Lab, PYA, UT’s Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Launch Tennessee and Knoxville Entrepreneur Center.

For more information and to stay updated on events, visit: https://www.innov865.com

Contact: Cortney Piper, cortney@piper-communications.com or 865-789-2669