What is Innov865 Week?
Innov865 Week is a weeklong celebration of Knoxville’s entrepreneurial spirit that brings together startups, entrepreneurs, makers, investors, business leaders, students, and community leaders from across East Tennessee for a week of educational panels, pitch competitions, investor roundtables, and social events. It is presented by the Innov865 Alliance, a coalition that develops, supports, and promotes the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Divided into five tracks, Innov865 Week highlights various elements of the Alliance’s mission to develop, support and promote the Knoxville region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and its collaborative effort to celebrate and showcase Knoxville as a great place for all entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses and increase access to capital. The five tracks include innovation, education, maker, culture, and investor.
Please sign up for the latest news about our annual event, Startup Day, or other upcoming events for more opportunities to network with fellow Knoxville entrepreneurs as we prepare for this year’s week-long celebration once more!
Featured Event: Startup Day 2024
Innov865 Week’s premier event is Startup Day, an annual pitch competition and celebration of Knoxville’s thriving entrepreneurial community. At Startup Day, entrepreneurs showcase their local startup to a panel composed of venture capitalists, angel investors and industry leaders. Pitches are followed by a Q&A from the panel about their business and why they chose to grow their company in Knoxville. Cash prizes are awarded through crowd participation, totaling $15,000. Applications close June 30, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. ET
NEW THIS YEAR: Startup Day will also include a short emerging entrepreneur pitch competition sponsored by the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The competition is open for ALL students currently enrolled (or alumni who have graduated within the last 12 months) in a college or university within the state of Tennessee. The emerging entrepreneur winner will receive $2,500.
Innov865 Week Tracks
Divided into five tracks, Innov865 Week highlights various elements of the Alliance’s mission to develop, support, and promote 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. The five tracks include innovator, emerging entrepreneur, maker, investor and experience 865.
Innovator
Showcasing the Knoxville region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem
Emerging Entrepreneur
Developing the Knoxville region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem
Sponsored by
Maker
Promoting the Knoxville region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem
Sponsored by
Experience 865
Celebrating the Knoxville region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem
Sponsored by
Investor
Supporting the Knoxville region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem
Sponsored by
Innov865 Week Agenda
October 1, 2024
Startup Day 2024
At Startup Day, entrepreneurs showcase their local startup to a panel composed of venture capitalists, angel investors and industry leaders. Pitches are followed by a Q&A from the panel about their business and why they chose to grow their company in Knoxville. Cash prizes are awarded through crowd participation, totaling $15,000. Applications close June 30, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. ET. NEW THIS YEAR: Startup Day will also include a short student pitch competition sponsored by the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The student winner will receive $2,500.
Founding Members
Supporters
FAQs
Why should I attend?
Innov865 Week is a weeklong celebration of Knoxville’s entrepreneurial spirit that brings together startups, entrepreneurs, makers, investors, business leaders, students, and community leaders from across East Tennessee. If you want to help develop, support, and promote the Knoxville region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, this event is for you! Whether you’re an Innovator, Emerging Entrepreneur, Maker, Investor or someone who loves to Experience 865 – this week-long celebration is the place for you!
Who should I contact if I have any questions?
Event Logistics: Allie Eskew | allison@piper-communications.com
Media Relations and Programming: Hannah Whitson | hannah@piper-communications.com
Digital Media: Abby Hassler | abby@piper-communications.com
Support: Mallory Jenkins | mallory@piper-communications.com
What supporter opportunities are available?
Innov865 Week is a weeklong celebration of Knoxville’s entrepreneurial spirit. If you want to help develop, support and promote the Knoxville region’s entrepreneurial community, please consider supporting. With over 1.3K event attendees last year, Innov865 Week 2024 promises to be bigger than ever before. View the 2024 Supporter Packet.
To discuss opportunities, contact Mallory Jenkins at mallory@piper-communications.com or 865.696.5090.