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 innovator, emerging entrepreneur, maker, investor and experience 865.
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, Startup Day, is an annual pitch competition and celebration of Knoxville’s thriving entrepreneurial community on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. Doors open at 1:00 p.m. At the competition, six Knoxville startups will pitch before a live audience and panel of judges in hopes of winning the Judges’ Choice Award, presented by the Innov865 Alliance, and the Crowd Favorite Award, presented by Three Roots Capital and Carrasco Trump PLLC, totaling $15,000 in cash prizes.
This year, three emerging entrepreneurs will participate in a student pitch competition sponsored by the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The emerging entrepreneur winner will receive $2,500. The Startup Day program also includes the Traction Award, presented by CGI, given to a Knoxville entrepreneur who has made significant progress with their business since pitching at Startup Day. After the formal program, attendees are invited to stay for a networking happy hour presented by Boston Government Services. Drinks and light snacks will be provided.
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
Sponsored by
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
September 27, 2024
The Maker City Summit
The Maker City Summit is back September 27-29 at the Maker Exchange in downtown Knoxville. The theme is “Make it: Grow!”
September 30, 2024
Premier Partner Program: Cohort Showcase
Join the Knoxville Chamber for a Spark Cleantech Accelerator Cohort Showcase on September 30 from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
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.
October 2, 2024
Morning Momentum
Morning Momentum is a monthly series designed to connect seasoned business leaders with entrepreneurs experiencing growth challenges.
Raising Capital in Knoxville: A Look Behind the Curtain
Join PYA for a panel discussion moderated by Brandon Bruce featuring entrepreneurs who have successfully raised or are raising capital from a Knoxville base.
121 Tech Hub Grand Opening
Come to the grand opening of 121 Tech Hub, a community and coworking space for tech founders and teams in the heart of the Old City.
October 3, 2024
2024 Endeavor Summit
Knoxville’s annual Endeavor Young Professional Summit motivates the area’s emerging leaders to engage in their community and take ownership of their professional growth.
Raising & Rising 2024
Join Knoxville Entrepreneur Center and presenting sponsor, CGI, for Raising & Rising 2024! We’re bringing together investors, industry experts, and local Knoxville companies that are either on the rise or looking to raise some capital, all under the same roof!
October 4, 2024
ETEC Weekly Meeting
Join ETEC’s Weekly Meeting from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. on Friday, October 4 to hear pitches from the Startup Day winners!
Devmoot 2024
Attend Devmoot 2024, a single day, one-track conference dedicated to showcasing the latest trends, innovations, and breakthroughs in the ever-evolving field of software development.
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.