KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (August 26, 2026) – Knoxville’s 865 Fest (formerly known as Startup Day) is back for its fourteenth year.  Scheduled to take place Tuesday, Sept. 29 at Bridgewater Place in West Knoxville, 865 Fest will feature a full day of programming, including startup pitch competitions, fireside chats, breakout sessions and panel discussions. 

865 Fest invites investors, entrepreneurs, business leaders and community members to celebrate Knoxville’s vibrant and ever-growing startup ecosystem. Each year, hundreds of attendees participate in Knoxville’s premier entrepreneurial event.

865 Fest will feature a fireside chat with Knox County Mayor-Elect, Betsy Henderson. City of Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon will provide welcoming remarks.

Extended programming will include three featured panels focused on:

  • How industry is advancing quantum technologies, supporting commercialization, growing high-wage jobs and building the talent pipeline needed for the future, presented by Three Roots Capital
  • Knoxville’s emergence as a nationally recognized destination city, and the role that food plays in attracting visitors, talent and investment, presented by Visit Knoxville
  • The ups and downs of growing a business and how entrepreneurs in East Tennessee operate, manage, and scale their businesses, as discussed by 865 Fest pitch alumni

Back by popular demand are two breakout session rooms, presented by PYA and LocalIQ. These sessions will cover various topics designed to inspire and equip entrepreneurs and connect them with resources to help them succeed.

865 Fest’s signature startup pitch competition will again feature six of Knoxville’s top startups. Founders 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 Rachel Mehta, Partner & VP of Sourcing for She’s Independent Investments, Michael Dirla, Principal at Greater Sum Ventures, and Mike Thibodeaux, VP of Business Services at Comcast.

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 third year in a row 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. Startups in the emerging entrepreneur pitch competition will compete for a $3,000 cash prize. Pitch applications are available here and will be accepted through August 31.

The event will also feature the presentation of the annual Traction Award, given to a Knoxville entrepreneur who has made significant traction since participating in Startup Day. The Traction Award will be presented by AXLE Logistics. 

“Investors, entrepreneurs and business leaders look forward to 865 Fest every year,” said Breanna Hale, Executive Director of the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and Innov865 Alliance member. “Knoxville’s signature startup event is a day in which we celebrate the innovation and the ever-growing startup ecosystem in our region. The event showcases the resources available to entrepreneurs in the area and why East Tennessee is a great place to start and grow a business.”

Doors for the event will open at 8:30 a.m. EST on Sept. 29 for a networking breakfast and registration. Programming will begin at 9 a.m. EST and lunch will be provided for attendees. Registration is now open, and the general admission price is $100. Tickets will be available to students at no cost. Click here to purchase tickets.

For more information on 865 Fest, visit www.innov865.com/event/865-fest-2026/. 

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

sarah@piper-communications.com I (865) 329-0553