Disrupt the Continuum

Abby Trotter, Executive Director of Life Science Tennessee, believes the state's best opportunities for growth and economic development reside in the life sciences. In this episode, Abby — along with Life Science Tennessee's Chairman of the Board Ted Townsend — share some of the exciting progress happening in the industry, in terms of both scientific advancements and job growth for Tennesseans. They also explain how partnering with LaunchTN has created new opportunities for growth.

Jim Biggs, executive director of the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, wants to help entrepreneurs connect with the resources they need to succeed. In this episode, Jim and KEC Board Chair Brandon Bruce share their insight into the factors that make Knoxville's entrepreneurial community so unique. They also describe the work they're doing to support makers and startups across diverse industries, such as creating the Knoxville Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Guide.

Ben Ferguson and Lisa Garner, cofounder and executive director of theCO, respectively, are proud that Jackson, Tennessee has become a regional hub for entrepreneurship and economic development. With theCO, they're supporting rural entrepreneurship, providing technical training to students and elevating the stories of individuals who make their community one of a kind. In this episode, Ben and Lisa share some exciting updates on the work they're doing in West Tennessee.

Heath Guinn, President and Executive Director of Sync Space, wants to prove that rural communities bring something special to the table when it comes to entrepreneurship. With Sync Space, he's working to support startups and attract new companies to the Tri-Cities. Heath unpacks the mutually beneficial relationship he sees between entrepreneurs and rural communities, and he shares how Sync Space is making a difference as one of Launch Tennessee's newest network partners.

Leslie Smith, Founding CEO of Epicenter Memphis and current national director for Gender Equality in Tech Cities, believes entrepreneurs are uniquely equipped to rise to the challenge in times of crisis. She's worked hard to help build a collaborative entrepreneurship community that supports the whole city's economic growth. Leslie offers an inside look at some of the secrets to Epicenter's success and she explains how Launch Tennessee's network of resources helps founders find support all across the state

Cortney Piper, Executive Director of Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council, sees Tennessee's advanced energy industry as a powerful force for economic development and job creation. In this episode, Cortney shares her vision for helping energy companies become global leaders, and she explains how TAEBC is partnering with Launch Tennessee to support startups.

Marcus Shaw, CEO of CO.LAB, wants people around the world to recognize Chattanooga's appeal for growing successful companies. In this episode, Marcus explains how CO.LAB is helping startups of all sizes connect with the opportunities and resources they need, tapping into the unique advantages Tennessee offers entrepreneurs. He also shares why he's optimistic that great innovation will grow out of the challenges of COVID-19.

Jeff Brown, cofounder, President and CEO of The Biz Foundry, believes rural communities have unique contributions to offer the startup world. He and The Biz Foundry Director of Outreach and Engagement Tiffany Anton discuss their efforts to support entrepreneurs in the Upper Cumberland region and share stories of startups that are changing their community and the world at large.

Jane Allen, CEO of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, and Vice President for Inclusion and Community Relations Brynn Plummer, believe Nashville is a city that was built on entrepreneurship. They explain how the NEC is helping entrepreneurs navigate the wealth of resources available to them, connecting people to the tools they need to start and grow a business. Jane also shares her vision for creating an ecosystem where successful entrepreneurs are empowered to give back to the startup community.

We've got your inside look at how LaunchTN's statewide network and boots-on-the-ground startups are working to build Tennessee's incredible entrepreneurial ecosystem. Leaders from across the state reveal why Tennessee continues to offer a competitive advantage for entrepreneurs looking to build and scale their businesses through statewide resources and strategic partnerships. These are the stories of LaunchTN's community, collaborations, and the resilience of our state's unique ecosystem.