Strategic Partners Offering Diverse Support
A crucial element of the Innovation Crossroads program is the comprehensive educational and mentorship support we offer. Beyond the exceptional scientific and technical resources available at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), participants benefit from direct access to our strategic partners. These experts provide a wealth of knowledge in areas such as business development, legal affairs, finance, market research, long-term funding strategies, and connections with potential commercial partners.
Three Roots Capital is a provider of impact capital, business coaching, and connections that create successful outcomes for client companies and attractive returns for financial partners. Financial needs change as a business or project matures, so Three Roots aggregates multiple sources and types of capital into a broad continuum of financial tools to satisfy a variety of evolving financial needs.
Community Equity Partners is a syndicate of investor groups and venture funds. We have gathered hundreds of great minds, subject matter experts, successful entrepreneurs, and venture-style investors from the Southeast and beyond who share diligence, expertise, experience, connections, and industry insight on ventures to identify opportunities. They are helping to grow the next cohort of innovative solutions.
The Energy Network is run by the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council in partnership with Launch Tennessee. The program is a free statewide mentoring program for early-stage companies in the life science and advanced energy industries. The objective of the program is to pair entrepreneurs with mentors and industry-specific expertise to develop a compelling commercialization strategy and prepare for funding and growth.
The Innov865 Alliance develops, supports, and promotes 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. In addition to their signature event, Innov865 Week, the Innov865 Alliance coordinates other activities throughout the year, including pitch competitions, educational opportunities, and social events.
The Knoxville Entrepreneur Center is a local mentor-driven business accelerator that serves as the front door for entrepreneurs in the Knoxville region and a resource for anyone looking to start or grow a business in Knoxville. By nurturing and supporting a culture of entrepreneurship, they foster innovation, creativity, and job growth within the community. Join the KEC entrepreneurial community to gain access to the capital, customers, and talent needed to be successful.
Launch Tennessee is a public-private partnership that supports entrepreneurs from ideation to exit. They are guided by a vision to make Tennessee the most startup-friendly state in the nation. Tennessee is one of few states with an entrepreneur-resource infrastructure operating at the state level. Through Launch Tennessee’s statewide network, they deliver curriculum, mentors, funding opportunities, and more to entrepreneurs building high-growth-potential businesses.
From concept to prototype to production, mHUB removes barriers for hard-tech entrepreneurs and manufacturers to commercialize new physical products and increase the probability of building a sustainable business. Innovators have access to resources including competitive talent pipelines, networks of industry experts and mentors, a robust manufacturing supply chain, active investors, and comprehensive business, leadership, and
technical training.
PYA is a national professional services firm providing deep functional expertise in tax, audit and assurance, healthcare, technology, business advisory, and management consulting. PYA’s team contributes partner-level support to innovators by offering financial and business strategy insights and guidance. Their professionals meet with innovators as a group and individually to provide general accounting support, QuickBooks demonstrations, and personal setup assistance.
The Spark Innovation Center at UT Research Park fosters entrepreneurship and the commercialization of regional tech startups. Spark provides affordable lab space, prototyping shops, and top-level mentorship in business model development, financial planning, and investor readiness. Their success is evident through securing funding and strategic partnerships, leading to two prominent programs: a two-year incubator and a 12-week cleantech accelerator.
TAEBC champions advanced energy as a job creation and economic development strategy. They educate public officials and business leaders about Tennessee’s advanced energy assets, establish strategic partnerships to connect assets with opportunities, and inform policy that expands and strengthens the industry. In addition, TAEBC develops programs that connects and leverages the state’s assets with opportunities to promote Tennessee’s advanced energy economy.
In partnership with the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, program innovators have direct access to work with Bredesen Center graduate student interns for market research and customer discovery assistance, receive pro bono legal guidance and assistance from the UT College of Law Legal Clinic, and tap into a network of coaches, mentors, and business development resources and programs made available by the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.