Press release from Startup Tennessee; Jan. 31, 2012:
Nashville, Tenn – Startup Tennessee would like to announce that it has launched the Startup Tennessee Resource Network, a database to connect Entrepreneurs, Mentors, Investors, and Business Partners throughout Tennessee. Entrepreneurs with access to resources and personal networks build businesses that create jobs.
Everyone in Tennessee who wants to build, help or work with startup businesses should join Startup Tennessee at www.StartupTN.com.
The Startup Tennessee Resource Network connects entrepreneurs with the ECD Regional Accelerator for their county who can assist them with launching their business and connect them to the statewide resources that are in place to help startup companies launch and be successful.
The Startup Tennessee Resource Network is the front door and entrepreneurs’ first stop for all entrepreneurial activity in the state.
Join Startup Tennessee today through StartupTN.com, and together we can help build startup business in Tennessee and support Tennessee’s Entrepreneurs, because Entrepreneurship Creates Jobs.
“By connecting Tennessee Entrepreneurs, Trained Mentors, Business Partners that want to work with Startup Companies and Investors, the Startup Tennessee Resource Network can help drive entrepreneurial and new business growth throughout every region in Tennessee,” said Michael Burcham, President of Startup Tennessee. In the 3 months, since we’ve launched, we have already brought on board 5 of 9 regions and are in the process of conducting the launch sessions for the remaining regions over the next month.”
“By Joining StartupTN.com, Entrepreneurs get connected to the Startup Tennessee Resource Network, which allows us to connect them with the people and resources that are in place to help them succeed.” said Michael Burcham, President of Startup Tennessee.“
As part of a joint press conference, Startup America joined the Startup Tennessee Team to celebrate its 1-year anniversary. On hand were Jean Case, CEO of the Case Foundation, which was a founding sponsor of the Partnership, Startup America Board Member Pam Contag of Cygnet Biofuels, and Ingrid Vanderveldt, Entrepreneur-in-Residence for Dell. For the 1-year anniversary, Startup America and Startup Tennessee co-hosted an all day conference on Social Innovation, Women’s Entrepreneurship and Technology. (Agenda Attached)
“Startup Tennessee was the second state to answer the Startup America call-to-action and has been a trailblazing example of leadership in developing its entrepreneurial ecosystem and connecting Tennessee Entrepreneurs with both Statewide and National resources through the Startup America Partnership, “said Jean Case, CEO of the Case Foundation. “The launch of the Startup Tennessee Resource Network is the latest major initiative that Startup Tennessee has brought online and I can’t wait to see what else they accomplish in 2012.”
As part of its contract with the TN ECD, Startup Tennessee is tasked with helping the 9 TN ECD Economic Regions launch a Business Accelerator and provide the technical support to connect entrepreneurs throughout the state. The following regions have had successful launch sessions and designated a primary point of contact for its region. Entrepreneurs can connect to the program by joining StartupTN.com.
- Northern Middle Tennessee – Nashville – The Entrepreneur Center
- East Tennessee – Knoxville – ETRAC
- Southeast Tennessee – Chattanooga – Company Lab
- Greater Memphis Regional Accelerator
- Southern Middle – Tullahoma – SMTEC (Southern Middle Tennessee Entrepreneur Centers)
Conference Agenda
2012: The Year of the Entrepreneur
Building Innovation & Entrepreneurship in Tennessee
8:30 AM Coffee, Breakfast and Networking
09:00 AM Michael Burcham Introduction to the Day
09:15 AM Jean Case: Changing the World:
- Social Innovation, Profit and the Future of Business
10:00 AM Swim with the Sharks:
- Nashville Entrepreneurs Pitch Social Enterprises
11:30 AM Lunch Panel Discussion:
- Current Issues Facing Women Entrepreneurs
- Panel: Jean Case, Pam Contag, Ingrid Venderveldt
01:30 PM Breakouts Sessions:
- Jean Case – Social Enterprise & Entrepreneurship
- Pam Contag – Women Entrepreneurs
- Ingrid Vanderveldt – Innovation & Technology Entrepreneurship
02:30 PM Press Conference and Announcement
- Startup America and Startup Tennessee
03:00 PM Adjourn
About The Entrepreneur Center
The Entrepreneur Center serves as a gateway that fuses training, relationships and resources to cultivate economic development and drive Nashville’s future as the epicenter of entrepreneurial endeavors. The Center opened its doors in August 2010 after recommendations from the Nashville Chamber of Commerce. It has been successful as a partnership of local and state government support, private interests, and the Middle Tennessee business community at large to raise the quality of resources available to the Nashville entrepreneurial and small business community. In 2011, it was named as the TN ECD North Middle Tennessee StartupTN Regional Accelerator for area entrepreneurs.
Resources to help Middle Tennessee’s entrepreneur community include:
- Accelerator space
- Training
- Networking
- Educational materials
- Mentoring
For more information, please visit:
About Startup Tennessee
Startup Tennessee was launched in 2011 as part of Governor Haslam’s effort to make Tennessee the number one state in the Southeast to start and to grow a company. Startup Tennessee was the second state in the nation to join the Startup America Partnership. The program operates as the first-ever, statewide Regional Accelerator, launching, linking and leveraging nine Regional Accelerators across the state. Through StartupTN.com, the program equips startups and entrepreneurs with the resources they need to launch, grow, and raise capital for high-growth potential companies – with the goal of building businesses that create jobs for Tennessee. In October 2011, StartupTN was selected by the Startup America Partnership to host and train 15 other states on cultivating entrepreneurial ecosystems. Governor Haslam appointed Michael Burcham, serial entrepreneur and CEO of the Entrepreneur Center, to lead Startup Tennessee and entrepreneurship across the state.
Join the StartupTN Resource Network at www.StartupTN.com
About the Startup America Partnership
The Startup America Partnership was launched at the White House in response to President Obama’s call to celebrate, inspire, and accelerate high-growth entrepreneurship throughout the nation. The Partnership is bringing together an alliance of major corporations, funders, service providers, mentors and advisors working to dramatically increase the prevalence and success of high-growth enterprises in the U.S. AOL co-founder Steve Case chairs the Partnership and the Kauffman and Case Foundations are founding partners. American Express OPEN, Dell Inc., Intuit Inc., and Microsoft are sponsors. The Partnership will identify, measure and report on the effectiveness of cross-sector collaboration in support of entrepreneurial ventures and its effect on job creation and growth. For more information on the Partnership, visit startupamericapartnership.org and follow on Twitter at twitter.com/startupamerica and facebook.com/startupamerica.
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