Knoxville Entrepreneur Center

This #GivingTuesday, become a friend of KEC! Your continued support is appreciated, and helps to build our vision for Knoxvillle to become the most founder-friendly city in America. https://lnkd.in/e9RKsXRs

December first was/is kind of a big day for me. Yesterday marked exactly FOUR YEARS since I joined the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center (still the longest “real job” I’ve ever had). Short version of a wild 2020: near-death experience (I do not recommend anaphylactic shock), leaving a business and dream position behind that I'd worked the better part of two decades to build, and setting out to build the next chapter of my career to make the most positive impact at the biggest scale possible. I love art, creativity, business, technology, community, public speaking, and most of all, I love working with, and for, people that GET IT. To me, that means everyone who has decided to do the long, hard work of picking up the shovel and getting to work - EVERY DAY. I've included photos from some of my favorite memories (and there's soooo much more I could share) including the hashtag #BigIdeasWelcome podcast, the 2024 WORKS business accelerator, #3686, #StartupDay, #CoMobility Summit, and sooooo much more. (Did I get to hang out in a jet? Yes...yes I did - along with too many incredible folks to tag. If you see yourself in one of these photos, please comment!) THANK YOU to everyone who has had me on their stage, at their mic, in their city, and in their business (literally 😂 ) every step of the way. It’s an honor to play even a small part in so much positive momentum. We’ve got a lotta work to do, and we’re lucky - the KEC team is the best at what they do. #squadgoals (as the kids say). You can hear more about my journey in an awesome article from Katelyn Biefeldt and teknovation.biz (I'll put a link in the first comment). I'd love to hear from YOU. If you've got an awesome Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, The Maker City or any other memory, please share in the comments! Gratitude as always. Let’s get to work and keep building. #makemessestellstories #themakercity #innov865 #entrepreneurship #innovation (also - I totally reposted this because I tagged too many people in the photos and this post was sent to LinkedIn purgatory. My Bad!)

Applications now open for 100Knoxville's Idea to Reality Business Development Course! It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Idea to Reality is a five-week introductory level business development course that helps aspiring entrepreneurs put their “Big Ideas” into action. This class will help you build your business plan in a flexible community environment. Head to the program page to see the curriculum, learn more, and apply! https://lnkd.in/ep94MMtr

Capital Conversations, an exclusive meetup hosted by Pinnacle Financial Partners, is coming your way on Tuesday, Dec. 3 from 4:30 - 6:30 PM ET! The free event will connect entrepreneurs and startup companies with invaluable information about funding opportunities and other resources. Members of LaunchTN’s Capital team, financial sector experts from Pinnacle Financial Partners, and representatives from the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center will be there. Save your spot: https://lnkd.in/eQDk7T5Q 121 Tech Hub is a community for tech founders and teams at 121 East Jackson Avenue in Knoxville, across the street from Barley’s.

Sales expert Ryan McGrew will be leading the next 100Knoxville quarterly workshop on Building a Great Team at KEC on Monday, December 2nd! Ryan McGrew is the owner of RightWay Insurance in Knoxville, TN. He is a Knoxville native, born and raised, and a University of Tennessee graduate. After having great success as an insurance producer with a Fortune 100 company, Ryan decided to broaden his horizon and open RightWay Insurance in the Fall of 2014. RightWay Insurance, is a local independent insurance agency that specializes in finding clients the right policy, with the right value, the right way – with Honesty & Integrity. By representing over 30 national carriers, RightWay Insurance is able to provide a unique and custom approach to insuring your Auto, Home, Life, and Small Business. When Ryan is not in the office you can find him serving in the community through youth sports organizations, non-profit boards, or spending time with his wife, Krystal, and their four young children. During the workshop we'll discuss ways to make your business stand out as an employer through culture, growth opportunities, and other benefits that go beyond pay. By the end, you'll have actionable strategies to attract and retain the right talent for your business. https://lnkd.in/giqf8g3j Photo By: Jalynn Baker

Time is running out to participate The Maker City 's annual Secret Santa Gift Exchange! Your Secret Santa will receive your interests and will either create or purchase your gift from a maker here in Knoxville! 🎁 Get together with fellow makers at SpaceCraft for The Maker City Mingle and Secret Santa Gift Exchange on December 18th! https://lnkd.in/erE4BZed?

There is nothing more valuable to a new entrepreneur than learning from someone who has done it before. Mentors can provide strength, guidance, and the wisdom to help early-stage businesses move forward with confidence and purpose. The KEC Mentor Network aims to connect founders with the experts that are going to be able to answer their questions, and hopefully help guide them to effective next steps in their business. We welcome people on both sides of this scenario – Mentors and Mentees – to submit the interest form on our website to join the network of entrepreneurs sharing their knowledge! https://lnkd.in/exF9yEdS

Watch Chris McAdoo take the stage for an impassioned seven minutes to dig deep into the heart of what makes Knoxville Entrepreneur Center so special, and our Maker City community so innovative and powerful. Hint…it’s the people out there doing the work. People like... Kandis Troutman, MA, Paris Woodhull, Hannah Lee, Bailey Foster, Grady Vanderhoofven, John Phillips, Kate Wiggeringloh, Femeika Elliott, Eugenia Almeida, Nikki Elliott, CPA and many, many more.   Originally recorded during PechaKucha Knoxville’s fiftieth edition on March 07, 2024. Pecha-Kucha (“Chit-Chat”) is a simple presentation format that features twenty images displayed for twenty seconds each. Originating in Tokyo in 2003, PKN was brought to Knoxville in 2009, along with 400 cities around the world. https://lnkd.in/gq6NCXav

Learn how to identify your own strengths and weaknesses, define clear roles for new hires, and create an appealing work environment that attracts great people during 100Knoxville's quarterly workshop at KEC! Hosted by 100Knoxville and the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, sales expert Ryan McGrew will be leading the workshop on Building a Great Team on December 2nd! This workshop will help small business owners build a team that aligns with their vision by focusing on more than just the job they are hiring for. We’ll discuss ways to make your business stand out as an employer through culture, growth opportunities, and other benefits that go beyond pay. By the end, you'll have actionable strategies to attract and retain the right talent for your business. Learn more & register: https://lnkd.in/ens7XsxZ

Tonight’s Growth & Grit | Celebrating East TN's Inc. 5000 Listed Companies is one of my favorite yearly events. Lots of laughter & reflection highlighted this joyful roundtable of local leaders & entrepreneurs at the Relix Theatre. It was great seeing some of my past & present clients & pals (I’m lookin’ at you, Abhijit Verekar), a couple of my former fellow Fairview Technology board directors (lookin’ at YOU, Kathy Schrader - Country Financial Representative), a former APR coworker (lookin’ at you, Mike Cohen), a fellow Women in Entrepreneurship Blount County founding member (that’s YOU, Susan Verekar) and former TPW Magazine interview subject (lookin’ at YOU, Robert Hall of Ole Smoky Distillery, LLC.) And as usual, Chris McAdoo’s emceeing (with Harry Boston) was nothing less than performance art. Time well spent, Knoxville Entrepreneur Center; kudos all around.