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Weekend edition January 17, 2025 | Katelyn Biefeldt

100Knoxville’s integral role in growing local Black-owned businesses

In an interview with the program's facilitator, Kandis Troutman, she emphasized the importance of building the founder, not just the idea.

In Knoxville, one in six residents is Black. Yet, a startling statistic highlights a stark gap in business ownership: only 97 Black-owned businesses in Knoxville have employees, compared to 6,983 white-owned businesses. This disparity points to broader cultural and economic factors that have shaped entrepreneurial endeavors in the city.

Kandis Troutman

“To change this, we need a community-wide mindset shift,” said Kandis Troutman, facilitator of the 100Knoxville program, which aims to address the underrepresentation of Black-owned businesses in Knoxville.

The initiative was launched in March 2021 by Brandon Bruce, Founder and Managing Partner of Market Square Ventures (MSV), in partnership with the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center (KEC). Their goal: engage Black founders and aspiring entrepreneurs, equipping them with the tools to grow their businesses beyond the “side hustle” stage.

Troutman, a strategic consultant by background, designed a five-week curriculum that helps founders tackle essential business questions: the who, what, where, when, and why of their ventures.

“I am a teacher at my core,” she said. “Knowledge is power—but only when you know how to use it.”

One of the strengths of the Black community, Troutman noted, is its deep-rooted sense of connection. “We do community very well. We check on each other, care about our neighbors, and build strong relationships.” But translating that into entrepreneurial success, she explained, requires a shift in mindset.

“We need to stop creating jobs just for ourselves and learn to hire and outsource so we can scale our businesses. The goal isn’t just to make money now, but to build a legacy for future generations.”

Troutman helps founders take this leap by guiding them to map out a life vision—how can their business contribute to the life they want to build for themselves and their families?

Several 100Knoxville graduates are already on the path to building that legacy, including Jade Adams, Founder of Oglewood Avenue; Kimberly Black, Founder of Trusted Field Services; and Ryan McGrew, Founder of RightWay Insurance.

“You have to focus on building the founder first,” Troutman emphasized. “They set the tone, build the team, and drive growth.”

While the official 2024 impact report is still pending, the program’s influence is already clear. Nearly 50 founders have graduated from 100Knoxville, and approximately $200,000 in grants and follow-on investments have been awarded to program participants.

Learn more about 100Knoxville click here.

Connect with Kandis Troutman.



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