CO.LAB and Epicenter Memphis launch new partnership to strengthen Tennessee’s startup pipeline
One prime example of how the partnership can benefit founders is Wesley Montague from Memphis-based Ship It Pro. His startup is focused on bringing transparency into end-to-end logistics to reduce freight damage, claims, and time-consuming resolution processes.
Two of Tennessee’s entrepreneurial support organizations are proving that big breakthroughs happen when regions work together.
The Company Lab (CO.LAB) in Chattanooga and Epicenter in Memphis have launched a new partnership designed to connect founders, resources, and investors across the state. The collaboration formalizes something many startup leaders already believe: Tennessee’s innovation economy becomes stronger when cities share their strengths rather than operate in silos.
Under the agreement, the two organizations will begin opening their programs to each other’s alumni.
For example, a startup that completes Epicenter’s Logistics Industry Opportunity Challenge in Memphis could later participate in CO.LAB’s Sustainable Mobility Accelerator in Chattanooga. Both organizations will also jointly market their portfolio companies to a combined network of investors and corporate partners and build a shared database of pitch materials and company profiles.
The partnership also includes co-hosted events highlighting statewide innovation and cross-promotion through newsletters and media channels.
The partnership in action
One prime example of how the partnership can benefit founders is Wesley Montague from Memphis-based Ship It Pro. His startup is focused on bringing transparency into end-to-end logistics to reduce freight damage, claims, and time-consuming resolution processes.
Montague participated in Epicenter’s logistics challenge and is now scaling through CO.LAB’s Sustainable Mobility Accelerator in Chattanooga. Teknovation first featured Ship it Pro during the first week of the CO.LAB cohort in October, 2025.
“I love the focus of the Sustainable Mobility Accelerator—getting us into pilot programs, putting finishing touches on the business model from ideation to revenue,” Montague said during our October interview. “It’s a great accelerator to make things happen quickly.”
The program offers $20,000 in initial funding, access to corporate partners, and a showcase event to pitch to investors and industry leaders. It’s part of Chattanooga’s broader push to become a hub for sustainable mobility innovation, leveraging assets like EPB’s quantum network and partnerships with TVA, Volkswagen, and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
“Chattanooga and Memphis are both cities built on logistics and innovation. When we share our resources and strengths, startups move faster, industries modernize, and Tennessee proves it can lead,” said Tasia Malakasis, the CEO of CO.LAB.
Epicenter CEO Anthony Young said the collaboration reflects a broader shift toward statewide thinking.
“By working together across the state, Epicenter and CO.LAB are building a model for regional innovation through collaboration. This shows why the future of Tennessee’s startup economy hinges on people willing to work together across regions, not just within them,” Young said.
For founders, the partnership means greater access to mentors, investors, and specialized programs.
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