CO.LAB prepares to double its accelerator footprint in 2026 while steering Tennessee’s growing quantum ecosystem
"CO.LAB has been privileged to be at the table for most of these discussions about how to build a quantum ecosystem," said CO.LAB's CEO. "That's a good thing. A lot of innovation is going to come from startups. We need startups, we need capital, we need infrastructure, and we need test beds."
Collaboration has long been one of Chattanooga’s greatest assets for innovation. It is the kind of place where organizations rally behind a shared vision and push toward it together, often faster than expected.
That same spirit is now shaping the future of The Company Lab (CO.LAB). CO.LAB, which is the focal point of the city’s entrepreneurial community and part of Launch Tennessee’s statewide network, is preparing for a major expansion of its accelerator work. The organization has historically run two accelerator programs each year. Now, its leadership and board are ready for more.
“We have been running two programs per year for the last several years. And our board said last year, well, I think this is amazing what y’all are doing. You should do more. So essentially we’re going to run four programs in 2026,” said CO.LAB’s CEO Tasia Malakasis.
The change is intended to further focus on the city’s specific initiatives: energy, supply chain, traffic, and quantum.
Launching a quantum startup accelerator in the heart of Chattanooga
The quantum accelerator will run for four to six months, while the other three programs will be slightly shorter. Even with condensed timelines, the work behind the scenes remains sizable. CO.LAB’s model is distinct in that each cohort is intentionally paired with corporate partners that can offer real-world pilot opportunities.
“We’re looking and recruiting for people who are out of the product testing and development stage, and they’re ready for pilot and first customer,” Malakasis said.
In 2026, those four cohorts will include the Energy Innovation program, the Smart City and Advanced Manufacturing Accelerator, the Freight and Supply Chain Accelerator, and the Quantum Tech Accelerator.
CO.LAB’s role, however, extends well beyond its accelerator calendar. The organization has become one of the central conveners of Tennessee’s rapidly advancing quantum ecosystem.
“We’re still doing some of our Co.Mobility on the move, so we’re going to Freight Waves next month, and I’m hosting a panel there. We’ll be at South by Southwest with a half day of programming featuring. Then we’re going to be at Move America again, sponsoring the startup pitch competition,” Tasia said.
At the same time, CO.LAB recently secured an NSF award in partnership with the Chattanooga Quantum Collaborative (CQC). The recognition highlights just how quickly the region’s quantum assets have gained national traction.
“I’m wildly excited about the opportunity for Chattanooga, but also for the state. It feels to me like EPB started this fire with the quantum network three years ago… And it’s only grown. Now we’ve got the IonQ computer that’s being plugged in. We’ve got Vanderbilt’s Quantum Research Institute going here. The Quantum Center at UT at Chattanooga has just done a phenomenal job of bringing in quantum talent. The CQC quickly organized, and we had our first quantum team in a CO.LAB cohort last fall,” she said.
That early involvement has positioned CO.LAB as a connective point for stakeholders across industry, academia, and government.
“CO.LAB has been privileged to be at the table for most of these discussions about how to build a quantum ecosystem,” Tasia said. “That’s a good thing. A lot of innovation is going to come from startups. We need startups, we need capital, we need infrastructure, and we need test beds.”
The first accelerator to open applications this year is CO.LAB’s Quantum Tech Accelerator, designed to help founders convert groundbreaking quantum research into scalable commercial companies. Participants can expect access to a wide set of pilot partners, including EPB, Tennessee Valley Authority, UTC, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, IonQ, and others.
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