A year in review: The Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
In Breanna Hale's first full year as Executive Director, she accomplished big goals for new programming and events.
In 2024, the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ACEI) launched a plethora of new programming, discovered several new student founders, and brought the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) campus one step closer to being a hot-spot university for entrepreneurs.
First the Anderson Center played a vital role, alongside Hasseb Qureshi (HQ), in launching the first ever summer Start-up Studio. The 10-week program was for current student entrepreneurs and recent graduates who aimed to develop business ideas and bring them to market.
The students who participated in this program were: Alexa Schnitkka, Ashtin Hara, Blake Hopkins, Connor Langford, Ian Parten, Jackson Zimmer, Jess Taylor, Madison Murray, Claudia Dipasupil, Nick DiMeglio, and Vance Sohn.
Additionally, the Anderson Center created a new micro-credentials and digital badge program, offering students a new way to showcase their entrepreneurial skills and accomplishments. Learn more about the new program here!
Recently, ACEI also launched the first-ever gift guide from current UT, Knoxville student entrepreneurs.
“As Volunteers, it’s our duty to support our own community, and we believe there’s no better way than investing in the entrepreneurial dreams of our students and peers,” Breanna Hale told teknovation.biz when the catalog launched in November.
Those gifts include:
- Prints from Blake Hopkins’ BH Compositions.
- Beauty and body care solutions from Diamond Monroe Organics.
- Lasting changes that nurture both the body and mind from Found Development.
- Stickers from Miller Sharp Art.
- A mission-driven fashion brand named Much Love by Cait.
- A handcrafted ceramics studio named PotteryByLilyCo.
- A home-based bakery named Rachel’s Desert Bar that specializes in hand-decorated sugar cookies.
- Custom-made hats from Stitched.
- Golf putters from T Squared Putters.
The program’s ambassador grew sizably from eight in 2023. Now, 14 students help foster and promote the entrepreneurial community on campus. Additionally, the team of start-up coaches grew from five to nine.
Finally, the Anderson Center, through Hale’s efforts, introduced the ACEI Founders’ Pledge, inviting entrepreneurs to give back and support future generations of innovators at UTK. Find out more
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