Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

The Knoxville Entrepreneur Center (KEC) is less than 48 hours away from closing applications for the 2025 WORKS start-up accelerator. The eight-week program features expert-led workshops, hands-on mentorship, and immersive experiences with top industry partners like Cirrus Aircraft, Clayton Homes, Market Square Ventures, and Big Slate Media.

The accelerator wraps up with a demo day, where founders will pitch their businesses to a room full of community members, industry partners, investors, and business leaders.

“THE WORKS is designed to bridge the gap between early-stage startups, customers, and investment readiness,” said Chris McAdoo, Chief Experience Officer at KEC and Lead Facilitator of WORKS. “This program isn’t about theory, it’s about action. We’re bringing together the right people, the right insights, and the right opportunities to help founders take their businesses to the next level. ”

Here’s what founders will dive into over the eight weeks.

• Customer Insights – Master customer journey mapping and sales strategies.
• Industry Access – Connect with corporate leaders, investors, and top mentors.
• Investment Readiness – Learn capital strategy, fundraising, and financial modeling.
• Pitch Excellence – Develop and refine an investable pitch deck.
• Brand & Market Strategy – Define positioning, differentiation, and scalable growth.
• Ongoing Support – Structured mentorship with post-program check-ins.

Since 2013, KEC has worked with a broad range of startups, including everything from Medical Data Technology, Retail POS integration, Accounting, and Storage Unit Management. 90 companies have participated in KEC accelerator programs and have raised over 160 million dollars in private capital.

Learn more and apply today.

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