Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

The companies span three tracks Project Healthcare, TakeOff, and InFlight and represent a wide mix of experience levels and industries.

This expansion will create more than 130 jobs and invest nearly $30 million in the area.

Now operating a sattellite office in Knoxville, Mathew Grell has represented more than 700 clients – from Fortune 500 giants down to independant inventors and machinists.

Recticel Group's U.S. facility will create nearly 80 jobs and invest almost $50 million throughout Maury County.

“The impact of this is massive,” said the founder Ian Nott. “This one program could go on to affect well over a million opioid risk patients in the U.S. over the next year.”

The eco-friendly cleaning supply company is growing from a Johnson City base, supplying dish soap, laundry, and dishwasher detergent solutions.

“ORNL helped develop and enhance the fuel. So, in this partnership, we come in with our expertise and history," said Chris Petrie, the interim section head for nuclear fuel development at the National Lab.

The Ballard Innovation Award is the largest gift of cash and in-kind services available to East Tennessee entrepreneurs, and this year will introduce a new, impactful format.